Boys own dream comes true
Brad Bannister | September 06, 2023
Back in the early 2010's I was living and playing in Maitland for the great Northern Suburbs CC of Maitland playing out of the famous and historic Lorn Park. Each year the clubs from the Maitland Competition played in the Hunter Valley Cup One Day Knockout Competition. This comp encompassed teams from the following competitions Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook, and the Central Coast. Our club was hosting the final against our arch rivals, City United Cricket Club. We had played these guys in the previous few grade grand finals and had been sharing the spoils in all the big games. They were a very good side with a lot of quality cricketers.
We bowled first after losing the toss on a magnificent summer's day and high quality batting pitch. Their star player Josh Trappel had helped himself to an effortless and classy 100 to help them post a very good score. I had bowled my ten overs for a solid return of 5 for 20 and taken a couple of catches in the field.
As we set out to chase the target well in excess of 230, we started solidly but then began to lose a few wickets. Things were looking shaky when we lost a few wickets on the bounce. I was lucky enough to be joined by my good mate Terry Humphries and we set about rebuilding the innings and we put a decent partnership together and got us to within sight of the total. Being a final in the country between two fierce rivals, the crowd had built up to a decent size. Tez then departed and we lost a few more wickets. Norths had taken the opportunity to blood a few young guys throughout this comp and we stuck solid with them for the final. When it came down to the last over, I was batting with a young guy named Jesse Caulfield and it was safe to say he was very nervous as the last over arrived and we still needed 15 for victory (remember this was pre-20/20 days so 15 was still a big get). From memory, I think I may have scrambled a boundary early and then a few very hasty two's. We even knocked back a single late in the over because young Jesse was shitting himself and was just happy to run. Anyway, it came down to the last ball of the final. Five to win and one ball to go. No other option than to hit a dinger. It was a strange one day comp in that from memory fielding restrictions weren't really a thing. It is also safe to say that the bowling team was pretty fired up and giving some lip. and our team were on the edge of their seats in the grandstand.
The left arm opening bowler stood at the top of his mark and made the descent down the hill to deliver the final delivery. It was right in the slot and I swung hard and deposited the ball over the grandstand at mid wicket, where the vast majority of the crowd were situated. Pandamonium!!! Players from Norths engulfed the field to celebrate victory and the City boys were shattered.
Our captain was Josh Callinan, a talented player, staunch clubman and wonderful journalist sauntered onto the field after all other players because unbeknown to me, he had actually been scoring the last few overs in the pavilion. We embraced, and Josh calmly relayed that not only was it amazing that the six had been hit, but that shot had meant that I had finished 100 not out.
Winning any final anywhere in the world by hitting a six off the last ball of the innings is the stuff of childhood dreams for all cricketers. To have it bring up a ton after also taking 5/20 and snaring a couple of catches was something else.
It is safe to say the beers flowed freely that summer's night at Lorn Park in Maitland, and for an old guy reflecting now, it is certainly a day that still puts a smile on my face today.
