The Popped Collars are the Kaleen indoor cricket champions for 2013 after comfortably defeating the Gold Diggers in the grand final on Friday night. The match played out almost exactly as the prediction in last week's post described, but with a greater margin of victory. Following is a grand final match report, and comparison with the predicted outcome:
Showing posts with label Premiership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Premiership. Show all posts
Monday, 23 September 2013
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
"The Champions"
The Champions - The Popped Collars indoor cricket team. Left (front to back): Julian, Gareth, Andy. Right (front to back): Jake, Xavier, Rian, Brad. Background: The non-champion team.
"The Champions"
A tribute by B.Lockley & F.Mercury
A tribute by B.Lockley & F.Mercury
I've paid my dues -
Time after time -
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -
But I've come through
Time after time -
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -
But I've come through
We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the Weston Creek Indoor Cricket Centre -
I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls -
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it -
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the Weston Creek Indoor Cricket Centre -
I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls -
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it -
I thank you all -
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
And I ain't gonna lose -
We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the Weston Creek Indoor Cricket Centre –
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
And I ain't gonna lose -
We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the Weston Creek Indoor Cricket Centre –
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Grand Final Glory
In an absolute thriller of a grand final, it was the Popped Collars who prevailed by 2 runs over ASG to clinch their second premiership from the last three seasons.
Monday, 30 August 2010
GG Premiership Victory!
Following the success of the Popped Collars last season, Friday night saw the claiming of a second consecutive premiership for the team through their offshoot 6-a-side institution, GG. The Grand Final victory was made all the more sweet by the fact that it was over a extremely vocal Indian Kangaroos - the team's arch rivals throughout the competition.
GG and the Kangaroos had met twice during the regular season, and had been in a constant struggle for top place on the ladder. On the first occasion the Kangaroos defeated a rather understrenth GG team quite comfortably. In the second encounter, the Kangaroos pulled off the narrowest of victories by scoring a three (doubled to make six) off the final ball of the match to win by 2 runs. They also held on to top spot on the ladder by a narrow margin for almost the entire season - in the end holding the position by just 6 points over GG.
The two teams dominated the competition; the only other team that looked like being a chance were the Wickies who were unfortunately disdvantaged by being placed in the top grade for the first portion of the season, and then were only able to come back enough to finish 5th.
The Grand Final itself started with an extremely lucky batting pair for the Indian Kangaroos. They managed to poke around with shots off the edge, shots off the body, awkward bounces of the ball out of net corners, missed chances by the fielders, and at least one umpiring decision in their favour. Through all of that they lost no wickets and scored 47 to give the Kangaroos a solid start to the game.
From there it all went to GG. The second pair played more aggressively, and the bowlers and fielders took advantage, keeping them below 30. The third pair played more aggresively still, and scored less runs still - unable to even reach 20.
Chasing an opposition total of just 92, it was the captain leading from the front. Brad and Sanjit batted first with plenty of safe play interspersed with the occasional putting away of a bad delivery. Brad made a solid 43 in a partnership of almost 60.
Rian and Xavier continued accumulating runs by incorporating the much-unloved "pro indoor" style of play. It was unexciting, but with the Kangaroos persisting with 2 fielders on the back net for the entire game, it was ridiculously easy to rack up the runs.
The final over of this pair brought some life back to the game. Rian popped the first ball up on the off side, but the fielder completely misjudged a catching chance. Xavier mishit a shot to the back net, presenting a sitter of a catch to the fielder there, who proceeded to drop it. The bowler was ropeable. And then... on the final ball... the game came alive! Xavier, with his team clearly on ttrack for victory, was looking to bring some excitement back to the match. He charged, swung, was beaten by a slower spinning ball, and was stumped, for -10 runs.
...and the Kangaroos bowler celebrated. Well, celebrated may be an understatement - he was down on one knee, he was pumping his fists, he was roaring with jubilation. Never have I seen such an exquisitely out-of-proportion (but still genuine) celebration of a wicket. GG still led by a run with an entire batting pair still to come, but the excitement was that of a man who had just taken a wicket from the last ball of the match to claim victory.
