Bouncing back from a loss the previous week was always the plan for ORC’s Presidents Cup co-captain, Scott Hines. But he would have surely liked to do it in a less stressful manner!

Needing 11 from the final over of the innings for victory, Mark Fulthorpe remained cool as a cucumber, and some great pressure fielding restricted a depleted Redbacks side to 8 and in doing so, secured ORC’s second win for the season in the BDCA Presidents Cup competition.

After winning the toss and batting, it was sensible batting from openers Mark Day and Ricky Webb, who put on 134 runs for the first wicket. Webb was the first to fall, 4 runs short of his maiden grade half century, caught for 46. Similarly looking good for his first century in grade cricket, Day was gone three balls later, skying a catch and out for a well made 75.

With 10 overs remaining, and the score on 136, Grant Hines and Scott Hines managed to avoid running each other out, and set to work on pushing the runs. And push they did. A 70 run partnership came off just 6 overs, with Scotty in imposing form.

Grant was finally bowled for a well made 18, giving great support to Scott. Replaced by Braydon Breen, the runs continued to flow. After 40 overs, ORC had set their opposition a massive chase of 252, achieved for the loss of only 3 wickets.

Braydon finished with 18 not out, scored at faster than a run a ball, while Scott finished unbeaten on 73, amazingly scored off only 29 balls. His knock featured 7 sixes and 5 fours – 62 of his 73 runs in boundaries.

Only having 9 batsmen, Redbacks were likely to come out and attack. And they didn’t disappoint.

Captain Luke Bingham attacked from the off, punishing anything that was marginally wide, taking 13 off Nick Gorrell’s second over and 20 off Braydon’s fifth over. Usually among the tightest bowlers in the side, Nick finished his first 5 overs with figures of 1/32 while Braydon finished with 1/40, although he did snare a brilliant caught and bowled chance.

Some great fielding early on by Eliza Bunner also saved countless runs, including stopping two balls seemingly destined for the boundary.

Some tight bowling from Scott managed to stem the flow of runs somewhat, however by drinks, Redbacks had amassed a score of 2/142, with Bingahm looking good for a ton on 85 and getting good support from young batsman Rory Deburgher.

Needing a wicket, Scott threw the ball back to Gorrell after the drinks break, knowing it was a gamble to bowl his openers now as opposed to the end of the innings, but it was a decision that paid off handsomely, with Nick bowling the danger-man Bingham with his first delivery and finishing with the slightly better figures of 2/43 (8). Braydon also tightened the run flow, only conceding 7 runs in his final 3 overs to finish with figures of 1/47 (8).

Mark Day took his almost now customary 3 wickets, snaring 3 quick scalps before the Redbacks batsmen took to him in his final over, finishing with figures of 3/22 from 3, with yet another classic catch taken by Alex Davey.

With ORC unable to snare more wickets, the game increasingly came down to the wire. Some poor ORC fielding and good batting drew Redbacks ever closer to an unlikely victory. Eventually, ORC would get home due to some improved desperation fielding and tight bowling by Fully, but it was a great game and a fantastic effort by Redbacks who should be congratulated for playing the game in the spirit it deserves.

Next weekend sees ORC take on City Colts in a Grand Final re-match at Police Paddock.

Best and Fairest for the game:

Senior 2 – Scott Hines
Senior 1 – Alex Davey

Junior 2 – Mark Day
Junior 1 – Ricky Webb