Round 7: Saturday, 15 July 2023 Over 60s Division 1 Ipswich Hornets vs Toowoomba Grey Cavaliers

The Hornets were met with an overcast mild day for their last game of the season in a battle for the wooden spoon against the Toowoomba Grey Cavaliers. Although it was a home game for the Hornets, all games were held at the Northern Suburbs Cricket Club. The grounds were in great shape, Toowoomba won the toss and elected to bat on a hard flat wicket and lightning outfield.

The Cavaliers got away to a great start with Australian representative Allan Bougoure (27) punishing any short ball to the boundary while his opening partner Jim Grassick was content to play a more subdued game. A fired up Ray Zahnow finally knocked over Bougoure, then David Reuter and Grassick in quick succession, the total at first drinks was 3/61. The second stanza belonged to the Hornets with Freiberg and Venzke making inroads into the middle order and the Cavaliers were struggling at 8/113 at the second drinks break. John Milton provided stubborn resistance for his 19* off 40 balls. Bob Englebright came to the crease and set about a rear guard action. Any short ball with flicked away to the boundary, eventually Bob got an edge and was out for 29. The Cavaliers were all out for 164.

For once the Hornets bowlers had some luck and some chances stuck including one from skipper Murray Rogers, a superb one handed grab at first slip to get rid of the Toowoomba captain Ian Reimers, Geoff Freiberg (3/25) and Ray Zahnow (3/39) were the pick.

After lunch, the Hornets openers Darryl O’Sullivan and Bungee Freiberg did not waste time in chasing down the target. With O’Sullivan (25), Copeland (20) and then Zahnow (24) back in the sheds the Hornets were 3/92 at the first drinks break and the Hornets were well in command. A steady fall of wickets had the Hornets struggling at 6/139 at the second drinks break, the Toowoomba slow bowlers got them back in the game. When Darren Mallett (12*) retired not out giving the Hornets a recycled batter to return, the home side cruised home but not without some anxious moments with one wicket to spare. Freiberg returned to the crease to hit the winning run in the 38th over. Brad Cochrane was Toowoomba’s best with remarkable figures of 3/10 of his 8 overs. The Wooden Spoon goes up the range.

Man of the match for Ipswich was Ray Zahnow with 24 runs of 24 balls and a 3/39. Toowoomba’s best was Brad Cochrane his 3/10 and 16 runs.