Kiwis over and out
Air Force brings home the win from cricket tour of NZ

Volume 48, No. 5, April 6, 2006

Air Force batsman LAC Adam Bosworth strikes the ball after a delivery from an RNZAF bowler in a test match during the NZ Defence Force national cricket carnival.

Photo provided by SGT Mitch Dockett

LED by outstanding all-rounder LAC Adam Bosworth from RAAF Base Williamtown, the Air Force representative cricket team bowled over the competition to finish on top during its tour of New Zealand in February.

Bosworth, the former Tasmanian junior under-17 and under-19 representative, scored an extraordinary total of 368 runs, including a 67 not out and 175 in the final Test, and went on to take an impressive 5/21 in the same Test.

“I’m really a batting all-rounder,” he said. “I’m a medium-pace batsman and prefer to bat at No. 4 [order].”
“I toured with Air Force to the UK last year,” he said, “But I didn’t do so well.”

Bosworth proved invaluable as the Air Force team toured the North Island of New Zealand playing in the NZ Defence Force national cricket carnival, scoring half centuries in nearly all games throughout the competition.

The tour commenced on February 7, with some training days and a scheduled game against a Wellington under-19 side. That first game was washed out, so Air Force had to wait until the second warm-up game against a Taupo rep team to show its form.

In a close game, Air Force prevailed by just 15 runs, 213 to Taupo’s 198, with half centuries to CPL Shawn Binnion (57) and Bosworth (58).

The match provided invaluable practice in the local conditions ahead of the Services carnival, hosted by RNZAF Base Auckland.

Three days of solid cricket followed as Air Force squared off against three individual NZ Service teams.

RNZAF were left reeling at 133 from 50 overs against Air Force 4/136 in just 24.1 overs. Bosworth was again a star with 67 not out, while SQNLDR Paul Collins made 53 to give a convincing demonstration of firepower.

The NZ Army felt the heat next, their 175 from 46.1 overs was not enough to claim victory, the Aussies scoring 3/179 off 39.2 overs. Bosworth (68) and Collins (56 not out) again set the pace.

In a game against the NZ Navy, the home side played well to achieve a creditable 158 off 47.3 overs. However, Air Force proved their class with 6/160 off 41.5 overs with Binnion setting the score with a solid 54.

The team produced some outstanding batting, but CPL Matt Cooper (3/29), SGT Mitch Dockett (3/24 and 3/15) and CPL Mark Hancock (3/30) proved they were no slouch with the ball either.

The tour concluded with a three-day Test match against the RNZAF, which proved particularly arduous for the touring squad, with more than 100 overs bowled on each day of competition.

But three days of cricket couldn’t produce a victor. The pitch flattened out into a batsman’s paradise and the end result was a draw. Air Force finished with 237 and 7/410, RNZAF 274 and 1/187.

The highlight of the Test was Bosworth, scoring a superb 175 in the second innings, as the RAAF pressed for 7/410 declared.

He enjoyed an all-round game, taking five wickets in the RNZAF first innings and was named one of the men of the match.

Binnion provided him solid support with an outstanding 87 and was also named, along with Collins and Dockett.

“I was lucky with the bowling,” Bosworth said. “We had a few close games and then we had a moral victory in the three-day game. It was good to get a few runs on the board.

“The Kiwis provided us some very stiff competition. It was a very good tour and a great experience.”

The ADF cricket carnival is scheduled for November 2006 in Brisbane. Interested cricketers should email SQNLDR Steve O’Hara in Darwin at steven.ohara@defence.gov.au or SGT Sean Croker at Richmond at sean.croker@defence.gov.au

 

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