To paraphrase the song 'only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun', some considered it madness to play cricket on one of the hottest mornings in Lonehill's history.
Despite the sweltering heat the Lonehill Residents/Parents team (+- 500 years of life experience) acquitted themselves well against the Lonehill Crawford Students & Teachers (only +- 170 years of exuberant youthful no-fear school-going experience).
The morning began with the sedate 'all-pace' attack of the elder team being dispatched to the boundary at a pace seldom seen in Wisden's cricket annual history. The youngsters flayed our attack for just under 10 runs per over for an entire innings of 25 life-threatening terror-filled overs.
Thank goodness for the fielding exploits of our only lady cricketer - Simone Woods (whose savvy, flat short-pitched bowling also exploited the two-paced nature of the pitch), our wise elder who turned 4's into singles - Mike Boulanger, the dapper and dashing Hoogenhout Chairman - Harry Dare, the youthful enthusiasm of Richard Wylie and Ryan Moolman on the boundary, and the incredible wicket-keeping of Keith Bell (with a baseball mitt) and Mark Botha. Without these able-bodied fielders throwing their bodies on the line the score would have been close to 500 in the 25 overs.
Jack Rahme's stump-shattering accuracy from the mid-field was a pleasure to behold, Chris Holden produced the two best bowling overs of the match and Dhayalan Naidoo was our very own Jonty Rhodes at point - not allowing our heads to drop under the intense pressure and sweltering heat in the middle.
If I must say so myself, I thought 'the Captain' was pretty nimble at avoiding every missile pummeled in his direction. Not bad evasive actions for the over-fifties brigade. Thanks too to Dhayalan for later pointing out to everybody that I had 'read' the wrong green pitch before spinning for the toss. I honestly thought the large cracks and weeds would winkle them out early on. Turns out... that was last year's pitch!
At the end of the first innings carnage (and I WILL be reporting the Crawford teachers to Principal Mr. Pike for trying to demolish the school-building at every blow) there was not a spectator in sight who gave the Residents/Parents any hope of lasting more than a few overs. I noticed Bill Parr hiding under his hat in the shade, so thrilled was he about his team's chances!
And then, after Richard Wylie hit the first early 4 of the second innings to set the scene, in strode BIG Greg Hegland and Jack - the ROCK - Rahme to lambaste the youngsters with a barrage of fours and sixes never before seen on the Crawford Lonehill oval.
By the drinks break the Lonehill Residents/Parents were neck and neck with the 10-runs per over rate set by the Students/Teachers. Bill Parr was on the edge of his seat!
Here's the first lesson: Never accept a drink from your opposition when you're clearly going to beat them!
Something in the water at the drinks break caused us to have to pull our big guns off the pitch with groin strains, and whilst in the game till the last five overs, the Students/Teachers took unfair advantage of their severely-dehydrated and much, much OLDER opposition to put a stranglehold on the runs chase.
At the end, Mike Boulanger staged a remarkable rear-guard action to keep his big-hitting partners on strike, but alas, the Lonehill Residents/Parents had to capitulate to a highly-motivated and talented Crawford Lonehill Students/Teachers team.
The game was played in fantastic spirit and compliments must go to Crawford teacher, Peter Truscott, and his team. Dhayalan Naidoo hit the nail on the head when he said: 'These are fine young kids'. But don't be fooled, they were GIANTS and they could hit the ball a mile! Must cost their parents a fortune to feed them.
Despite the sweltering heat the Lonehill Residents/Parents team (+- 500 years of life experience) acquitted themselves well against the Lonehill Crawford Students & Teachers (only +- 170 years of exuberant youthful no-fear school-going experience).
The morning began with the sedate 'all-pace' attack of the elder team being dispatched to the boundary at a pace seldom seen in Wisden's cricket annual history. The youngsters flayed our attack for just under 10 runs per over for an entire innings of 25 life-threatening terror-filled overs.
Thank goodness for the fielding exploits of our only lady cricketer - Simone Woods (whose savvy, flat short-pitched bowling also exploited the two-paced nature of the pitch), our wise elder who turned 4's into singles - Mike Boulanger, the dapper and dashing Hoogenhout Chairman - Harry Dare, the youthful enthusiasm of Richard Wylie and Ryan Moolman on the boundary, and the incredible wicket-keeping of Keith Bell (with a baseball mitt) and Mark Botha. Without these able-bodied fielders throwing their bodies on the line the score would have been close to 500 in the 25 overs.
Jack Rahme's stump-shattering accuracy from the mid-field was a pleasure to behold, Chris Holden produced the two best bowling overs of the match and Dhayalan Naidoo was our very own Jonty Rhodes at point - not allowing our heads to drop under the intense pressure and sweltering heat in the middle.
