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Game III of Season 2005/06
Monday 6th February 2006
Conditions: Fine & Windy
Toss: Porirua (elected to field)
Result: Hutt Valley won by 34 Runs
Man of the Match: Shukul Kachwalla
Monday 6th February 2006
Conditions: Fine & Windy
Toss: Porirua (elected to field)
Result: Hutt Valley won by 34 Runs
Man of the Match: Shukul Kachwalla
"The Hutt always looked in control of this match, with Cockburn and Kachwalla scoring useful fifties and Torrance doing his usual demolition job with the ball. Rose tried a valiant rearguard to steal the game, but the Hutt would not be denied."
Some days were just made to be epic - In 1954 we got the first Sub-Four-Minute Mile by Bannister, in 1974 we got The Rumble In The Jungle, in 2005 we got Liverpool's Unbelievable Win in the Champions League Final, and in 2006 we got Haywards Shield Game III. Waitangi Day. New Zealand's National Public Holiday.
This game was originally scheduled to be held a couple of weeks earlier. It was postponed because the Hutt Valley could not find enough players to field a team against Porirua, who had 5 players ready to go. Porirua, showing all their sportsmanship, decided not to take a win by default, and instead agreed to hold the match at a later date.
This allowed the Hutt to field a strong team. Torrance was again in the squad, and Kachwalla was also able to play, returning from the subcontinent to significantly bolster the Hutt's batting and bowling.
For the third time in a row, the Hutt Valley incorrectly predicted the fall of the coin, and Porirua again decided to field first. Overhead the sky was clear, and the temperature was warm without being excessively hot. Standing in his first Haywards Shield match was Indian umpire Jay Lagai'ia.
Denman got hold of the new ball with Kachwalla and Cockburn opening. Kachwalla played solidly in his first over, seeing off the dangerous Porirua quickie. Kachwalla loomed as a real problem-man for Porirua and dislodging him early would be important to their chances. Next over, McHugh did just that with a fast ball which ducked in and swung out like a slingshot - Kachwalla succeeded only in getting a fine edge to it and send him back to the hutch for 9. Porirua were jumping for joy.
Rose got to face Cockburn who played and missed at a few, looking very nervey and not-at-all-likely to play agressive shots, but later in the over that's exactly what he did - two monster sixes smacked back over the bowlers head to commence his innings. Torrance repeated the dose when he faced Spencer.
Rose, the captain, was sufficiently encouraged by the way Cockburn was playing to bowl himself again for the first over of the next round of bowling. Sensing blood, he brought the field up to the blonde-haired Hutt Valley dynamo in an effort to get a breakthrough. Cockburn negociated his way through yorkers, a few more plays-and-misses, and edges over the top of the backboard to frustrate Porirua and leave Rose with his arms in the air shouting "aaargh!".
But if the blue-and-gold faithful were shouting "aaargh!" in annoyance before, they would have been shouting "AAAAAH!" with big grins on their faces as they appealed to umpire Jay Lagai'ia for a caught-behind appeal for Torrance's dismissal next over. It was given - the decision never in real doubt. Porirua had now dismissed the Hutt's best two batsmen for 9 and 12. It was time to wrap the innings up quickly and cash in for a big first innings lead.
Cockburn, though, had other ideas. His legs were short, but his heart enourmous as he racked up runs left, right and centre against Spencer. 28 priceless runs were garnered in a single over for the Hutt, adding an air of respectability to their total.
Denman was brought on to bring a halt to things. Bowling to Au, the Malaysian Mauler really had absolutely no idea what was going on. Luckily for the sake of his glasses, the slaughter came to a halt with Denman cannoning one into the edge of Au's bat for him to depart for 7.
Cockburn, now batting alone, decided to use the "no bowled, LBW or hit wicket" Powerplay against McHugh and it brought further fruit in the form of a couple of grand sixes to bring up Cockburn's first half-century in the Haywards Shield, continuing his excellent batting form in 2005/06.
Finally Rose got another shot at the last man standing. He sent down a no-ball for height and a wide before bowling one that lifted sharply and forced Cockburn into a hasty pull shot which went high in the air towards foward-square-leg where McHugh was stationed. McHugh had the trees and a fence to contend with, but he negociated both beautifully and grabbed the ball in two hands - safe as houses - to end the Hutt innings with the score on 90 .
