Launceston - Victoria v Tasmania 2018

Each year Victoria and Tasmania Senior Teams meet in February for the annual challenge match. This time the Victorian teams travelled to Launceston for the game on Tuesday 27 February. The game was played at the North Tasmania Cricket Association Ground. The ground has been used for sport, including cricket, since 1851.

Victorian Over 70s team

Team photos were taken before the game. Normally the front row of players are normally sit on chairs or kneel on one knee so all players are visible. Hopefully this will happen again next time.

Victorian Over 60s team

It had rained in Launceston at the weekend and the ground was not great for cricket. The first ground, in front of the David Boon Stand, was inspected by the Over 60s who decided that they would play on the second ground.

The result was that the Over 70s played on a soft pitch making it hard for batsmen to score runs. Unfortunately Victoria lost the toss and the game.

Robin bowling

Victoria batted first first and at the end of the allotted 40 overs had managed to score 9 for 126. John Costello made 40 not out and he and Robin had a 48 run partnership, consisting mainly of singles, which helped move the score into three figures until Robin was run out on 23. N Crane made 28 runs.

Halfway through the Tasmanian innings it was obvious that the players were also having trouble scoring runs. However after the drinks break the batsmen hit a couple of fours and Tasmania was in control. The game ended when Tasmania were 5 for 127 in the 36th over. Victoria's bowling figures included Robin 1/17 off his seven overs, John Costello 1/15 and Ian Longmuir 2/ 20.

The Over 60s made 5/213 while Tasmania were all out for 158. Les Quarrell and David Cordy both retired on 50 runs. Bowling figures for the Victorians were Trevor Selby 3/17, Rex Bennett 2/27, G Wilson 2/45 and P McDonald 3/4 off 3.1 overs.

In the evening members of the two teams (and supporters) met for dinner at The Three Steps restaurant at the Colonial Hotel. The shields were presented to the winning teams and we look forward to next year's games in Melbourne.

Further posts on this adventure:
Exploring Launceston
Launceston - Colonial Hotel
Launceston - Cataract Gorge
Launceston - Cataract Gorge wildlife