Stroud Shines in Season Opener

The U15 Pitbulls clipped Roosters wings in the first game of the Cricket Mackay Competition season, led by an astounding individual performance.

Opening bowler D. Pettiford (0-21) and A. Hardy-young (0-8) kept things tight at the start of play.

Z. Henry (1-13) was given the ball and got his first wicket of the season with a corker that went through the corridor to rattle the stumps, and he was well supported by A. Geisel (0-14) from the southern end.

Roosters weren’t deterred and put 54 runs in their second wicket stand to be 1-68 until C. Stroud (1-15) strutted to the popping crease.

He stamped his authority on the game with a caught and bowl, backing it up with a screamer of a catch off a brilliant ball from J. Watson (1-9).

J. Williams (1-6) came and worked the batsman over before pitching a stump shattering ball that left the opposition at 4/87.

The Roosters dug in and piled on another 29 runs before M. Gabey (1-23) had seen enough and took a wicket in the dying overs with the help of A. Geisel’s classic catch.

The roosters run out of overs, posting a formidable total of 5/135.

Pitbulls needed a good start to chase down the total, and captain B. Valmadre decided fire power was the order of the day.

After pushing a few runs to get in, Valmadre monstered a four but fell for a quick fire nine straight after. The Roosters were ecstatic, getting their prize wicket early and leaving the Pitbulls whimpering at 1/21.

C. Stroud had other ideas: for the next 68 deliveries he bashed the Roosters, hitting 17 fours and one six, scoring 93 in the process and just falling short of a maiden century.

The rest of the Pitbulls’ batsmen chipped in, ending with a convincing total of 5/166 securing a win in their first hit out of the season.

Contributed with thanks to Mark Valmadre