Historic cricket win - Hay takes out the O’Farrell Cup

The victorious Hay Cricket team, with the prestigious O’Farrell Cup.

Back row from left: Rupert Lilburne, Bill Auldist, Tom Davies, Liam Whitbourne, Ben Arandt, Jensen Hargreaves, Dean Aylett and Kazi Islam. Front row: Jack Cattanach, Isaac Gardiner, Simon Bunyan, Mick Cattanach and Jack Headon.

Image: Tallon Smith

“The best win of all time,” Hay cricketing legend David Davies.

By Mick Cattanach

It was a once in 100 years result. As the O’Farrell cup celebrates 100 years in November, a result such as this has not been seen before.

David Davies, district cricketing and sports legend, who made his debut in the O’Farrell Cup in 1959, was at the Urana Road Oval to watch the game and his grandson Tom, who batted at number 3. David declared it the best win of all time.

In a true David versus Goliath match, the team from a town the population of 3000, and who usually only plays 25 overs, took on Cricket Albury Wodonga, with a 100,000 population, comprised of English professional players, Riverina and country state representatives with far more talent to choose from in building their team.

Winning the toss on a pitch that was damp and looked spicy, Simon Bunyan chose to bat to get a score that could put the Albury team under pressure.

His openers didn't let him down, with Jensen Hargreaves starting in a blistering way taking the opening bowlers down with 39 runs off only 26 balls.

Getting good support from Liam Whitbourne, they put on 42 for the opening partnership.

After Liam lost his wicket for seven, Jensen followed soon after.

When Simon Bunyan went cheaply Hay was wobbling at three for 48.

Tom Davies put his head down.

Partnering with Kazi Islam initially and then Rupert Lilburne, Hay progressed to four for 93.

At this point both Tom and Rupert Lilburne departed to leave Hay again under pressure at SIX for 93 in over 30.

Jack Cattanach at this point took control of the batting, combining initially with Dean Aylett and then later with Ben Arandt.

They pushed the score to a competitive total, given the conditions, of 145 before the last wicket fell in over 50.

The first job was done for the Hay boys, batting their overs and giving the bowlers something to defend.

Albury's chase started disastrously for them, as Rupert Lilburne bowling with pace and hostility ripped out one of the opener batsman and the No.3, both caught behind, before the score had hit double figures.

Jack Cattanach, opening at the other end, then lured the other opener, an English pro who was Albury's century maker against Griffith the previous week, into a false shot and he was well caught by Jensen Hargreaves at deep mid-off for a duck.

At three for 11, the Hay boys were up and about, but Albury was not going to lie down.

Their skipper and keeper, both state country representatives, combined in a 60-run partnership before Dean Aylett lured the keeper into a false shot with his first ball, Jack Cattanach taking a sharp catch at cover.

Dean wasn't done, however, and removed the skipper soon after, caught at mid-off, again by Jack.

When Simon Bunyan, in the midst of a straight 10 over spell of miserly medium pace bowling, got a pull shot well caught in the deep by Jack Headon, Albury were back in trouble at 6 for 86.

Another partnership developed and again Albury looked to be gathering in the total, although scoring was tough.

Simon, in his last over, got the vital breakthrough again to a sharp catch at mid-wicket by Jack Headon.

When Dean Aylett got the other key batsman caught behind, Albury were in trouble at eight for 115.

Rupert Lilburne was brought back into the attack and with Hay fielders right on top, he clean bowled one batsman and then bounced another.

Jensen Hargreaves then completed the innings with an excellent diving catch, and Albury were all out for 119.

Hay slayed Goliath by 26 runs on their home field in an historic victory.

It was the first win by Hay in the O'Farrell Cup for 50 years and the first time Albury had been beaten in over five years.

Hay now hosts Wagga in the O'Farrell Cup at home this Sunday, in what is sure to be another titanic battle for Riverina cricket supremacy.

This Sunday will also see Hay playing Ardlethan/Barellan in the Creet Cup, so two senior teams will be battling it out at home this Sunday.

Final score

Hay 145 all out (J Hargreaves 39, J Cattanach 29, T Davies 16, K Islam 15) defeated Albury/Wodonga 119 all out (R Lilburne 4/37, D Aylett 3/26, S Bunyan 2/14, J Cattanach 1/29).