The second home match of the summer started with the best-dressed team – the Canterbury Over 60’s XI – that we’ve greeted for some time arriving in their #1’s. The NZ Veterans Cricket blazers pictured are available to players who have represented NZ in their various age grades, and the number on display gave the home skipper some cause for concern before the toss. It was also great to see so many familiar faces in the visiting side, as 7 of their players are Valley members also.
The Valley won the toss and elected to field given the damp outfield and the covered pitch having sweated slightly the night before.
Kurt Bayer opened the bowling well for the Valley and some hard work all round in the field paid off keeping the run rate down. After 10 overs the Over 60’s had put on 21 runs, then by drinks at 25 overs they’d got through to 43\3. Mike McHaffey (10) was unlucky to be run out by a piece of individual brilliance by Dan Byrne, and Kurt Bayer took a very timely and well-made catch in the deep to remove R Steele (16) who had settled in well as part of the Over 60’s opening partnership. Ollie Dugdale held a couple of sharp catches too, and when Bob Masefield (13) came out and drove his first ball for a superb straight boundary we had to change fielding placements quickly. Bob and Tony Gray (22) batted very well together putting on 33 for the 9th wicket, with the Over 60’s eventually dismissed in the 46th over for 123. The bowlers worked hard for the Valley, in total 7 being used, with Kent Gillman leaving the field after injuring his calf during his second spell. The wickets were shared around, only two bowlers snared more than one wicket – Warren Guy (8-2-19) and Tom Byrne (8-2-13), his older brother Dan Byrne bowling in tandem well at the other end with great stats of (8-1-9). Kurt Bayer had a good day out too returning (8-0-15).
A lovely setting for lunch under the trees (thanks again to hosts Scott, John and Nick) as the sun came out and the temperature increased noticeably as the Over 60’s took to the field. The Valley openers provided just the watchful start we needed and Stan Wooliscroft (8-1-33) got the first wicket of Ollie Dugdale (16) trapped LBW in the 14th over. The spinners continued the form with Tony Gray (8-1-19) bowling out Jono Collins (4) in the next over. Tom Music retired after a well compiled 51* leaving Dan Byrne (16*) and Kurt Bayer (11*) to finish the runs off in the 34th over with the total at 125\3.
A special mention must be made of the work Ant Polson and Geoff Olson have done at the ground – it looks an absolute picture, with the outfield playing very truly and the new block bedding in well.
We hope the match served its purpose for our visitors as they get game time to prepare for some tough competitions ahead – next weekend in Wellington and then National Championships in February 2021. Good luck to the Canterbury Team from us all at the Valley of Peace!
Jesse Tritschler