Porirua wasted no time in using their "no bowled, LBW or hit wicket" Powerplay. They brought it into effect the very first over of the day with Kachwalla bowling. The time overseas seems to have benefitted the Indian Iceman's bowling technique, as it was always on line, and always troubling. Having said that, the two Porirua openers Denman and McHugh played him superbly and got Porirua off to a good start.
That good start became very good when 12 was taken from Cockburn's next over, including a sublime four and a jolting six from Denman. When McHugh played a loose shot to Torrance, only to see his snick miss the auto-wickie board and sail down to third man, Porirua would have been inclined to think that things were going their way and they were on course for something special.
It was the Wainui Wunderkid who got the last laugh though. McHugh got hit on the leg and in a very controversial decision was given out by the umpire. McHugh was fuming as he trudged off with only 2 to his name, claiming he was a long way foward and hit high on the leg. 1 down for the blue-and-golds. Torrance's over was ended 1 ball early by the umpire, and it was over to Au to deliver to the remaining Porirua opener, Denman.
Denman let his bat do the talking. Au suffered some fearful hammer to the tune of 3 sixes and a four, Denman cutting loose like Hannibal Lecter on some rather tasty bowls.
Rose further strengthened Porirua's position, seeing off Kachwalla without too much difficulty. No runs were scored, but that scarcely mattered with runs coming thick and fast off Au and Cockburn. All that would be required would be to see Kachwalla and Torrance off, and score from Cockburn and Au.
But in this job, Denman could not succeed. with his score on 37, he fell victim to Torrance and to a caught behind dismissal for the 5th time in his Haywards Shield career. Torrance showed his true colours with some ripping, fast, accurate bowling and 2 for 2 became 3 for 2 in short order with Spencer lasting all of two balls before falling prey to the same bowler to the same dismissal in the same over. A double-wicket maiden over effectively ended Porirua's hopes of a first-innings lead. What could Rose conjure up to rescue the situation?
Very little as it turned out. After doing so well to survive Torrance and Kachwalla, Rose must have decided it was time to point his head to the sky and throw the bat at everything. He collected a strong six to his favourite hitting zone of square-leg/fine-leg, but the next ball missed a straight one and lost his stumps - big swing, no ding. Incidentally, Porirua's innings score was (you guessed it), 48.
So the Hutt had again managed a first-innings lead, just as they had managed to do in both of the other games of 2005/06. 42 runs is not to be sneezed at, but with Denman still lurking in the background and due for a big score, the Hutt knew they would still need plenty more runs if they were to be comfortable defending their total in the final Porirua chase to come.
That lofty ambition was rocked back on it's heels straight away as Denman opened the attack for Porirua. Cockburn, coming off his maiden Haywards Shield 50 in the first innings, ducked under one that he thought would be a no-ball - but what transpired saw the ball hit the stumps on the full. Cockburn had ducked a full toss on the stumps and was bowled for a golden duck!
Tremors of uncertainty became an earthquake of bedlam two balls later as Denman grabbed another scalp with the Hutt still yet to get off the mark. The ever-dangerous Torrance received a full toss which was arguably too high and could have been called a no-ball. Still, displaying uncharacteristic nerves, he spooned the ball in the air towards midwicket where McHugh was fielding beneath the trees. Running foward, McHugh took a tidy catch and Porirua were back in the game. The Hutt were at 2 wickets for no runs and in deep, deep trouble.
Enter Kachwalla.
The man from deepest, darkest India who had declared himself unavailable for 2005/06 marched in with a job to do - and boy did he do it.
Beginning with McHugh, Kachwalla set about his work in style. McHugh's first over was good, but Kachwalla's batsmanship was great. Spencer couldn't match the class that Kachwalla showed - runs being plundered off his bowling.
In between the Kachwalla carnage, Au left the fray with just 4 runs to his name. Continuing his disappointing 2005/06 season, Au tried to blast Denman over cow corner but got under it too much, sending the ball high in the air to the waiting arms of Spencer at midwicket.
