Andrew Johnsen's attempt to hit the ball to the square leg boundary ended up at deep mid-on. The pose does look imperious though. Photo/John Stone
Andrew Johnsen's attempt to hit the ball to the square leg boundary ended up at deep mid-on. The pose does look imperious though. Photo/John Stone
The umpire raises his finger. It's over. The echoes of Bream Bay's celebrations fade out as I struggle to come to grips with a galling eight-run loss in the NCA Reserve Grade T20 final.
You may think this is an over-reaction from a reserve grade battler whose only shot of making the Black Caps is if half the population breaks their legs. But for us perennial club players, this is our World Cup Final. Our day in the sun.
Like every week, I'm at the ground early rocking the Onerahi Central Cricket Club reserve kit - a bright yellow top with green on the sides and a unicorn stitched by the heart (hence, the Unicorn team nickname), paired with the green pants.
Checking the pitch is a must for any bowler and, from the looks of it, I'm a shot of rolling down some overs of modest left-arm off spinners. You have to love those Cobham Oval decks.
Our captain Adam Sylva, a great bloke who knows when to promote a guy up the order, has won the toss and he elects to field. Our preparation from there is the same as every week before - fielding drills and good banter.
We head back into the sheds for one last chat. The focus is clear: bowl good channels, chase hard in the field and keep the noise levels up.
The noise is something I love. Whether it is a "come on the 'corns" call, loud clapping or asking the batsman if he knows where the middle of his bat is, it adds to the atmosphere.
We take an early wicket through opener Axel Sheppard and we're on a high.
Then the fielding lapses come. I'm responsible for two pedestrian errors, but collectively we allow far too many easy twos. The initial optimism and enthusiasm turns into frustration pretty quickly.
But in T20 there is no time to dwell. Soon enough we had put the brakes on Bream Bay and then I got the call to bowl with the wind at my back. My time to shine.
After struggling to get the pace right in my first over, I brought it back to take two wickets for seven runs in two overs but 15 from my last over brought Bream Bay back into the contest.
"Too slow Andrew," Sylva lamented. Too right, mate.
We had a shot but we needed someone to kick on with the bat. BJ Howie, Sylva and Dev Birchell did their best but it wasn't enough.
I come in at seven and all I've heard for the last 10 minutes before I go out to bat is 'loud calls' and 'bat on ball'.
A trio of run outs later (definitely not my fault Adam!) and I was left stranded on eight, unable to stop the rot and get us home.
I was gutted. The whole Onerahi side couldn't quite believe it. We knew we hadn't fielded well enough. Bream Bay were better on the day and full credit must go to their efforts.
We scuppered the chance of an Onerahi Central T20 double.
The winning Unicorns. Onerahi Central's premier side took out the Northland T20 competition and us in the reserve side revelled in the win following our defeat. Photo/Onerahi Central Cricket Club
Still, we had our premier side to get in behind. A team that went through the round robin undefeated. Like any passionate New Zealand cricket fans, we were vociferous bordering on excessive - all in good fun though.
The 'Charlie' chants for Onerahi's overseas pro Charlie Roebuck echoed across the windy ground. "Who are ya?" calls were projected with vigour.
And the moment where Onerahi pulled off one of the great efforts in the field, led by quick bowler Tom Herman's incredible spell of 4-20, to take the Premier T20 title over Duracrete Products City, we yelled ecstatically and made a beeline to the changing sheds to share in a monumental club moment.
City were tremendously gracious in defeat and pretty soon after the presentation the dividers were opened and both clubs came together to share a beer or two and some light-hearted banter.
We eventually moved on a pub, where the Onerahi team chant rang loud and true. "I want to be an OC player, I want to live a life of danger" rings in my ears as I write this piece.
The premier side cheekily announced they could take on the Indian Premier League. The aftermatch was glorious, an absolute highlight of the year.
Not even our own finals loss could lessen the joy of seeing Onerahi lift the premier trophy. That euphoric feeling will last long after our playing days.
