The Harden Hornets saved their worst performance for the year when they played Murrumbateman in the last round at Tim Doolan Oval on Saturday.
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The batting collapse was of the same magnitude as a dam wall breaking. Harden's cricketing pride was washed down the Murrumboola Creek, all out for 58.
Hornets captain Kai Steele won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first.
Murrumbateman opening bowlers Jake Backhouse and Ryan Furlong were accurate and fast, and had Steele and Potts tied down with runs at a premium. It was not until the introduction of Jimmy Gray in the 12th over that the first breakthrough occurred, when Potts was bowled for 1.
In the same over, Jeff Brown was caught at square leg for a duck; Harden at 2 for 17.
Worst was to come with the loss of Steele (10), Heath Harrison (1) and James Woodhead for 4.
At 5 for 25 in the 25th over, the dam wall had collapsed and a snail was moving at a faster pace.
Some respectability was added by an 18-run partnership between Jayson Smith (14) and Mitch Brown (6) for the sixth wicket, but once Smith departed the innings was wrapped up pretty quickly.
Some respectability was added by an 18-run partnership between Jayson Smith (14) and Mitch Brown (6) for the sixth wicket, but once Smith departed the innings was wrapped up pretty quickly.
Scott Duncan and Beau Abnett picked up their third ducks of the year and are being measured up to wear the duck suit at the end of the year.
The Hornets were all out for 58.
Harden was resigned to “a quick game is a good game”.
But Jeff Brown had a differing view on this and gave a whole-hearted effort by initially bowling Brendan Johnson for a duck, dropping Andrew Clarke off his own bowling before bowling him two balls later.
At 2 for 11, some wondered if a miracle was possible. But they are only in fairy tales: Ben McGuiness and Ryan Furlong set about wiping out the meagre total.
Furlong was finally out lbw to Paul Potts for 14. The total was finally past in the 15th over, with McGuiness not out (27) and Jimmy Gray not out (9). Brown had the fine bowling figures of two wickets for 14.
The Hornets will take on Binalong next week in the first week of finals and will require better batting performance to be a chance.