Congratulations Cricket Web Green
Overcast conditions, a moving ball, and a crucial toss. Andrew Garven made the correct call that potentially won the Chef de Groot Trophy for Green. Armed with a team with three bowlers boasting international experience, Garven went against his typical favour and elected to bowl first at the Cricket Web Oval.
The decision paid off hugely, as the Blues struggled to cope with the seam movement. Nathan Hoy and Xavier Rose shared the top five wickets, and Blue slumped to 73/5, and later 161 all out.
Alex Crampton batted beautifully with stern resolve, as he fetched impressive support from Tom Halsey. Just as the two looked to be fishing Blue out of trouble and toward a total of contention, the latter dragged a Garven delivery onto his stumps, from a foot outside offstump. Ultimately, Crampton was stranded short of his half-century, and Hoy earned the honour of leading the Greens off, with his 4 wickets prominent.
Feeney and Garven started carefully and rotated the strike, increasing the momentum steadily. At 89/0 the game seemed a wrap, but Camps tossed the ball to Halsey and everything changed. On the back of a largely frustrating season with the ball, Halsey's spell nearly took on matchwinning proportions.
The legspinner first snared Feeney off a top-edged attempted slog sweep, and proceeded to take 3 wickets in his next over. Suddenly 89/0 became 106/4.
Cunningham pressed on with veteran Brendon Goff, but was Halsey's fifth wicket to stir a portion of late drama. The allrounder bottom-edged a cut shot and was brilliantly held by Crampton behind the stumps. At 141/5, there was still a sniff of hope for Blue.
A few well-paced blows later, and the Greens were back in full control. Lezama was yorked by Camps nearing the close, but Weber edged his first ball past the diving Fuller at second slip, and Green later took victory by 4 wickets.
The emotions ran high, as a disappointed Blue team shook hands with the triumphant Greens. Andy Cameron was in particularly high spirits, as he reflected on his midseason move to Green, which earned him a share of OD glory.
CW Blue 161 ao (40.4 overs)
CW Green 162/6 (32 overs)
CW Green won by 4 wickets
Men of the Match: NS Hoy and Xavier Rose
