Gutsy Knock Saves Heroes From Australia Day Defeat

Gutsy Knock Saves Heroes From Australia Day Defeat

The Aussie All-Stars (Kiley, Bayne, Izzo, Kirtland, Parham) drew with The Australian Heroes (Cornish, Finamore, Hoffman, Mrowka, Parini)

Full Scorecard

A courageous century from Australian Heroes tail-ender James Finamore has saved his team from near certain defeat in the premier test match of the Svenson Calendar, after the match was put beyond doubt early by an double century from Aidan Parham, a strong bowling performance by the Aussie All-Stars, and a poonchy 180 from Chris Izzo.

After All-Star captain Daniel Kiley won the toss and elected to bat, Chris Bayne started strongly, with a career high 27 at a rate of 9 an over. But after capitulation in the middle order from Tim Kirtland and Izzo, the All-Stars were 3 down with less than fifty runs on the board.

From that point, however, it took another 30 overs for the Heroes to claim another scalp, with Parham caught by Mrowka off the bowling of Cornish, but by that stage Parham had chalked up a spirit crushing double century. With Kiley's dismissal soon following, the team tally had reached 259. Mrowka and Cornish both took two wickets for their side, but neither bowler managed particularly sterling figures.

The Australian Heroes failed to respond in kind, with reigning joint Svenson Cricketers of the Year Cornish, Finamore and Mrowka all being dismissed for 26 or less, uncharacteristically low scores, especially on such a big stage. The only spark of the innings was provided by Hoffman, with a poonchy 42 off only 27 sparking fear in the All-Stars. It was nowhere near enough, however, with the team barrelled out for 101, still trailing by 158 runs. Bayne followed up his career best score in the first innings by taking the first three wickets of the Heroes innings, claiming the impressive figures of 3/33. Parham and Izzo both claimed a wicket each, and Kirtland was unlucky not to claim a scalp, bowling at an economy rate of 2.00.

Although All-Star captain Kiley was keen to enforce the follow on, his team mates decided against it, and returned to the crease. With a lead of 158 in hand, but time closing in, quick runs were in order. The Heroes were elated to have Mrowka bowl Bayne with the first ball of the innings, but what followed was a poonchy middle order, with Kirtland, Izzo and Kiley scoring a collective 231 at a Strike Rate of over 150, thanks mainly to Izzo's sharp 180 off 125. In an innings where wickets were shared evenly amongst the bowlers, the All Stars took the opportunity to declare following Kiley's dismissal at 4/231, the Heroes were set an unlikely 389 to win.

In a scenario that would normally call for slow, controlled batting to keep wickets intact to save the match for a draw, the first four Heroes batsman seemed to misread the situation, each scoring at Strike Rates of 120+, with only Mrowka breaking 20 runs with his rapid fire 61 of 22.

This left the Aussie All-Stars one wicket from victory, with around half an hour to claim the final scalp of J A Finamore. But Finamore stepped up to the task, delivering one of the most controlled innings the Cornish Backyard has ever seen, working singles into the garden off his legs, and two toward the doghouse, Finamore slowly but surely worked his way to 150, bringing the match to a drawn, but nailbiting, conclusion. Every bowler was tried against him, but none could seem to find the break through, with Kirtland again the most economical of the bowlers, and most troubling to Finamore, and some might say unlucky to go without a wicket again. But others might say, "No, he wasn't unlucky, it was just a gutsy performance by Finamore". They're probably both right, in a way.

The match also notable for the introduction of Kiley's much lauded computer scoring system. Not yet complete, and only reaching a useable state the morning of the test, there was much apprehension as to whether it would survive the rigours of a full test of Backyard Cricket. But it survived the day, and thanks to it, this website has many new features only possible with its ball-by-ball recording of the day's play. For the first time, full match scorecards are available, and Wagon Wheels of player's innings. Kiley has promised that in future matches, the system will have some of its annoyances ironed out, and will provide more feedback on the current state of play to those at the match.