It scarcely mattered. Kachwalla by now was building a mature innings. Calling the Fielders-Off Powerplay against Rose, he struck four 4's in an over, which was indicative of the chanceless way he built his knock. Rose got close to troubling him, but one always felt that Kachwalla had his measure. Porirua were in damage control mode.
McHugh tried to keep it tight, as did Denman, but Kachwalla was still scoring to all parts of the ground. Spencer again struggled, going for 20 runs in his second over. Finally, with Kachwalla looking to post his century, he went out swinging. Against McHugh he pounded a massive six back over the bowlers head, then edged one behind into the auto-wickie board. Dismissed for 95, Kachwalla would have to wait for another day to join the hundred-club, but it should take nothing away from what was a brilliant innings.
Porirua were now forlornly looking at a considerable run chase of 152 to win. They would need a great start.
Denman took strike. He scored a four off the first ball of the chase, then passed the buck to McHugh to see out the rest of Torrance's over which he managed to do. High drama followed when Kachwalla took to the bowling crease. Denman looked to be circumspect early on, but midway through the over, chipped a simple opportunity for caught-and-bowled back to Kachwalla. He had it in his grasp, but it somehow popped out and Denman survived. How costly would a missed chance like that be? Memories of Lees in Game II must have come flooding back. You could almost hear the collective scream of frustration from all the way over the Haywards Hill.
Denman took a liking to Cockburn's bowling, hitting a four and two sixes off his first three deliveries, but it would be a mistake in Porirua's own running between the wickets that would see the next wicket claimed. Denman guided the ball down to 3rd man and set off for the run, as Torrance set off after the ball. Completing the first run, a second was called. McHugh was guilty of ball-watching and only began running his hardest when he realised how fast Torrance had got to it, and how great his throw was. Running back to the Hill End of the ground, McHugh was found short of his ground as Torrance rocketed the ball over the top of the stumps for Cockburn to whip them off. 1 down.
Rose came in at the non-strikers end, and could scarcely have believed what happened next. Denman hit two fours off no-balls, missed a chance to get another then suffered a brain explosion going for the jugular against Cockburn. Trying to crack the ball to the cover fence, he mistimed the shot completely and only succeeded in giving Torrance the simplest of catches. Both the openers gone and only Rose and Spencer left. Victory for the Hutt was surely only a matter of time.
"Rose and Spencer" became "Rose" the next ball. Torrance was brought on and first ball of his second over removed Spencer for a golden duck with a minimum of fuss. Rose would have to do his best to get the runs on his own.
He made his intentions clear early. Rose, so often one to defend against Torrance and Kachwalla, instead decided to chance his arm. The first ball he faced was cut over the top of point for six. Kachwalla was not spared from Rose's attack either - conceding 14 runs in his over and not looking even remotely troubling to Rose. Unlike the first two games of 2005/06, Rose was looking to score all around the ground. One of his shots in the Kachwalla over was a memorable sweep shot which took off and cleared the trees at midwicket.
Torrance and Kachwalla finished for a couple of overs, Rose looked to really rev it up to top gear against Cockburn. When Cockburn got one of his deliveries wrong, seeing it bounce twice wide outside off-stump, Rose threw the kitchen sink at it. The result was a HUGE six to long-off... the longest part of the ground. 19 more runs to Rose off Cockburn's over.
Au could hardly have expected to have fared much better against Rose, and he didn't. Struggling to get his line right, Rose crunched him to square-leg and fine-leg again and again and again. 28 more for Rose who by now had passed 50 and had got the required runs down to just 35. Could he really do the impossible?
To win a game in those circumstances would have been the stuff that dreams are made of. But there was to be no fairytale ending for Rose or Porirua. Kachwalla came back on, and first ball of the over killed the game by bowling Rose on leg-stump for 64. Hutt Valley supporters came from everywhere and the men from over the hill celebrated back-to-back Haywards Shield wins with the series wrapped up 2-1.
Porirua must be heartened by the way they bounced back from the horror season of 2004/05. Both in batting and bowling they were always competitive, and never gave an inch - for them, 2005/06 will be a year which in the short-term will sting, but in later years may be looked back on as a turning point where they regained respectability. Hutt Valley on the other hand will enjoy the taste of sweet success, and revel in the fact that they will be the team to beat in 2006/07 with Torrance, Kachwalla, Williams and Cockburn all performing brilliantly this year.
