The annual “grudge” match between some of Eurobodalla’s cricketing legends and the renowned ACT Over 60s side was hosted at Hanging Rock Oval by Batemans Bay Cricket Club on Sunday.
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The ACT side boasts some excellent players, not the least of which is their captain Murray Harrison who this week represents Australia in the Over 60s series against New Zealand.
However, the locals were neither over-awed nor outplayed, taking it right up to the more fancied ACT side, with the visitors only scraping a victory off the second last ball of the match, with the last batsman in.
The final scores were Eurobodalla Veterans 166 defeated by ACT Over 60s, 9 for 169 , with the ACT side retaining the Axelby- Miers Cup.
Best with the bat for Eurobodalla were Mick Earl (29), Chad Salmon (21), Mark Brown (32 ret.), Jeff Lucas (31 ret.) with solid support from Barry Cumberland and skipper Paul Cullen.
Lucas, Earl, Brown and Cullen also excelled with the ball, again with solid support from Les Roberts-Thompson, Bruce Dickinson Barry Cumberland and Brett Woolridge.
The ACT side was greatly enhanced by the appearance in their side of renowned Eurobodalla Veteran Tom Purcell, who made a well compiled 30 retired.
Their captain Murray Harrison top-scored with 39 n.o. and Jeff Martin also chipped in with 30 ret.
The match came down to the last over with ACT requiring six runs and Eurobodalla just the last wicket to win.
Skipper Paul Cullen bravely took the ball for the final over with ACT’s two top scorers, Harrison and Martin, at the crease.
The match-winning shot by Martin was a streaky edge through square-leg for a boundary.
Men-of-the-Match were Murray Harrison for ACT and Mark “Stringer” Brown for Eurobodalla who edged out Jeff Lucas.
The closeness of the result augers well for next year’s match and Skipper Paul Cullen, was gracious in defeat, and presented the Axelby-Miers Cup to his opposite with the assistance of Laura Miers, daughter of the late Peter Miers.