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Laneway Cricket Begins!

March 15, 2008

LANEWAY CRICKET GETS OFF TO A FLYER!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 29, 2008

It was “all happening” on Friday night and not just down at ‘The G’ (as the Aussies struggled against the Sri Lankan’s) but also back up the hill, in the lanes of Melbourne. Whilst having paint poured on the wicket once notoriously hijacked a Test Match, it couldn’t stop Melbourne’s inaugural Laneway Cricket Carnival. Indeed it was all part of the scenery in Rutledge Place off Melbourne’s Hosier Lane, famous for its street art. Whilst not quite your ‘idyllic‘ Lords or Adelaide Oval backdrop the spirit of the ‘Village Green’ was recaptured in the after work, back street bustle. Even before a ball had been bowled, cricket had once again brought corporates, homeless people, restaurateurs and patrons together to deal with illegally parked cars and even take photos for an enthusiastic, if not a little bewildered bride and groom!

In the first official Laneway game the Binjuice team, (or are they called ‘franchises’ these days?) was compiled of ‘Credo Cricketers’ from Urban Seed; Yankee Paul from PricewaterhouseCoopers; and some interior designers on smoko from a nearby shop renovation. They took on the Alleycats led by the dashing Mevan Jayawardena and co. from Goldman Sachs JBWere and reps from the Sally Army’s 614 Life Centre. It took a while to work out the hybrid mix of backyard and indoor cricket rules, including how many you could legally run when the ball was stuck under a dumpster. In a thriller it came down to the last ball with the Alleycats needing a wicket to win. Interior Designer Ted hit the ball high into the air and all hearts were in mouths as it sailed above the outstretched fielders hand for a towering 12 runs to see the Binjuice home!

Binjuice 33 ( Ian 14, Duncan 2/0) defeated Alleycats 19 (Mevan 17, Ray 3/-3)

In the second game the Dumpsters (Middletons/Living Room) played the Milkcraters (officially Mallesons Stephen Jacques/Urban Seed …with ring ins.) Having observed the previous game the Milkcraters began to master the idiosyncrasies of laneway and its fair to say had the best of the match with Salvo Scott firing a fabulous 39 off only 7 deliveries. This was all until the death when a fantastic partnership from Lauren, (looking resplendent in Middletons red shirt and matching headband), joined with Dan from Living Room to see the Dumpsters triumph by the barest of margins with a towering, baseball like swat into the car park next door off the final ball.

Dumpsters 49 (Nick 24, Dan 22, Gemma 3/-3) ) defeated the Milkcraters 48 (Scott 39, Mike 3/11, Raymond 2/-2, Nick 2/3)

The crowd left satisfied by a great BBQ and two thrilling results for our first ever hit out. Thanks very much to Nicola and Dan from Living Room Primary Health Service which is located in Hosier/Rutledge Lane. It was great for participants to hear about the unique service that Living Room provide. Thanks also for the presence and support of Rohan O’Neil and Cricket Victoria.

This Friday the Carnival moves to Westwood Place off Bourke Street at the back of the Salvation Army Life Centre for some more ‘Credo Cricket’ you can believe in!

Laneway Cricket,Melbourne. “There’s more room in the air!” See you there!

Much Grace

Marcus, Andy, Dave and the Urban Seed, Credo Cricket mob.

Photos can be seen at www.myspace.com/credocricket

Posted by brent at March 15, 2008 08:51 AM