​If success could be judged by the number of ducks on the day, then the five that Harden gained was nearly as many as that in one of Pepe’s duck farm and could be judged a success.  

The overall win​​ner was the Abnett family with Shane and Beau both getting ‘golden’ ducks.  

Hornets captain Kai Steele won the toss and had no hesitation to bat first. 

The wicket had a fair bit of bounce in it and it took a few overs for the Hornet openers Steele and Paul Potts to settle in. 

Just when Potts (2) hit the accelerator he was squared up by one from Andy Maclean and a sharp catch taken by Wayne McIllhatton in second slip. 

Steele in the meantime had cracked a couple fours through covers before Maclean also got one to bounce on him to edge a catch through to the keeper, Mitch Quinn, who thought it was a hot potato and the catch finally accepted by Terry Tillyard in first slip. 

Steele made 16 and looked in really good touch.  

Mitchell Brown came to the crease and decided to let first ball go which was missing both leg and off stump but hit middle – Quack.  

Jack Nicholls came to the crease and looked in good touch cracking the first two off drives straight to the fielders.  

However Maclean then got one through his defence – Quack.  

Beau Abnett joined Jeff Brown and followed the same dismissal route being bowled – Quack.  

Kelvin Brown joined his son Jeff and was soon caught on the boundary hooking for 7.  

During all this Jeff Brown was resting on his bat at the non-strikers end. 

Big Ben Brady joined Jeff at the wicket after receiving the late night call-up. 

It has been so many years since he last played he was not even sure where he left his cricket clothes.  

The two started to show some much needed resilience with Brown cracking two sixes off McIllhatton and White.  

The pair put on 75 before Brown mishit a square cut to Mick Cole at point off Terry Tillyard for 48.  

Shane Abnett came to the crease and first ball he faced hit a simple catch to Brendan Johnson at cover off Mark Forlonge – Quack.  

Paddy Davis played a couple good leg side shots before being run out for five.  

Jono Nicholls then swung like he was on the golf tee before also being bowled by Tillyard – Quack.  

Ben Brady was left not out on 30., Harden all out for 121.  

Andy Maclean had the excellent bowling figures of eight overs five wickets for nine.

Although 121 was not a big score, Harden came out firing. 

 Mick “old king” Cole was not a merry old sole when Jeff Brown, with a bit of chin music, got him to a feather at catch, inches off his face through to wicketkeeper Steele.

Mitch Brown at the other end had two chances go down before he got McIllhatton (23) to sky a chance which was well taken by Jack Nicholls.  

Paddy Davis then chipped in have White caught at square leg and then followed up with Ryan Forlonge being caught behind.  

You could not keep Davis out of the game when he then took a fine catch to get rid of Bray off Mitch Brown’s bowling.  

At 5-45 it was anybody’s game.  

Harden swung the bowling changes but luck did not go their way with Brendan Johnson and Andy Maclean settling in and finding the boundary on a regular basis.  

All too late, Maclean was finally bowled by Jono Nicholls for 28 with Murrumbateman reaching the total six wickets down.  

Mitch Brown and Paddy Davis were the pick of the bowlers with 2-30 and 2-24 respectfully.

The four Harden teenage players all had great games bowling and fielding but had three “Quacks” between them.

Next week the Harden Hornets start the T20 competition with a double header at Tim Doolan oval on Saturday 24 November.