ROUND 13 West Warrion v Simpson
By Liam McCullagh
Chynny Time: Yours truly, Charlie Morrissy, Charlie Hynes, and Max Hutchinson. We have played with each other all through juniors – just on 10ish years. The two Charlie’s are the 19, Max, 20, and I’m 22.
If West Warrion had a cult hero, only one man would capture the fans like no one else. He’s incredibly passionate and verbose, but one of the funniest, most unique, and all-time quality blokes.
When he’s up and about, he makes cricket incredibly fun. He has the rarest one-liners I’ve ever heard, and although cricket is a similar shared experience for most who have played from all walks of life, I can guarantee no one has ever had a teammate like him.
He’s uniquely our own, and that’s why we love him. It’s Charlie Hynes, or ‘Chynny’ for short. He’s the self-proclaimed “best fielder in the club,” the son of club legend Dale, and a specialist Division 3 cricketer. That being said, he has put in some great performances this year and improved out of sight.
Chynny is close mates with Max Hutch and Charlie Morrissy, who play in the seconds, and with the final two rounds to play, we needed to sure up qualification for certain matches. Jamie Beale needed one more game to qualify for Division 3 finals, so we made the decision to play him down and give Chynny a run with his mates in the seconds.
His whites were still dirty from previous matches, so dirty in fact we started calling them browns.
“You need to clean your browns Chynny,” was heard several times in the field.
Breakfast of Champions: A Saturday staple – pre-match egg and bacon with an iced coffee from the Mini Mart
Opening the batting for Simpson were Joe Cain and Jay Bowman. Jay has always made runs against us. He is very strong through the leg side and sweats on anything short.
Our first chance came through a run-out. I was fielding at backward square leg. Ethan Coverdale was bowling to Joe Cain. An inside edge trickled into his leg and fell softly on the leg side. They scampered through for a single. I picked the ball up one-handed and threw towards the bowler’s end. I don’t think Joe was expecting the ball to go to his end, so he wasn’t running quickly and didn’t slide his bat. My throw hit the stumps on the full. Everyone on the ground thought it was out, even those on the sidelines — apart from the umpire, who shook his head and gave it not out.
It didn’t matter though. I picked up Joe in my next over, hitting one to point off a fullish drive. Craig Kerr took a very good catch.
Covers picked up the wicket of Bowman shortly after, chipping one to Morrissy at cover.
Bailey Vines played a couple of nice shots before slicing one over backward point. Max Hutch, who probably is the best fielder at the club, leapt high, twisting his body mid-air to contort so his right hand could outstretch and take the catch. It was a freakish athletic effort. I thanked Hutch for helping me pick up my second wicket.
Shaun Baines, a man with a face tattoo and a long ponytail coming out of his peaked hat, provided some resistance, scoring 18 from 22 and combining well with Jono Jennings.
A dairy farmer, Jono is a larrikin and synonymous with Simpson, “Mr Simpson,” if you will. He is a footballer for their senior team. He can also hit a very hard and long ball, as we saw several times throughout this match.
Baines was eventually dismissed, caught by Morrissy again off the bowling of Darcy Dwyer.
Ben Vogels was bowled by Darcy Dwyer for 4 before Jono launched Craig Kerr for a massive six. It went straight towards Liistro’s family on the sidelines, nearly hitting a pram. The next ball Jono went again, and despite hitting it just as hard, he didn’t get the loft. He held out to Max Hutch at deep midwicket.
At the 20-over drinks break, Simpson were 6–87. Craig picked up a further three wickets, leaving Simpson at 9–102. Chynny then came on to bowl and, despite landing one in the batsman’s half, he was very economical, going for 3 from his two overs.
Charlie Morrissy finished off the innings, picking up a wicket with his second ball bowling left-arm orthodox spin.
Wickets: Mozz happy with his work picking up a wicket
Simpson set us a total of 109, and we delivered up to our usual standard this week with the arvo tea spread, apart from Chynny, who in his big call-up to Division 2 brought Vegemite Shapes, which were still untouched even once the game finished.
Arvo Tea Spread: the last couple of Simpson wickets fell so quickly that none of the hot food (or mum’s signature quiche) were ready in time. It became a second course we could endulge in while watching Damo and Dave bat. Pictured is Jono eyeing off the spread.
Damo Wetemans and Dave Bennett got the team off to an absolute flier. Dave sweated on anything short. The two opening bowlers in father-son duo Kye and Shaun Baines went for 47 runs from 7 overs. Liam Ackerly then came on to bowl his very handy spin.
Our first wicket fell after an 84-run opening stand, as Dave departed for 40. Max Hutch tried to finish the game as quickly as possible, making 15 from 13 balls. Mozz joined Damo in the middle to finish the game, with an eight-wicket win. Damo, the pick of the batters, finished on 48 not out from 62 balls with five fours.
Game over: story time with Chynny
Another early finish saw us have a couple of beers at the ground before heading to the Ti Tree Hotel, where Mozz played Kenty in a game of pool.
Ti Tree Hotel: Every great cricket club needs a great home pub. Angus Bayne brought the Ti Tree around the middle of last year, and he has done a fantastic job in the short time he has owned it. Thanks for the cold ones, Angus.
Another solid hit-out for the boys as a top-of-the-table clash with Irrewarra awaits. Whoever wins will finish on top and secure a double chance. The loser will finish third and risk playing in an elimination final.
Bring it on.
More from Liam McCullagh can be read Here.
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