It was a great start to the Post Christmas season for the Stage 2 Wests Stars.
Graceville No.2 was the place to be if you were a supporter of the Stars. There was lots of excitement building for the first game of the season and the boys were looking forward to getting out onto their own Graceville turf pitches and showing off their skills. For some it was their first time on a turf wicket so that made it even more special as they pulled on their yellow caps and ran out onto the field.
Playing Souths Heat at home, Wests Stars won the toss and chose to bowl. Off they went, taking their positions in the field with Charlie, the opening bowler, ball in hand standing at his mark as the two Souths batsmen walked out to the centre.
Lachlan McCreath got our first breakthrough for the day, hitting the stumps of their no.2 batsmen, suddenly they were 1/17. We were steadily taking wickets, we were playing well and had them 3/24 but a few dropped chances later saw 2 of the batsmen start to form a partnership and they were building a nice little total. A few late wickets and we managed to have them 6/168 at the end of the 30 overs.
It was our turn to bat so out walked our two opening batmen, Andy McMahon and Miles Howlett. Miles had the unenviable task of facing the first ball, he was a bit nervous but did a smashing job and both boys retired not out. The boys gave us the start we needed and with two more batsmen retiring, the stage was set for Charlie Hinze to come in and make an impact. From the very first ball, his eye was in and before we knew it he was 32 of a mere 16 balls. “Leave him in” was the call from the coach as he hit another 4, and another, and another. With 2 sixes he managed to hit 52no off only 25 balls to help the Stars to a massive winning total of 243 runs, only losing 3 wickets.
Congratulations to Charlie Hinze on his 52no, what a way to start the season.