The Rosebowl will now fall silent for another 10 months as the winter approaches, and everyone goes back to their places of study. Where there was cricket, potato guns, hill slides, tent camping, competition and camaraderie there will now only be the gentle sounds of sheep grazing. But you can be sure that 2006/07 will see yet another glorious chapter written into the Haywards Shield. We hope you can join us then.
This game was originally scheduled to be held a couple of weeks earlier. It was postponed because the Hutt Valley could not find enough players to field a team against Porirua, who had 5 players ready to go. Porirua, showing all their sportsmanship, decided not to take a win by default, and instead agreed to hold the match at a later date.
This allowed the Hutt to field a strong team. Torrance was again in the squad, and Kachwalla was also able to play, returning from the subcontinent to significantly bolster the Hutt's batting and bowling.
For the third time in a row, the Hutt Valley incorrectly predicted the fall of the coin, and Porirua again decided to field first. Overhead the sky was clear, and the temperature was warm without being excessively hot. Standing in his first Haywards Shield match was Indian umpire Jay Lagai'ia.
Denman got hold of the new ball with Kachwalla and Cockburn opening. Kachwalla played solidly in his first over, seeing off the dangerous Porirua quickie. Kachwalla loomed as a real problem-man for Porirua and dislodging him early would be important to their chances. Next over, McHugh did just that with a fast ball which ducked in and swung out like a slingshot - Kachwalla succeeded only in getting a fine edge to it and send him back to the hutch for 9. Porirua were jumping for joy.
Rose got to face Cockburn who played and missed at a few, looking very nervey and not-at-all-likely to play agressive shots, but later in the over that's exactly what he did - two monster sixes smacked back over the bowlers head to commence his innings. Torrance repeated the dose when he faced Spencer.
Rose, the captain, was sufficiently encouraged by the way Cockburn was playing to bowl himself again for the first over of the next round of bowling. Sensing blood, he brought the field up to the blonde-haired Hutt Valley dynamo in an effort to get a breakthrough. Cockburn negociated his way through yorkers, a few more plays-and-misses, and edges over the top of the backboard to frustrate Porirua and leave Rose with his arms in the air shouting "aaargh!".
But if the blue-and-gold faithful were shouting "aaargh!" in annoyance before, they would have been shouting "AAAAAH!" with big grins on their faces as they appealed to umpire Jay Lagai'ia for a caught-behind appeal for Torrance's dismissal next over. It was given - the decision never in real doubt. Porirua had now dismissed the Hutt's best two batsmen for 9 and 12. It was time to wrap the innings up quickly and cash in for a big first innings lead.
Cockburn, though, had other ideas. His legs were short, but his heart enourmous as he racked up runs left, right and centre against Spencer. 28 priceless runs were garnered in a single over for the Hutt, adding an air of respectability to their total.
Denman was brought on to bring a halt to things. Bowling to Au, the Malaysian Mauler really had absolutely no idea what was going on. Luckily for the sake of his glasses, the slaughter came to a halt with Denman cannoning one into the edge of Au's bat for him to depart for 7.
Cockburn, now batting alone, decided to use the "no bowled, LBW or hit wicket" Powerplay against McHugh and it brought further fruit in the form of a couple of grand sixes to bring up Cockburn's first half-century in the Haywards Shield, continuing his excellent batting form in 2005/06.
Finally Rose got another shot at the last man standing. He sent down a no-ball for height and a wide before bowling one that lifted sharply and forced Cockburn into a hasty pull shot which went high in the air towards foward-square-leg where McHugh was stationed. McHugh had the trees and a fence to contend with, but he negociated both beautifully and grabbed the ball in two hands - safe as houses - to end the Hutt innings with the score on 90 .
Porirua wasted no time in using their "no bowled, LBW or hit wicket" Powerplay. They brought it into effect the very first over of the day with Kachwalla bowling. The time overseas seems to have benefitted the Indian Iceman's bowling technique, as it was always on line, and always troubling. Having said that, the two Porirua openers Denman and McHugh played him superbly and got Porirua off to a good start.
