18/09/2016
The latest instalment of Innisfail Charity Cricket was an enormous success, with well over $2000 generated for the community after participating businesses numbered 18.
It was the hosts Haz-Beanz Charity Cricket that came under immediate threat from the Innisfail Business Professionals, in conditions that were becoming of a beautiful and balmy September morning in the tropics.
With two wickets falling cheaply to have the hosts reeling at 2/11 off the first 20 balls of the innings, the day shaped up to be yet again another struggle for the Haz-Beanz, however the steely grit and determination from skipper Chris Keilbach when joined by young gun Reagan O’Brien in the middle was reminiscent of an NQ Cowboys defiant Johnathon Thurston not to be denied.
The doggedly determined Skipper amassed 21 runs from 29 balls to share in a 50 run partnership with O’Brien before being run out with the score poised at 3/61 after just 13.5 overs.
After a flurry of quick wickets, the Haz-Beanz once again held their nerve after veteran and stalwart Haz-Bean Brett Rawlins and Ashley Hurlock were united at the crease with a stand of 77 including 2 sixes and 6 fours to see out Rawlins retiring at 54 not out.
Ashley Hurlock went on to finish the innings at 46 not out with partnerships with Michael Gant (17) and Leon Awee (12) with Ashley scoring 24 of them combined, pushing the final total to 7/194 after 40 overs.
The Innisfail Business Professionals got off to a shaky start when Steven Lacaze (representing Ron & Dan’s Butchers) was dismissed in the second over for naught before Shane O’Brien (representing Reese & Co Butchers) and Daniel Bradford (representing RWG and WM Bowyer Earth Moving) settled in for a partnership of 55 from 76 balls before Bradford was dismissed by a corker of a delivery that rattled the stumps by Haz-Beanz new found tear away Jacob Portelli.
Following Bradford’s dismissal at 2/59, the wickets came at regular 20 run intervals with Shane O’Brien dismissed for 34 by spin king and skipper Chris Keilbach, Brett Guy (representing Brothers Leagues Club Innisfail) for 19, Beau Faulks (representing North Coast Machinery) for 6, Rob Fuller (representing Conus Business Consulting) for 23, Craig Badkin (representing Goondi Hotel) for 18, John Strano (Representing Campbells Real Estate) for 18 and the last wicket to fall was Troy Pensini (representing Tremmies Glass & Aluminium) for 3. The not out batsmen after 40 overs was Joe Vecchio (representing Northern Iron & Brass Foundry) and Brendan King (representing Michael Spry Painting) on 1 run a piece.
The man of the match went to Brett Rawlins with his stellar 54 not out, 1/21 off 7 overs and 3 catches.
A considerable number of boundaries were struck over the course of 80 overs with 11 sixes and 31 fours, most probably owing to the kind incentive by John Strano of Campbells Real Estate to place his signs all around the boundary and if hit on the full a bonus donation of $200 would be given.
“The day was a massive success” said competition founder EJ Starkey “The support from local businesses has been amazing, it is a credit to the town. A $5 per run sponsorship concept was trialled for this game and many businesses jumped at the chance to get involved”
Despite making no runs in his own innings, Steven Lacaze of Ron and Dan’s butchers pledged to match his captain Shane O’Brien’s runs with a donation, effectively doubling the contribution to make it $340. “That’s the sort of guy he is, heart of gold” claimed Mr O’Brien in the post-match address.
The HazBeanz have attracted quite the array of sponsors to the venture, they would like to thank
Mourilyan bakery, for donating bread for each of our matches, Raebon Trophies for donating the Shield, Nu-Edge Solutions Australia, Freemasons Innisfail, Cartridge World Innisfail, Instep Podiatry, Innisfail First National Real Estate, Reese & Co Butchers, Conus Business Consulting, Goondi Hill Hotel, Ron & Dan’s Butchers, Michael Spry Painting, Northern Iron and Brass Foundary, Campbell’s Real Estate, Tremmies Glass & Aluminium, Brothers Leagues Club Innisfail and North Coast Machinery.
The HazBeanz charity cricket team have some large scale projects in the pipeline and organisations and groups are encouraged to contact them on facebook or email [email protected] to arrange an event.
