Amid the lively demands of Term Four, fourteen Year 6 cricketers journeyed south to Canberra for the Annual Cricket Tour.
The tour began with a spirited fixture against Tudor House, decided in a tense final over bowled with fine economy by Ned Berkelouw. Miles Lloyd-Roberts distinguished himself with two wickets, and Archie Koroknay with the bat (22* off 12) before the boys visited the Bradman Museum and Bradman Oval in Bowral. That evening, cricket balls gave way to bowling balls at Canberra’s Lane Bowling Alley.
On Day Two, the boys visited the National Arboretum, followed by a tour of the Australian Institute of Sport. In the afternoon, the cricketers played in two competitive games of cricket against Canberra Grammar School in Red Hill. The A’s won convincingly, and the B’s fell in the final over by the barest of margins.
The tour’s finale brought the A's to the sacred turf of Bradman Oval for a contest with Bowral Public School. Surrounded by rich history and gorgeous Camden Woolly Butt gum trees, this would be a fitting climax to the tour. The wicket, lively and mischievous, demanded patience and genuine courage. In 2001, Don Bradman’s ashes were scattered on this very ground and surrounding gardens. The middle order, marshalled by a resolute Hugo Sanders, eked out a hard-won 72. With the ball, our spinners in particular, were rewarded with lots of spin and bounce from the wicket. Grammar won this game by just 18 runs.
Meanwhile, in nearby Burradoo, lending to excellent power hitting from Dylan Yang and quick stump work from Niamh Bakshi, the B’s won a competitive fixture against Oxley College.
Congratulations to the A's on their trio of wins, and to the B’s for competing with such spirit. May the game of cricket remain a lasting companion in the years ahead!