That good start became very good when 12 was taken from Cockburn's next over, including a sublime four and a jolting six from Denman. When McHugh played a loose shot to Torrance, only to see his snick miss the auto-wickie board and sail down to third man, Porirua would have been inclined to think that things were going their way and they were on course for something special.
It was the Wainui Wunderkid who got the last laugh though. McHugh got hit on the leg and in a very controversial decision was given out by the umpire. McHugh was fuming as he trudged off with only 2 to his name, claiming he was a long way foward and hit high on the leg. 1 down for the blue-and-golds. Torrance's over was ended 1 ball early by the umpire, and it was over to Au to deliver to the remaining Porirua opener, Denman.
Denman let his bat do the talking. Au suffered some fearful hammer to the tune of 3 sixes and a four, Denman cutting loose like Hannibal Lecter on some rather tasty bowls.
Rose further strengthened Porirua's position, seeing off Kachwalla without too much difficulty. No runs were scored, but that scarcely mattered with runs coming thick and fast off Au and Cockburn. All that would be required would be to see Kachwalla and Torrance off, and score from Cockburn and Au.
But in this job, Denman could not succeed. with his score on 37, he fell victim to Torrance and to a caught behind dismissal for the 5th time in his Haywards Shield career. Torrance showed his true colours with some ripping, fast, accurate bowling and 2 for 2 became 3 for 2 in short order with Spencer lasting all of two balls before falling prey to the same bowler to the same dismissal in the same over. A double-wicket maiden over effectively ended Porirua's hopes of a first-innings lead. What could Rose conjure up to rescue the situation?
Very little as it turned out. After doing so well to survive Torrance and Kachwalla, Rose must have decided it was time to point his head to the sky and throw the bat at everything. He collected a strong six to his favourite hitting zone of square-leg/fine-leg, but the next ball missed a straight one and lost his stumps - big swing, no ding. Incidentally, Porirua's innings score was (you guessed it), 48.
So the Hutt had again managed a first-innings lead, just as they had managed to do in both of the other games of 2005/06. 42 runs is not to be sneezed at, but with Denman still lurking in the background and due for a big score, the Hutt knew they would still need plenty more runs if they were to be comfortable defending their total in the final Porirua chase to come.
That lofty ambition was rocked back on it's heels straight away as Denman opened the attack for Porirua. Cockburn, coming off his maiden Haywards Shield 50 in the first innings, ducked under one that he thought would be a no-ball - but what transpired saw the ball hit the stumps on the full. Cockburn had ducked a full toss on the stumps and was bowled for a golden duck!
Tremors of uncertainty became an earthquake of bedlam two balls later as Denman grabbed another scalp with the Hutt still yet to get off the mark. The ever-dangerous Torrance received a full toss which was arguably too high and could have been called a no-ball. Still, displaying uncharacteristic nerves, he spooned the ball in the air towards midwicket where McHugh was fielding beneath the trees. Running foward, McHugh took a tidy catch and Porirua were back in the game. The Hutt were at 2 wickets for no runs and in deep, deep trouble.
Enter Kachwalla.
The man from deepest, darkest India who had declared himself unavailable for 2005/06 marched in with a job to do - and boy did he do it.
Beginning with McHugh, Kachwalla set about his work in style. McHugh's first over was good, but Kachwalla's batsmanship was great. Spencer couldn't match the class that Kachwalla showed - runs being plundered off his bowling.
In between the Kachwalla carnage, Au left the fray with just 4 runs to his name. Continuing his disappointing 2005/06 season, Au tried to blast Denman over cow corner but got under it too much, sending the ball high in the air to the waiting arms of Spencer at midwicket.
It scarcely mattered. Kachwalla by now was building a mature innings. Calling the Fielders-Off Powerplay against Rose, he struck four 4's in an over, which was indicative of the chanceless way he built his knock. Rose got close to troubling him, but one always felt that Kachwalla had his measure. Porirua were in damage control mode.
McHugh tried to keep it tight, as did Denman, but Kachwalla was still scoring to all parts of the ground. Spencer again struggled, going for 20 runs in his second over. Finally, with Kachwalla looking to post his century, he went out swinging. Against McHugh he pounded a massive six back over the bowlers head, then edged one behind into the auto-wickie board. Dismissed for 95, Kachwalla would have to wait for another day to join the hundred-club, but it should take nothing away from what was a brilliant innings.
