The Sumner Blues Get Oh So Close

The newly formed/resurrected Sumner feeder side (Sumner Blues) kicked off their Division 4 season today on Heathcote Domain with the luxury of changing rooms and a well prepared October wicket.

Upon winning the toss we asked Heathcote to have a bat and our opening bowlers, Nick Ward and Bintu Ror were tidy early doors creating chances (some of which were taken) and Heathcote made it through to 50/2 at drinks. With numerous bowlers in the side an attempt was made to share the load around and in the end 6 were used with wickets shared between Bintu Ror (2), Arjun Singh GIll (2), Simarpreet Singh (1), Ryan Burnett (1). Heathcote getting through to 151/6 on the back of Phil Harris who carried his bat for 62.

Into bat, we were looking to keep wickets in hand to launch around drinks. Unfortunately, we found ourselves 49/5 at this point with only Nick McHugh managing to bat any length of time. An entertaining knock from Sun Bhullar gave us some momentum, whilst Arjun was batting with composure at the other end. Arjun was eventually out for 28 with the score at 101/8, and then soon after it was 107/9. All hope seemed lost and it was at this point the scorers to made the comment "Remember the day Burnett and Taylor Killick got us home"... unfortunately that wasn't quite to be but our last pair did get us within reach of an improbable victory with Taylor scoring 30* and whacking it to all parts while Ryan played a valuable supporting role. Sumner all out for 144 in the 39th over.

Some great fight was shown but ultimately the feeling of "what if" resonated.

As a new team though things are looking bright and once combinations start to gel and roles are better defined I'm confident we will start to get the wins.

GTB