If I must say so myself, I thought 'the Captain' was pretty nimble at avoiding every missile pummeled in his direction. Not bad evasive actions for the over-fifties brigade. Thanks too to Dhayalan for later pointing out to everybody that I had 'read' the wrong green pitch before spinning for the toss. I honestly thought the large cracks and weeds would winkle them out early on. Turns out... that was last year's pitch!
At the end of the first innings carnage (and I WILL be reporting the Crawford teachers to Principal Mr. Pike for trying to demolish the school-building at every blow) there was not a spectator in sight who gave the Residents/Parents any hope of lasting more than a few overs. I noticed Bill Parr hiding under his hat in the shade, so thrilled was he about his team's chances!
And then, after Richard Wylie hit the first early 4 of the second innings to set the scene, in strode BIG Greg Hegland and Jack - the ROCK - Rahme to lambaste the youngsters with a barrage of fours and sixes never before seen on the Crawford Lonehill oval.
By the drinks break the Lonehill Residents/Parents were neck and neck with the 10-runs per over rate set by the Students/Teachers. Bill Parr was on the edge of his seat!
Here's the first lesson: Never accept a drink from your opposition when you're clearly going to beat them!
Something in the water at the drinks break caused us to have to pull our big guns off the pitch with groin strains, and whilst in the game till the last five overs, the Students/Teachers took unfair advantage of their severely-dehydrated and much, much OLDER opposition to put a stranglehold on the runs chase.
At the end, Mike Boulanger staged a remarkable rear-guard action to keep his big-hitting partners on strike, but alas, the Lonehill Residents/Parents had to capitulate to a highly-motivated and talented Crawford Lonehill Students/Teachers team.
The game was played in fantastic spirit and compliments must go to Crawford teacher, Peter Truscott, and his team. Dhayalan Naidoo hit the nail on the head when he said: 'These are fine young kids'. But don't be fooled, they were GIANTS and they could hit the ball a mile! Must cost their parents a fortune to feed them.
Thanks to the LRA for sponsorship of the morning. Great to have LRA Chairman, Rob Gillespie, and Director, Hamish McBain, there to take team photographs. Events like these bring quality Lonehillers out from the woodwork and who can each have an influential part to play in our community in their own little ways .Special mention to Sandy Bell, Lindy Boulanger, Shellwyn Nel and the other ladies and gents who helped with communications, buttered the rolls and and braaied the wors - especially Chris, Mike and Richard who batted, bowled and braaied in the midday sun. It's just not cricket without the smell of a braai!
The players thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed the morning... :-)
How did this event happen?
A few weeks ago, at the 'first' OPEN Lonehill feedback meeting of the year, LRA Chairman Rob Gillespie said that he liked the idea of a Lonehill Community Cricket event. The next day Crawford Lonehill Principal: Malcolm Pike was approached and a date arranged. An open invitation went out to find Lonehill residents interested in playing... and the game was on.
It is SIMPLE to make things happen in an organised community! It's really no big deal at all.
What's the potential outcome?
Crawford College Lonehill Students/Teachers want to have two such community challenge games per year (one in their fourth quarter, and one as yesterday in their first quarter). So a tradition has begun, and the Residents/Parents can plan for revenge at the end of the year.
Crawford College Principal, Malcolm Pike, is also interested in the concept of a 'Junior LRA Council' of Crawford students participating with the LRA to come up with and deliver on creative community project ideas. Why not open the idea up to ALL school-going youngsters in Lonehill?
For this writer, Crawford College Lonehill, if encouraged by residents through the LRA, is a largely untapped centre of enormous goodwill, offers superb focal-point facilities, and provides a reservoir of incredible talent within their mix of high-quality students, teachers and staff who can all can make an even more significant impact on this community in the future.
Finally, I just think that quality residents and business-people in our midst, like Simone Woods of Woods Estate, Harry Dare - Marketing Director of a large national wine and spirit brand, and Dhayalan Naidoo of Montecasino (just three that I spoke to) are more than ready, willing and able to use their influence for the betterment of residents in this community.
I get the feeling that relative youngsters like Richard Wylie, Ryan Moolman & Greg Hegland have much to give to this community by way of active participation. They just need to be encouraged to do so... and be provided with an LRA administration structure that SUPPORTS their activities and networking.
Simple community events like this will bring more quality residents together to openly share their thoughts and concerns for happenings in our community. Think about it, Harry Dare suggested a Dart's evening and/or a Wine & Whisky tasting evening from one of his product brands, Simone talked of Hockey (being her game), and what about Bowls on the smooth Crawford field?
There are all manner of ways - soccer, baseball, bingo, tiddlywinks, you name it and someone different will have an interest in it - to stimulate community interaction and to get to meet influential Lonehill people in their complexes, street enclosures, church groups, schools and businesses.
Just come up with the idea... don't overthink it... and make it happen!
Regards
Trevor Nel - 011 - 705-2790
Lonehill Resident
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