PCA Masters XI v Australian Masters XI
Tuesday 8th September 2009 - The Sir Paul Getty Ground, Wormsley
After such a mixed year weather-wise, it was a great relief to find this most beautiful of grounds bathed in late summer sunshine for this much-anticipated match between the oldest cricketing rivals. The teams included Ashes legends on both sides and on winning the toss, Aussie skipper Stuart Law chose to bat first.
It proved to be a sound choice as Ian Harvey and Mark Cosgrove set about an experienced English attack that included skipper Darren Gough, Martin Bicknell and Darren Cork. The Aussies were going at more than ten an over at the half way mark but with Harvey (73 from 44 balls) and Cosgrove (52 from 23) back in the hutch, wickets fell regularly and the Australians finished on 196 for 5. The best bowling return for the English Masters was from the former Essex star Peter Such with 2-37 from his four overs.
In the English innings, the years were rolled back with an opening attack consisting of Jeff Thomson and Rodney Hogg, two of the greatest bowlers of the 70's and 80's. Combined with some useful overs from some of the younger members of the attack (Ian Hewett 2-32) and Simon Cook (1-29), they restricted the English scoring which never achieved the required rate of nearly 10 an over. The best English innings came from Leicestershire and England veteran Paul Nixon who struck a solid 54 from 38 balls.
The England innings therefore closed on 173 for 8, giving the Aussie Masters some small Ashes revenge with a 23 run victory.
Click here for the full scorecard.
With Thanks
Jenni Osborne, mother of Ben the mascot wrote: 'Thank you so much for such a terrific day. One Ben, Justin and I will remember forever. Please pass on our thanks to both teams for making him so welcome on and off the pitch and allowing him to bowl!'
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