Even the umpire on the next court was enthralled by the celebration, and decided that this game must be the one to watch.
Throughout the final batting pair, with the result of the cricket game beyond doubt, there was a new competition underway... which team could roar the loudest in approval of and support for themselves. But the Indian Kangaroos could not even win this battle. While they cheered, high-fived, back-patted, and jumped around at the fall of every wicket, GG (and their small cheer squad) were screaming at everything else. Twos, singles, dot-balls, leaves outside the off stump, wides... everything that didn't lose them runs brought a roar of approval. GG officially claimed victory in the shouting match when some guys off-court in another game called for them to "Shut The F#@& Up!!"
The final over was subdued , but Andy continued to strike blows in the mental battle by asking for all 4 wides to be rebowled by the man who started the outrageous celebrations 4 overs before.
Upstairs after the game, GG indulged in jugs of beer, plates of wedges, beer glasses of victory and premiership shirts of glory. The unfortunate part of it all was that Gareth - the man whose oft-injured groin was the namesake and mascot of the team - was not around to share in the moment.
GG shall now be retired from indoor cricket with a 100% premiership record.
GG and the Kangaroos had met twice during the regular season, and had been in a constant struggle for top place on the ladder. On the first occasion the Kangaroos defeated a rather understrenth GG team quite comfortably. In the second encounter, the Kangaroos pulled off the narrowest of victories by scoring a three (doubled to make six) off the final ball of the match to win by 2 runs. They also held on to top spot on the ladder by a narrow margin for almost the entire season - in the end holding the position by just 6 points over GG.
The two teams dominated the competition; the only other team that looked like being a chance were the Wickies who were unfortunately disdvantaged by being placed in the top grade for the first portion of the season, and then were only able to come back enough to finish 5th.
The Grand Final itself started with an extremely lucky batting pair for the Indian Kangaroos. They managed to poke around with shots off the edge, shots off the body, awkward bounces of the ball out of net corners, missed chances by the fielders, and at least one umpiring decision in their favour. Through all of that they lost no wickets and scored 47 to give the Kangaroos a solid start to the game.
From there it all went to GG. The second pair played more aggressively, and the bowlers and fielders took advantage, keeping them below 30. The third pair played more aggresively still, and scored less runs still - unable to even reach 20.
Chasing an opposition total of just 92, it was the captain leading from the front. Brad and Sanjit batted first with plenty of safe play interspersed with the occasional putting away of a bad delivery. Brad made a solid 43 in a partnership of almost 60.
Rian and Xavier continued accumulating runs by incorporating the much-unloved "pro indoor" style of play. It was unexciting, but with the Kangaroos persisting with 2 fielders on the back net for the entire game, it was ridiculously easy to rack up the runs.
The final over of this pair brought some life back to the game. Rian popped the first ball up on the off side, but the fielder completely misjudged a catching chance. Xavier mishit a shot to the back net, presenting a sitter of a catch to the fielder there, who proceeded to drop it. The bowler was ropeable. And then... on the final ball... the game came alive! Xavier, with his team clearly on ttrack for victory, was looking to bring some excitement back to the match. He charged, swung, was beaten by a slower spinning ball, and was stumped, for -10 runs.
...and the Kangaroos bowler celebrated. Well, celebrated may be an understatement - he was down on one knee, he was pumping his fists, he was roaring with jubilation. Never have I seen such an exquisitely out-of-proportion (but still genuine) celebration of a wicket. GG still led by a run with an entire batting pair still to come, but the excitement was that of a man who had just taken a wicket from the last ball of the match to claim victory.
Even the umpire on the next court was enthralled by the celebration, and decided that this game must be the one to watch.
Throughout the final batting pair, with the result of the cricket game beyond doubt, there was a new competition underway... which team could roar the loudest in approval of and support for themselves. But the Indian Kangaroos could not even win this battle. While they cheered, high-fived, back-patted, and jumped around at the fall of every wicket, GG (and their small cheer squad) were screaming at everything else. Twos, singles, dot-balls, leaves outside the off stump, wides... everything that didn't lose them runs brought a roar of approval. GG officially claimed victory in the shouting match when some guys off-court in another game called for them to "Shut The F#@& Up!!"