Porirua were now forlornly looking at a considerable run chase of 152 to win. They would need a great start.
Denman took strike. He scored a four off the first ball of the chase, then passed the buck to McHugh to see out the rest of Torrance's over which he managed to do. High drama followed when Kachwalla took to the bowling crease. Denman looked to be circumspect early on, but midway through the over, chipped a simple opportunity for caught-and-bowled back to Kachwalla. He had it in his grasp, but it somehow popped out and Denman survived. How costly would a missed chance like that be? Memories of Lees in Game II must have come flooding back. You could almost hear the collective scream of frustration from all the way over the Haywards Hill.
Denman took a liking to Cockburn's bowling, hitting a four and two sixes off his first three deliveries, but it would be a mistake in Porirua's own running between the wickets that would see the next wicket claimed. Denman guided the ball down to 3rd man and set off for the run, as Torrance set off after the ball. Completing the first run, a second was called. McHugh was guilty of ball-watching and only began running his hardest when he realised how fast Torrance had got to it, and how great his throw was. Running back to the Hill End of the ground, McHugh was found short of his ground as Torrance rocketed the ball over the top of the stumps for Cockburn to whip them off. 1 down.
Rose came in at the non-strikers end, and could scarcely have believed what happened next. Denman hit two fours off no-balls, missed a chance to get another then suffered a brain explosion going for the jugular against Cockburn. Trying to crack the ball to the cover fence, he mistimed the shot completely and only succeeded in giving Torrance the simplest of catches. Both the openers gone and only Rose and Spencer left. Victory for the Hutt was surely only a matter of time.
"Rose and Spencer" became "Rose" the next ball. Torrance was brought on and first ball of his second over removed Spencer for a golden duck with a minimum of fuss. Rose would have to do his best to get the runs on his own.
He made his intentions clear early. Rose, so often one to defend against Torrance and Kachwalla, instead decided to chance his arm. The first ball he faced was cut over the top of point for six. Kachwalla was not spared from Rose's attack either - conceding 14 runs in his over and not looking even remotely troubling to Rose. Unlike the first two games of 2005/06, Rose was looking to score all around the ground. One of his shots in the Kachwalla over was a memorable sweep shot which took off and cleared the trees at midwicket.
Torrance and Kachwalla finished for a couple of overs, Rose looked to really rev it up to top gear against Cockburn. When Cockburn got one of his deliveries wrong, seeing it bounce twice wide outside off-stump, Rose threw the kitchen sink at it. The result was a HUGE six to long-off... the longest part of the ground. 19 more runs to Rose off Cockburn's over.
Au could hardly have expected to have fared much better against Rose, and he didn't. Struggling to get his line right, Rose crunched him to square-leg and fine-leg again and again and again. 28 more for Rose who by now had passed 50 and had got the required runs down to just 35. Could he really do the impossible?
To win a game in those circumstances would have been the stuff that dreams are made of. But there was to be no fairytale ending for Rose or Porirua. Kachwalla came back on, and first ball of the over killed the game by bowling Rose on leg-stump for 64. Hutt Valley supporters came from everywhere and the men from over the hill celebrated back-to-back Haywards Shield wins with the series wrapped up 2-1.
Porirua must be heartened by the way they bounced back from the horror season of 2004/05. Both in batting and bowling they were always competitive, and never gave an inch - for them, 2005/06 will be a year which in the short-term will sting, but in later years may be looked back on as a turning point where they regained respectability. Hutt Valley on the other hand will enjoy the taste of sweet success, and revel in the fact that they will be the team to beat in 2006/07 with Torrance, Kachwalla, Williams and Cockburn all performing brilliantly this year.
The Rosebowl will now fall silent for another 10 months as the winter approaches, and everyone goes back to their places of study. Where there was cricket, potato guns, hill slides, tent camping, competition and camaraderie there will now only be the gentle sounds of sheep grazing. But you can be sure that 2006/07 will see yet another glorious chapter written into the Haywards Shield. We hope you can join us then.
