Season Review

After a great start in the first two games of the season batting problems plagued the side and too often the team failed to put a competitive score on the board. Injury and unavailability of the top two batsmen from last season certainly played a part in this, but the team should still have had the batting strength to perform at a much higher level. One positive was there was a full side for nearly every game, many weeks having twelve or thirteen players available. While results didn't go the teams' way during the season, it was certainly enjoyable with a strong team spirit being shown.

Batting for the season was a bit of a struggle, Bruce Rome scoring the only century. The batting title for the team is decided on total number of runs, the top players were:

1. Matt Cowdrey, 378 runs with an average of 27.00
2. Cam McKenzie, 317 runs
3. Mike Clegg, 311 runs

The team had a number of bowlers performing well during the season, the best individual performance being Rob Sadler with 7/23 against East Coast Bays. The bowling award for the season is based on total number of wickets, the top players were:

1. Lawrence Stephens, 27 wickets with an average of 22.19
2. Rob Sadler, 26 wickets with an average of 16.08
3. Dave Freeman, 22 wickets with an average of 18.64
4. Casper Buchannan, 19 wickets with an average of 16.47

The MVP of the team is based on a points system with points scored for wickets, runs, catches, run outs etc. with bonus points for 50's, 100's and 4 and 6 wicket hauls. The top players were:

1. Lawrence Stephens, 689 points
2. Casper Buchannan, 682 points
3. Rob Sadler, 613 points
4. Matt Cowdrey, 593 points
5. Dave Freeman, 584 points

With most of the team stating their intent to return for next year and with injured and unavailable players from this year also returning signs look good for a strong ACSSC 2A team to contest the grade next season.

28th March vs East Coast Bays at Glover Park #2

Ending up in the relegation game for the second year in a row the ACSSC team were determined to finish the season with a good showing. Their aim was helped by the East Coast Bays team being short; Bays won the toss and chose to bat first. The Society opening attack of Lawrence Stephens and Gareth Arnold bowled tightly but failed to take a wicket. Wickets started to fall when Society slower bowlers Dave Freeman and Rob Sadler came into the attack, East Coast Bays being dismissed for 152. Dave Freeman with 4/36 and Rob Sadler with 2/24 both from ten over's leading the attack.

Society openers Cam McKenzie and Mike Clegg made steady progress and this was continued by Matt Cowdrey after Cam McKenzie's dismissal. At 81 for 1 at drinks the Society were well placed in their chase, a wicket soon after drinks saw the arrival of Phil Stephens at the wicket who took to the attack to the East Coast bays Bowing finishing the game off in a further nine over's. Mike Clegg with a patient 48 and Phil Stephens with 46* from 27 balls the best of the Society batsmen.

21st March vs Birkenhead at Birkenhead War Memorial #2

After being kept waiting by a Birkenhead team again turning up late Society Captain Lawrence Stephens lost the toss and the team were sent into bat on another rubbish artificial pitch with inconsistent bounce. In a similar vein to the last game a number of players got starts, but Cam McKenzie top scored with 38 in the Society total of 197/9 from their 40 over's. The innings was marred by constant abuse and complaints from the Birkenhead side about umpiring decisions, none of them seeming to have any understanding of the LBW laws.

The Birkenhead team got off to a great start and were past 50 before the first wicket fell. Casper Buchannan bowling with some real pace and Dave Freeman bowling tightly from the other end created pressure and wickets began to fall, Birkenhead 89/5 at drinks. A good partnership after drinks had them back in the game but a flurry of wickets saw them still needing 18 runs with their last pair at the wicket. Both Dave Freeman and Lawrence Stephens bowling their last over's had very near misses and a couple of absolutely plum LBW shouts were turned down. Birkenhead eventually reaching the target nine wickets down and with three over's to spare. This will be a game all players will want to forget on a dreadful wicket against an abusive and very unpleasant opposition team.

7th March vs East Coast Bays at Windsor Park #2

After winning the toss the Society team set about setting a total on a slow artificial track laid on dirt with very inconsistent bounce. Several players got starts, but got themselves out, mainly caught, trying to force the pace. The Society team was dismissed in the 33rd over for 159, Andy Arnold top scored with 58 from 40 balls including hitting the East Coast Boys captain for four consecutive sixes at one point.

Society opening bowlers Lawrence Stephens and Casper Buchannan quickly removed the openers but couldn't make any inroads on the rest of the top order. A bowling change bringing the slower bowlers on began to slow the scoring rate and with East Coast Bays 77/3 at drinks the game was in the balance. After drinks Rob Sadler put the Society in charge, ripping through the rest of the East Coast Bays batting lineup taking 7/23, six of them bowled, East Coast Bays dismissed for 104. A good win for the Society and a very enjoyable game of cricket.

28th February vs Mangere at Centre Park #1

Match abandoned without a ball being bowled.

21st February vs Cornwall at Glover Park

ACSSC batted first and the loss of an early wicket didn't halt a positive batting display in the first 20 overs. Cam McKenzie (30) and Matt Cowdrey (26) moved the score along leaving the team well placed at 98/3 at drinks. After drinks things went downhill fast with 5 of the 7 wickets to fall being bowled, ACSSC all out for 135 in 34 overs.
 
2A teamACSSC opening bowlers Lawrence Stephens and Lee Gornall game out agressively, the ball gaining significant movement in the air and off the wicket to rip the heart out of the Cornwall innings. Dave Freeman and Casper Buchannan backed up the openers well and when the last wicket was taken Cornwall had limped to a score of 100, only one of their players reaching double figures. Lawrence Stephens took 4/23, Dave Freeman 3/15 and Lee Gornall 2/28.

14th February vs Mangere at Centre Park

Match abandoned without a ball being bowled

7th February vs Birkenhead at Birkenhead War Memorial

ACSSC stand in Capatin Rob Sadler won the toss and elected to bat.The innings started well and than in the 4th over it started to go wrong when four quick wickets fell. Cam McKenzie (65) and Mike Clegg (25) guided the team to 75/ 5 at drinks and then batted through for a partnership of 74. Rahul Suchev then stode to the wicket and hit a quick fire 47* from 26 deliveries and with Gareth Arnold smashing 12* from 5 a more acceptable total of 214/8 was the result.
 
In the field early chances were not taken in the first 20 overs and Birkenhead were 127/0 at drinks.The sixth bowler used made the break thru shortly after drinks but Birkenhead won with an over to spare and seven wickets down. A close run thing in the end but a poor foundation and loose bowling coupled with poor fielding in the first twenty overs cost the team. Mention must be made of a spectacular running one handed catch by Mark Needham at long on giving a lesson to the rest of the team on how to field. Best of the bowlers were Rob Sadler with 3/40 and Mark Needham with 2/33.