Riding Mill have had the perfect finish to their dice cricket virtual tour of Australia with a 3 wicket win against the well credentialed Cricket Library Podcast XI.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Riding Mill had immediate success removing Clifton and Penna both out LBW to deliveries that looked to keep a bit low from Scott Dickson.

The umpires were certainly earning their money with yet another LBW decision seeing Devlin on her way for 6 when she was trapped in front by Jonny Bennett.

The wickets flowed steadily for the visitors with Greenwood taking a good catch to remove the dangerous Ludeman for 18 off the bowling of Riding Mill skipper Liam James.

Steve Kent soon joined the party removing the experienced Stevens for 16, yet another player to depart LBW on a surface that was showing signs of unpredictability for the batters.

Cricket Library Weekly podcast co host Robbie Mackinlay looked very impressive for his 16 but found himself out stumped by Greenwood to a ball from Aly Hall that hit a crack and deviated past the edge of his bat.

Captain Matt Fiction was building a formidable partnership with Andrew Ellis before Ali Raza got one to jag back and trap the podcast xi skipper in front for 13.

Ellis and McDermott started the rebuild taking 16 off the Longstaff over which was the first over of the innings without a wicket falling. Unfortunately for the hosts, when dice cricket veteran Brian Watson removed Ellis, out stumped for 25 and then Hughes a couple of balls later for three, Riding Mill were well and truly in the box seat and very much on top.

Alister McDermott and Josh Lalor restored some pride with some strong late order hitting before Potts claimed the 6th LBW of the innings leaving the hosts all out for 140 with one ball left in their allotment of ten overs. Traditionally this score would be considered below par but with a strong bowling line up we would have to wait and see if it was indeed enough.

Riding Mill got their run chase off to a positive start with last ball hero in the previous game, Tony Potts forming a strong partnership at the top of the order with Mark Butcher.

Emma Hughes was able to get the breakthrough however removing Potts who was out to a good catch by Ludeman for 17. Very next ball Hughes accepted a sharp return catch to see Greenwood on his way without scoring.

When Alister McDermott followed this up with two wickets in his over, firstly dismissing Butcher for 12 out to a good catch by Andrew Ellis and then some smart glove work by Ludeman saw Brian Watson on his way for a 2nd ball duck out stumped.

At 4-38 Riding Mill needed to rebuild their innings which Longstaff and Raza began to do taking 11 off the Ellis over that followed. The podcast xi skipper Matt Fiction then provided Ludeman with another stumping when he lured Longstaff out of his crease sending him back for 13.

Another over of consolidation followed with 16 coming off Mackinlay before Nina Stevens picked up the big wicket of Ali Raza who was looking like seeing Riding Mill home after playing some exquisite strokes on his way to 42 from 15 deliveries.

Sam Devlin was able to put the breaks on further removing Aly Hall with Ludeman again taking a good catch to see him on his way for 9. Steve Kent and Riding Mill skipper Liam James were left with the task of collecting 30 runs off the last two overs to win.

This was made more challenging with some very smart bowling from Penna, restricting Kent and James to just 13 from her over. It was Steve Kent however, who found an extra gear hitting a six and a four off the first two balls of the final over before finishing the game with a towering six to wrap up the win.

Players and virtual fans stormed the ground to embrace Kent who had batted magnificently for his unbeaten 36. It was Ali Raza though that was officially named player of the match for his 42 that set up the victory as well as the big wicket of Matt Fiction with the ball.

Thus ends another successful tour with Riding Mill finishing with four wins and four losses of the tour and leaving the virtual shores of Australia with their heads held high.

Riding Mill will now continue their preparations on the field for what is expected to be a huge English summer ahead.

Please make sure you subscribe to the cricket library podcast to show your support of the dice cricket tour organisers.

