Seagulls alive in Avery

By David Nagel
A METHODICAL machine-like Kooweerup will take on the unbridled raw talent and spirit of Tooradin in the West Gippsland Cricket Association Premier Division grand final after an enthralling weekend of semi-final action.
Kooweerup (7/329cc), on the back of another Chris O’Hara (106) masterpiece, was far too good for Pakenham (178) while a Steve Hamill six over mid-wicket saw Tooradin (9/148) survive an emotional roller-coaster in an epic encounter with a brave Cardinia (145).
While O’Hara’s knock was the individual highlight of the weekend it was the usually quiet, agricultural surroundings of the Rythdale Recreational Reserve that played host to high drama between the Seagulls and the Bulls.
From the first ball on Saturday through to Hamill’s successful swipe, this match pushed the verbal and mental challenges to extreme levels not seen in the WGCA for quite some time.
Cardinia skipper Mark Cooper won the toss and batted first and once again the Bulls coughing and spluttering batting line-up of recent times failed to perform. Hamill (3/23 off 12) made the initial break-through by dismantling Dwayne Doig’s (5) castle before Cardinia’s danger-men, Cooper (38) and Neil Barfuss (23), joined forces for the second highest partnership of the match, just 39.
Barfuss was cautious early but with the Bulls on 1/23 after 13 overs he upped the tempo by belting consecutive fours. His attack was short-lived however after he hit one in the air off the bowling of Ash Adams (2/24 off 10), who then had Ben Darose (0) caught and bowled to leave the Bulls on 3/65.
The Bulls were banking on their experience to shine under the finals spotlight but their middle order just faded away without a flicker. Troy Darose (4) came and went quickly followed by the key wicket of Cooper before Pat Nolen (0) was left short of his ground.
Luke Turner (3) and Danny Diwell (15) made little impression and were both dismissed by Callum O’Hare (3/41 off 21) and when Ricky Campbell (7) hit an Aaron Avery (1/24 off nine) full-toss down a fired-up Adams throat, the Bulls had lost 8/60 to be reeling at 9/110.
Despite their predicament the Bulls last pairing of Craig Boswell (17 not out) and Travis Welsh (11) fought tooth and nail for every run, well aware their attack led by spin king Doig have defended many a low total in the past. Doig looked on from the scorers hut, wanting at least 130-runs to defend.
Boswell and Welsh were brave and put on 35-runs for the last wicket before Hamill hit the woodwork for the third time, dismissing Welsh. Hamill and O’Hare both claimed three wickets to be the pick of the Seagulls bowlers.
Tooradin had 12 overs to face on day-one and lost Brenton Adams (11), caught behind by Turner off the bowling of Barfuss (2/48 off 16.2) on its way to 1/22 at stumps. Gun batsman Tom Hussey was nine not out and held the key to Sunday’s run-chase but, as often happens with the Bulls in the field, things changed fast.
A special Sunday started at ball-two with Hussey (9) shouldering arms to Barfuss and having his off-stump interfered with and Doig (4/51 off 32) then had night-watchman Sam Clarke (0) stumped on the same score. No wicket for 20 had quickly turned to 3/22… game on.
Doig was in no mood to let up and caught Jay Wilson (4) off his own bowling and worse was to come for the Seagulls when O’Hare edged one from Boswell (1/37 off 13) to a joyous Turner behind the stumps. Time to take a breath… the Seagulls were now 5/46 and their season was unravelling before their very eyes. Enter skipper Aaron Avery (61) and the powerful Brad Sauer (22).
By his own admission Avery has had a below par season but as he walked to the crease he drew on his hard-hitting 62 not out against Kooweerup in round 11. On that occasion Avery threw caution to the wind and he used the same approach on Sunday.
If ever an innings encapsulates the term ‘Captain’s Knock’, then this was it as Avery dominated a critical 68-run partnership with Sauer. Four towering sixes flowed from Avery’s blade as the Seagulls closed in on victory in a hurry. But then at 5/114 the momentum swung again.
An inspired bowling change by Cooper saw Ben Darose (2/7 off 3) trap Sauer LBW and then two balls later have Ben Mantel (0) caught behind to make it 7/114. Ash Adams (20) joined his skipper and played aggressively, the odd play and miss was balanced out with occasional sweet hit as the Seagulls went to 7/128 and once again take the upper hand.
Then on the stroke of tea, Avery imploded.
Doig tossed one up and Avery took the bait, hitting a lofted drive to Troy Darose at deep mid-off to end his innings. As the Bulls celebrated and walked off for tea Avery trudged off, fully aware if his team didn’t get over the line it would be this shot that would be remembered, not his great innings. Tooradin 8/128 at tea.
Adams resumed battle with Lukas Hoogenboom (0 not out) after the break and took the score to 8/139 before he tried to square the ledger with one hit. A gap left at mid-wicket by Cooper proved too inviting and Adams danced and was stumped by Turner. At 9/139 the only positive was that Avery had someone to be inconsolable with. The drama continued.
Hamill (8 not out) joined Hoogenboom and with the score on 9/140 Doig went past the outside edge of Hoogenboom’s bat and confusion reigned supreme as the bails were dislodged. Had Hoogenboom been bowled? Had the ball bounced off Turner’s pads back onto the stumps?
Umpires Daryl Williams and Jim Henry decided not out was the call and then in the next over Hamill launched Barfuss long and high over mid-wicket to finish a truly gripping encounter. Avery and his team mates rushed the field in the purest form of relief imaginable.
If anything, Cardinia’s reputation as a great team grew from its performance. Cooper was understandably proud of his team’s fight back from 9/110 to almost grab a grand final berth, but in the end it’s Avery and his Seagulls who deservedly prepare for the biggest game of all.