Sport
31 March, 2024
Marthaguy take out ABC Shield
A fantastic batting display by two top hitters secured victory over the weekend for a plucky bunch of cricketers from one of our smallest rural communities.
A fantastic batting display by two top hitters secured victory over the weekend for a plucky bunch of cricketers from one of our smallest rural communities. The USC Marthaguy side headed to Gilgandra on Saturday, March 23, to contest the Gilgandra District Cricket Association’s grand final against Coonamble. This was the fourth meeting of the season between Coonamble, the reigning premiers, and Marthaguy, the minor premiers, so the sides knew each other well and had developed a healthy rivalry.
The weather was threatening and with reports of rain all morning in Warren, it made for some tough decisions at toss time. Captain Andrew Freeth won the toss, again, and decided to bat. Coonamble openers started well, and runs were hard to come by. Coonamble struck in the fifth over when Andrew gloved one to the keeper for four. James Glasson joined Ben Storer and the two steadied the innings well. The two rotated the strike well and ticked the score along until in the 15th over with the score on 30, Ben was caught for eight.
Drinks were taken, and Johny McKay joined James for the second session. After Johny survived an early LBW shout, there was plenty of chat in the field. That chat quickly halted, however, after Johny launched two big sixes and ignited some quick scoring. James joined in with some remarkable stroke play and by the second drinks break at 30 overs, Marthaguy had moved to two for 92. The platform was laid for a mammoth total with two set batsmen and wickets in hand. Both Johny and James opened the shoulders and pushed the ball to all parts of the ground, all while running hard for the whole innings. Both raised the bat for their half-centuries and kept pushing. Finally, in the 41st over with the score on 186, the partnership was broken when Johny was caught for 76. The two had put on 156 runs in 26 overs, an incredible partnership in the biggest game of the year.
With three overs to go, Hugh Duncan joined James, and the two looked to go big in the final four overs. Two overs later, Hugh was caught deep on the boundary for two. James’s father Mark Glasson joined him to finish the innings off. In the final over, James pushed one deep for two to score his maiden century, a moment made more special by being able to share it in the middle with his father. It was an incredible innings admired by all at the ground. A near faultless display of batting by James, who finished unbeaten on 102 and had guided Marthaguy to an impressive total of 4/207.
For Marthaguy, the job was only half done. Coonamble, with it all in front of them, went hard from the start. Marthaguy opener Jack had total control and looked the goods, but Coonamble went hard at Doug Freeth and began to score freely from that end. Jack broke the dangerous partnership in the seventh over when he bowled danger man Mark Stewart for 17. Jack finished his first spell with the impressive figures of 1/7 off five.
Coonamble had managed to get to drinks well in the game at 1/49, but still with a lot of work to do. Hugh Duncan and Ben Storer took up the attack and made scoring difficult for Coonamble. Straight after drinks, some handy glove work by Johny McKay had Coonamble number three, Kane Barry, stumped off Ben Storer with the score now 2/50. Two overs later, Ben struck again, after opener Joel Godson skyed one to Hugh Maunder on the boundary, who safely took the catch.
With two new batters, Marthaguy was right on top. Coonamble had moved the score along to 69 before Ben picked up his third wicket with a great low catch at slip by Hugh Duncan. James Glasson came onto bowl and joined the party in his second over when he got the big wicket of Coonamble captain Tyne Chapman, caught by Andrew Freeth. James struck once more before drinks, dismissing big hitter Elgy McEwen for two. The second drinks were taken at the 30 over mark, and it had been an amazing session by Marthaguy. 5/34 for the session to have Coonamble now 6/83 at drinks, needing 125 of the remaining 15 overs.
Blake Chapman showed some resistance, and Coonamble moved to 102 before Jack Irving stuck for his second wicket. In the next over, James picked up his third after bowling Blake for 19. Marthaguy didn’t let up, as Jack picked up his third wicket in the next over, before a “caught and bowled” by Doug Freeth sealed the 2024 victory. Coonamble were all out for 111.
In the end, it was a commanding victory by USC Marthaguy. The partnership between Johny and James, described by the zone president Jamie Zell as “the best grand final partnership he had seen in years” set a great platform for Marthaguy bowlers to bowl at, without pressure. It resulted in a great bowling performance highlighted by Jack Irving 3/28 off nine, Ben Storer 3/13 off nine, and James Glasson 3/20 off eight.
James Glasson was awarded man of the match after his unbeaten 102 then 3/20. A real day out for James! Captain Andrew Freeth was presented the Bendigo Bank ABC Shield for the third time in five years by zone president Jamie Zell. Andrew with the support of his team wished to thank all the supporters and the zone and their executives for the running an excellent competition. Thanks were also given to Mick George for his organizing of the Marthaguy cricket team for the season, his effort, and dedication are appreciated by the whole team.
