Twenty - Weston Creek Cricket Club

Weston Creek, Cricket Club"I've had a quick look at John's record in Wisden, I think I'llhang on for him!" was the supposed reply.No doubt most of you will have heard this anecdote and,whether true or not, the telephone call and quick look inWisden was effectively the start of a very happy three yearconnection with Weston Creek Cricket Club and Canberra.My performances during the first season convinced the firstgrade players that the real John Abrahams had been kidnappedby a porter at Heathrow airport, locked him in a broomcupboard and spent six months in the sun playing a bit ofcricket! Fortunately, subsequent seasons proved moresuccessful personally and from the Club's point of view.One game during the 1984-85 season stands out as unusual, forthe method of the victory caused some confusion with thecricketing public of Canberra. WCCC were in 2nd position onthe table with two matches to play, the first at Majura againstNorths, not the strongest side that season having only 91points compared to the Creek's 120 and Wests with 125points.The first innings went as expected, scoring 378 for 8 declareddue mainly to two centuries, one from Chris Body, who wasfinally persuaded to continue his run spree in first grade andallow others to roll the Stirling Oval pitch, and Greg Irvinewho is capable of destroying good bowling let alone what wasthen probably not the best attack in the ACT.Norths finally succumbed for 212 all out. Thanks to a gutsy,stubborn knock from Shane O'Mara, despite the wicket-takingpace of Tim Morris. There remained approximately 35 oversleft including the mandatory 20 in the last hour. Havingestablished that the Creek would retain any points alreadyattained, we decided to go for the outright victory. This74