Stump tenderers, vice-captain Cpl Peter Downe and wicket-keeper Cpl Julian Hanrahan in action. Photo by Michael Weaver

ASCA too good for visitors

By Michael Weaver
THE Australian Services Cricket Association (ASCA) national side has retained the Byrnes Sears Trophy after a convincing victory against a touring New Zealand Defence Force team in Brisbane on November 20.

Selected after the inter-service national carnival during the previous week, the ASCA side was well prepared for the game on a typically dry and hard pitch at the Brisbane Grammar Playing Fields.

New Zealand won the toss and batted, posting a modest total to be all out for 153 in the 47th over.

The Kiwi’s best batsmen were K Booth with 36 runs, while N Hodges and J Brodison scored 22 and 19 respectively.

Army bowler Cfn Jason Hahn almost pulled off a sparkling five-wicket haul but was well pleased with his figures of 4/24 from 10 overs.

Cpl Jeremy Clement (Air Force) took 2/40 from 10 overs, AB Glen Cleary (Navy) 1/20 from 10 overs, Cpl Shane Anderson (Air Force) 1/47 from 10 overs and Cpl Greg Weller (Air Force) 1/12 from 3.3 overs.

The ASCA side then set about its run chase in earnest, with best player from the inter-service carnival, Cpl Greg Weller (Air Force) scoring 22 runs, while LAC Andrew Badke (Air Force) chimed in with 23.

However, the match-winning effort belonged to LAC Michael Wescombe (Air Force) who scored 76 before being trapped LBW.
With the scores tied, the ASCA side had a last-minute hiccup, losing two wickets trying to score the winning run. They did, however, pass the total for the loss of six wickets in the 34th over.

Best of the New Zealand bowlers saw Hodges take 2/15 from four overs, Grant 2/17 from seven, Gatley 1/22 from seven and Chadwick 1/35 from five.

A good all-round performance saw the ASCA side retain the trans-Tasman trophy, with LAC Michael Wescombe named man-of-the-match.

ASCA v Queensland Under-19s
AS a warm-up, the Queensland Cricket Association put its under-19 side to the test against the Australian Services on November 18 at the Allan Border Oval.

ASCA won the toss and batted but felt the force of the classy young Queenslanders to be all out in the 42nd over for 136.

Best with the bat were LAC Rick Mace (Air Force) with 23, Cpl Mark Hancock (Air Force) 21 and AB Tim Adams (Navy) 18.

In reply, Queensland took it easy to surpass the total and played the game out to be 9/161 from 33 overs.

Best with the ball for ASCA were AB Glen Cleary with 3/35 off 10 overs, Cpl Shane Anderson 2/37 off seven and Cpl Mark Hancock 2/18 off five.

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