Round 6: Saturday, 24 June 2023 Over 60s Division 2 Ipswich Hornets vs Toowoomba Grey Cavaliers

The Over 60s Division 2 Hornets were greeted with a cloudless winter sky at picturesque Ropehill for their clash with the Toowoomba Grey Cavaliers. The day did not start well, losing the toss and being sent in on what proved to be an absolute belter with a fast outfield.

From the outset, the Hornets went about setting up a winning total, Brad Hines (40*) and Gary Copeland (47*) in a brutal opening stand. At the first drinks break, the Hornets were 134 without loss. Doug Meagher (25) and Brian Olsen (31) continued to pile on quick runs while Darryl O’Sullivan (44*) gave the crowd a master class on how to play the ‘cut’. At the second drinks break the Hornets were 3 for 271 with the opposition asking if we wished to declare! Bill Jeffrey (64*) was having none of that and also retired in a typical ‘WillyBilly’ innings. Col Taylor held the back end together allowing Hines (40) and then Copeland (81*) to return to the crease and progress the score to a very impressive 359 for the loss of 7 wickets at almost 8 runs per over. The Hornets innings featured many fine partnerships which paved the way to their total. Rohan Brown picked up 2 wickets and Rob Whittaker was the most miserly Toowoomba bowler with 1 for 41 off his 8 overs for their team. The Cavaliers paid dearly for dropping Copeland twice early in his innings.

The Cavaliers innings got away to a slow start, 2 for 61 at the first drinks break. Mark Gillespie (37) top scored for Toowoomba before chopping on. The Hornets bowlers and fielders continued with the containment strategy and had slowed proceedings, slowing the run rate and at the second drinks break the Cavaliers were 3 for 126 with plenty of work to do. The middle order of Alan Donges (19*), Bob Englebright (30*) and Steve Scarlett (25*) all retired not out without accelerating the scoring. The bowlers continued their strategy of containment in the last stanza, the Cavalier’s final total of 5 for 204. In a day where the bat dominated the ball, Bill Jeffrey with his 2 for 23 off his 8 overs was outstanding and the pick of the bowlers.

If there was to be a Spirit Of Cricket Award it would go to Toowoomba’s Bob Englebright who chased Ipswich leather for 45 overs and then fielded for Ipswich when Dave Wingett left the field in some discomfort.

Man of the match for Ipswich was Gary ‘The Rudder’ Copeland with 81*. Toowoomba’s best was Bob Englebright with 30* and a tidy performance behind the stumps.