A good innings

Volume 48, No. 12, July 13, 2006

SAFE: FLTLT Jared Ellison takes a dramatic slide to the crease again Navy at the ACT inter-Service Crickeet Championships in Canberra.  Photo by LS Neil Richards

By Barry Rollings

ANY chance Air Force had of defending their ACT Inter-Service Series Cricket Championship went down the drain with a final-day washout on November 2.

A lunchtime downpour and a resolute innings by Navy on the last day secured the title for Navy.

By that stage, the outcome of the championship was out of Air Force’s hands after a fighting loss to Navy in its opening game and a strong win against Army to follow.

Navy went into the match knowing that it needed to win to take the title because an Army win would have allowed Air Force to successfully defend the title, last contested in 2002.

Air Force had held the title from 2000 to 2002, deposing Navy in 2000 after a reign of about 10 years.

The Navy-Army match was declared a draw on the final day, with a thunderstorm making the ground unsafe for play after Navy had completed its innings at 215 (all out).

Air Force finished second with a win and a loss, and Army was third with a draw and one loss.

Navy was off to a flying start when they beat Air Force on day one. They won the toss, elected to bat and rattled on 261 for the loss of six wickets at the end of their 50 overs.

In reply, Air Force was all out for 247 off 47 overs, with FLTLT Glenn Orton scoring 56 and supported by LAC Ashley Dennis (49), SGT Brian Smith (42) and OFFCDT Shaun Buckett (30).

Air Force was quick to rebound on November 1 when they easily beat Army after Army had won the toss, elected to bat and was bundled out for 130 after 26 overs.

Topscorer for Air Force was FLTLT Glenn Orton, who tore through the batting for Air Force, taking 6-15 off 4.5 overs.

Air Force easily surpassed the total off 26 overs in scoring 140 for the loss of six wickets.

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