The final over was subdued , but Andy continued to strike blows in the mental battle by asking for all 4 wides to be rebowled by the man who started the outrageous celebrations 4 overs before.
Upstairs after the game, GG indulged in jugs of beer, plates of wedges, beer glasses of victory and premiership shirts of glory. The unfortunate part of it all was that Gareth - the man whose oft-injured groin was the namesake and mascot of the team - was not around to share in the moment.
GG shall now be retired from indoor cricket with a 100% premiership record.
Monday, 22 March 2010
Special PREMIERSHIP Edition
Before we begin... the latest Stats Program and Stats Data are now permanently available in some links on the right hand side-bar of the blog ---->>
Popped Collars tonight showed that the key to success at indoor cricket is SERIOUSNESS! After spending many seasons, under many names, at various indoor cricket centers, unable to have any kind of success, the Popped Collars this season decided it was time to get serious - and it has payed off immediately, claiming the top grade premiership in their first "serious" season.
Victory tonight was comprehensive, after restricting minor premiers "4 Skins" to a team total of just 35. The bowlers took advantage of the new and good quality balls used for finals, and the fielding was near-flawless. The 4-Skins were a player short, but given the way the two teams performed on the night, it probably didn't alter the final result.
Jake began the match by clean bowling 4-Skin opener Chris on the opening jackpot ball. From there on things never got much better for the batting team. The opening pair made 7, and the second poked around for 28. Jake ended with figures of 3/-9, while Xavier, bowling late in the game, troubled the last 2 pairs as he took 4/-11 in helping to restrict the last two batting pairs to 9 and -9.
Even when the 4-Skins weren't getting out, they were also having trouble making runs. The back net was only hit twice during the entire innings, and both of them took the side-back route.
A change in batting order for the Popped Collars saw Rian and Gareth open, and despite starting the game with a dot ball and then a run-out, they made their way to a total of 33. Brad and Andrew kept the game interesting as they struggled to get things right and made a 4-Skin-esque total of -14. But the game never really looked like going any way other than a Popped Collars victory. Jake and Andy guided the ball around for a solid 46, including 36 from Jake earning him the player-of-the-match award. Jules and Xavier brought it home with a 59 - assisted by being able to choose 2 of their bowlers, and the opposition already having given up on the match.
See this week's 'Stat of the Week' on the right for individual performances from the GF.
Popped Collars tonight showed that the key to success at indoor cricket is SERIOUSNESS! After spending many seasons, under many names, at various indoor cricket centers, unable to have any kind of success, the Popped Collars this season decided it was time to get serious - and it has payed off immediately, claiming the top grade premiership in their first "serious" season.
Victory tonight was comprehensive, after restricting minor premiers "4 Skins" to a team total of just 35. The bowlers took advantage of the new and good quality balls used for finals, and the fielding was near-flawless. The 4-Skins were a player short, but given the way the two teams performed on the night, it probably didn't alter the final result.
Jake began the match by clean bowling 4-Skin opener Chris on the opening jackpot ball. From there on things never got much better for the batting team. The opening pair made 7, and the second poked around for 28. Jake ended with figures of 3/-9, while Xavier, bowling late in the game, troubled the last 2 pairs as he took 4/-11 in helping to restrict the last two batting pairs to 9 and -9.
Even when the 4-Skins weren't getting out, they were also having trouble making runs. The back net was only hit twice during the entire innings, and both of them took the side-back route.
A change in batting order for the Popped Collars saw Rian and Gareth open, and despite starting the game with a dot ball and then a run-out, they made their way to a total of 33. Brad and Andrew kept the game interesting as they struggled to get things right and made a 4-Skin-esque total of -14. But the game never really looked like going any way other than a Popped Collars victory. Jake and Andy guided the ball around for a solid 46, including 36 from Jake earning him the player-of-the-match award. Jules and Xavier brought it home with a 59 - assisted by being able to choose 2 of their bowlers, and the opposition already having given up on the match.
See this week's 'Stat of the Week' on the right for individual performances from the GF.
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