After victory with the toss, Yass captain David Field opened the batting with Ben Mudalier, both right-handed batsmen.

Harden Hornets, following the finish of shopping sprees the week earlier, regathered their forces in readiness for the Snipers’ attack.

Robert Scott, Billy Bolger and Matt Schofield, all pace bowlers, threw many hand grenades at the Snipers’ opening batsmen and only 20 runs were scored off these Hornets’ first 10 overs. The trio were accurately delivering the ball in the correct areas.

However, the two classy Yass top order batsmen were gradually getting on top, hitting many fine shots into the gaps.

Captain Field hooked a couple of bouncers nonchalantly to the mid-wicket boundary as his tally mounted in the blistering sun that was sometimes diluted by an accompanying gentle breeze.

For Yass the experienced Benny Mudalier, beneath his blue helmet, was matching his partner run for run. And after much pain for the bowlers he finally lofted an off-drive to the capable hands of Nathan Schofield and he headed through the pickets out for 64 runs and with the opening partnership sitting proudly on 117 for one wicket.

Harden Hornets fought on and managed to capture a further four wickets before the allotted 45 over limit signalled a bit of a surrender for five for 188 runs. Captain David Field remained unbeaten on 72. 

Among the Harden bowlers who held their heads up high was Ben Dyball, with one wicket for 11 off four overs.

The other standout was 16-year-old Justin Stewart, fresh from St Greg’s College, Campbelltown, who had the Snipers ducking into the trenches on numerous occasions with his medium pace deliveries sprinkled periodically with the odd slow one which gave him the fine figures of nine overs, one maiden and two wickets for 33 runs.

The Snipers had the Hornets a little shell shocked at the change of innings. But it must be remembered that this solid Yass combination is odds on favourite to take out the Triggs Shield in 2013/14.

There was no way Harden were going o ‘advance in review order’ (as they say in Army talk) so regular opening batsman Nathan Schofield and Kai Steele sauntered out into the battlefield ready for action.

The pair took seven runs off Greg Irwin’s first bouncy over and although a couple were thick edges they all count.

Schoie, when on five runs, received a fast ball from Steve Okkonen that hit the seam and cut back like a quick off break to remove his leg stump. Nathan, up til now, has been averaging 50. 

Kai Steele stood fast compiling 14 before Chris Rawlings (the Brahmans’ rugby league coach) removed him in an identical manner.

Justin Stewart strode out confidently but was soon caught for just three.

Jason Pollard, a left hander with a powerful attack, then started to take on the Sniper bowlers launching a one man war with three shots that cannoned into the boundary pickets for four.

The mid order collapse at this stage had sounded loud and clear.

However, tail end charlies Todd Elliott and Rob Scott had other ideas because it seemed the Harden Hornets should have reversed the batting order when runs flowed from their bats like a hail of bullets.

Rob remained 12 not out and Todd, in an extremely close call, was the final Hornet bat dismissed, run-out for 18 runs, including a rocket-type launcher six that would have done golfer Adam Scott proud.

Our local men were all out for 72, quite a few behind their opponents.

Cricket now breaks for Christmas and New Year. Harden’s next match is at Yass against the Royal Hotel Pirates on January 11.

Wings