Randwick Petersham Cricket “We only made 93. That’ll be enough!”
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | October 14, 2024
In its first 23 seasons, Randwick Petersham played many close and exciting matches. And while it will always be a matter of conjecture as to which was the best, a particular match in the 2002-03 season will always remain part of the discussion.
It was the round 10 clash with UTS Balmain at Drummoyne Oval on Saturday 11 January 2003. In extremely heavy, humid and almost eerie conditions, Randwick Petersham lost the toss and were sent in to bat on a pitch which could only be described as a “seamer’s delight”. And the “Tigers” had just the man to take advantage of the favourable conditions – the towering NSW and Australian left-arm fast bowler Nathan Bracken, who would soon after be described as the “best one-day international bowler in the world”.
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As anticipated, it was a nightmare in the early overs as all batters struggled to put bat on ball. After five overs it was 2-0, with Bracken disposing of the team’s big-gun, Simon Katich for a six-ball duck. He then bowled the side’s other two stars, Richard Chee Quee for 1 and Paul Toole for 2. After 13 overs, the score was 5-11 and with the ball moving about so much, a score of just 50 looked a forlorn hope. Bracken had 4-5 off seven overs and was almost unplayable.
Nathan Bracken
However, with the sun breaking through, a middle-order fight-back by Darren Wotherspoon (21), Daryl Parmenter (19) and Matt Cassar (25) enabled the side to limp to an unimpressive total of 93. Bracken took 6-21 off 12.5 overs and Neil Maxwell 2-18 off 12.
While it looked like UTS would have little trouble passing the RPC score, the bowlers vowed to make them earn every run. And the plan worked well early with the score 3-39 off 14 overs at the tea break, including the wickets of Greg Hayne and Greg Mail, two of the greatest run-makers in the history of Sydney Grade Cricket.
Resuming in brilliant sunshine, the Tigers struggled against the determined pace attack of Adam Warren, Scott Obey and Matt Cassar, losing three quick wickets including the hard-hitting Daniel Smith for a duck, to slump to 6-47. And while there was a feeling it was then “game-on”, that soon dissipated as the experienced Neil Maxwell took charge and pushed the score-line along to 6-82, just 12 short of victory.
With the situation calling for a bit of flair and luck, skipper Paul Toole threw the ball to leg-spinner Robert Smith who immediately broke through with Maxwell’s wicket for 24. Scott Obey chimed in at the other end to knock over Bracken, leaving the score looking more than interesting at 8-89.
Robert Smith
Two more runs brought the target within two. But then wicketkeeper Wheeler, attempting to thrash Smith to the long-on boundary for the win, only succeeded in chipping the ball to Wotherspoon at mid-off! Nine for 91 and still two to win! With last man Di Michiel at the wicket, a first ball straight one from Smith wrapped him on the pad and in response to an appeal which could have been heard a kilometre away, the umpire raised his finger. Out! All out for 92! One run short!
Being a two-day match, Randwick Petersham batted out the second day to be 7-261 in what was a real anti-climax to the first day’s play. Stars of the first day were Robert Smith who took 3-4 off 5 overs while Scott Obey ended with 3-46 off 16. An amazing win by any standards.
Lyall Gardner
RPC Hon Historian
