13/11/2025
Mankadders 6/151 (40) def by Adelong Donkeys 4/154 (37.1)
When the Donkeys take on the Mankadders it’s always a battle of who can drop the least catches. There were 28 in the fixture last year. Gundagai District Cricket’s Stan Crowe Oval was the venue for an absolute clinic in village cricket last Saturday as the Mankadders won the toss and elected to bat.
The Marshmen opened the batting and Jordy Mahers’ left arm inswingers didn’t bother chancing the hands of his mates, getting young Ryan LBW in the first over. Joshy freed his arms as Shiva found some singles - most cricket clubs find players through training days and connections. The Mankadders find them in the pool room of the Jungle Duke Hotel and Shiva Ratra is in marriage terms the cricketing equivalent of ‘the one’.
‘Then I saw his face and we’ve got Shiva, we’ve got Shiva’. He looks good even leaving a ball, now that’s a cricketer.
OoOh and we’ve got our first bomb! “CaaAaAAATCH!”
Straight up and back down between three fielders. Is it mathematically possible to dissect a triangle? Either way it’s one to the score and Joshy looking good now, finding the long boundary comfortably. Sensing a good partnership the lads took on Jace Wilson’s arm at extra cover and Shiva’s ran out! Did Jordy miss the ball and his arm knock off the bails? Doesn’t matter - Binga’s given it and ‘we’ve got Shiva’... back in the sheds.
Nelson’s turn now and he whisks away some beautiful cover drives that scream god given talent. Sensing the occasion he hits up a high to mid on, the ball is up for so long next-in-to-bat has started putting on helmet and by the time his strides to field the catch (as was predicted by all) has been shelled.
Jordy Maher figures it might just be quicker to knock off the bails and he Jackon Pollock’s Nelly’s stumps, splattering them all over.
Timothy Kross comes to the crease and to say the reigning Elders Cup Player of the Year is the Allan Border of the Mankadders is a fair comparison, if his beard needs some work. The Adelong Donkeys went through their change bowlers as the ball went to the fence. Timmy brings up yet another fifty with Nabeel Rashied getting an introduction to the rigours of playing the 6th best team in Tumut district cricket association Cricket.
Jace Wilson was brought on, a brave decision for Timmy does take a liking to 30kph off spin. After one ball.
“Is that over ump?”
Imagine if the bloke had to run in. He’s buggered. But Tyron Gorman’s a genius and his plan pays off. Dancing down to send the ball to Anzac Park, like passengers on MH370 he’s beaten by flight and Ethan Birks stumped him.
Miq joins Joshy at the crease. Lord help us. Joshy brings up his maiden fifty for the Mankadders with a fine shot through square leg. There’s another dropped catch. Joshy is hitting them hard now and he launches Dave Turnbull mediums down the ground as Justin Stanford runs under it with both arms parallel like he’s offering the nurse a choice of which arm to phlebotomise. Low and behold it snags! Catch of the day and the big man is gone for 51.
Now Miq has never hit a six. Never. Never in the front yard in Lockhart. Never in under 10s. Never in the four flags at Uranquinty (Joshy hit the sixes). Never once in Melbourne turf did he get remotely close. Today however was gonna be the day - Jace Wilson is bowling after all.
The ball goes as high as it does far (30m), the Donkeys don’t take catches anyhow? Aidan Turnbull does!
Binga and Dizzy combine for a good partnership, taking cheeky singles and seeing the Mankadders bat the forty overs for the first time ever in their three years in the Elders Cup.
The Donkeys chase of 152 starts with Nabeel Rashid and Ethan Birks. It stays with Nabeel Rashid and Ethan Birks till drinks. Not to be out done, the Mankadders educate the Adelong Donkeys how to really drop a catch.
Timmy has Nabeel mish*t one to square leg. Down. He has him at midwicket. Down. Timmy’s turn now as Dizzy finds Nabeels edge, the great man himself at gully palms it away as was the trained goalkeeper he is.
The openers are getting comfortable now working their way to 68 without loss at drinks. Shiva almost has Birks LBW but it’s going down leg. Bunter back from injury sustained playing footy (MCMCUE Goannasootball Netball Club you owe us an opening bowler - having seen the forward 50 entries you will fit right in at fielding). He’s bowling well, consistently beating the outside edge. Would it matter if he did?
Dizzy fires into his spell now and he has Nabeel gonksy LBW then several balls later the Mankadders have a catch! Justin Stanford trying his luck on Joshy Marshman who was all too happy to repay the favour.
Young Aidan Turnbull then rotates the strike with a batting technique so beautiful - caring fathers really do win you games in the Elders Cup. Everything along the ground as the Donkeys get closer but they are running out of overs. 51 runs required from ten overs, would 1s & 2s get them home?
Well, when you drop Ethan Birks again it probably might. Tyron’s told Miq he’s forgot he needs to use his change bowlers as Nelly sends down some mediums that flick to fence - showing the world you might be a brilliant bloke, partner, footballer, wicketkeeper, batsmen but you cannot have it all as he two bounce dollies are feasted upon by the Donkeys. Aidan eventually holes out to Miq whose celebration was more akin to a cathartic scream more suitable to a priest at an exorcism. Mo Rashid hits the winning runs as the Donkeys get home with 6 wickets to spare and just 2.5 overs to