Heather Graham Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly – The Cricket Library

In our second episode for the 2022/23 season, we are joined by special guest Heather Graham from the Hobart Hurricanes. Heather who is one of only three players in the 100 wicket / 1000 run club in the WBBL, shares with us the origins of her passion for cricket and reflects on the key ingredients to the successful teams she has been a part of. She speaks about what is ahead for the Hurricanes, looks back on winning the WBBL in her 100th game and how much it would mean to the players to send coach Dan Marsh out a winner. Robbie and Matt run their eye over some of the key performances in the Australian Men's Domestic summer to date and the ever popular Tabbsy's Take segment returns after receiving plenty of plaudits following the world premiere of the segment last week. Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.  

1. Heather Graham Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly 53:34
2. Kepler Wessels Special Guest On The Cricket Library Podcast 34:42
3. Michelle Goszko – Special Guest On The Cricket Library Podcast 53:34
4. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Countdown – Aaron Wharton Interview 42:36
5. Emma Hughes Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly 57:08

Riding Mill have returned to the winners circle in the most dramatic circumstances with a last ball one wicket victory against SUCC in the penultimate game of their dice cricket virtual tour of Australia.

Things started will for Riding Mill skipper Liam James winning the toss and electing to bowl first, something that Riding Mill had not done since their dramatic one wicket victory against Dubbo CYMS.

After a steady first over from Tony Potts, Butcher copped some early punishment from Shawn Mepham before he got one to nip back and trap him in front for 23 from 8 deliveries. The SUCC batters really struggled to get themselves in with wickets falling in clumps thanks to some excellent bowling from Aly Hall who claimed Ball LBW for 9 and bowled Pass for 7 to have the home side 3-40 after 3.

Joel Marks continued building the pressure not allowing the new batters to settle with Steve Kent providing some smart glovework behind the stumps to see Marshman on his way without scoring and Hood departing for 4. When Iain Longstaff then chimed in with the wicket of Dunstone for 9, it looked like it may be an early night with the hosts on the rack at 6 for 68 at the halfway mark.

SUCC knew they could still post a competitive total provided they kept wickets in hand. A positive partnership between skipper Maria Buster and her nephew Andrew Kirk saw the score move to 89 before Steve Kent was again in the game claiming a sharp chance down the leg side to see Buster on her way for 19. Sam Buster came and went, advancing down the wicket to see the ball spin past his bat and into the gloves of Kent who completed an easy stumping.

At 8-103, Riding Mill just needed to deliver the knock out punch to ensure they would be well on top going into the innings break. Counter attack was the response from SUCC with Andrew Kirk and the recently married Leon Dhemba building a handy partnership which saw Kirk notch a half century and Dhemba hitting some powerful 6s on his way to a career best 21 not out.

The SUCC total of 8-159 was certainly one they were capable of defending and we certainly had a game on our hands.

The run chase got off to an explosive start with Scott Dickson top edging the opening ball of the innings over the keepers head for six, followed by the next ball flying down to the third man boundary for four, pushing one into the onside for 2 and then two more sixes and a four to finish the over.

Dhemba was able to stem the flow momentarily when he removed Dickson thanks to some fast hands behind the stumps from Kieran Ball but the runs kept flowing with the score racing to 1-46 after two overs and Riding Mill well ahead of the required run rate.

Sam Buster was able to chime in with a double breakthrough however, removing Bennett LBW for 20 from just six balls and then Collins on his way for 1 again thanks to some smart work behind the stumps from Kieran Ball who had his second stumping for the night.

Wickets would be the recipe required to stem the flow of runs and SUCC’s Andrew Kirk despite getting hit for three boundaries and a six, was able to remove Riding Mill skipper with a gem of a delivery for 26.

Longstaff and Raza were building a nice partnership and were still well ahead of the rate hitting boundaries and rotating the strike as needed. Colin Dunstone was able to provide the breakthrough however, nipping one back into the top of off to see Longstaff on his way for 13.

Next ball Michael Marshman trapped Raza in front for 19 and finished his over with a straightforward caught and bowled to see Hall on his way for 9 and the pendulum swinging back in favour of the home side with the score at 7-119 and still a job to do for the lower order.

Steve Kent came in with his intentions clear, hitting a towering six of Simon Hood before surviving a huge appeal for LBW before nicking one to Kieran Ball behind the stumps effecting an elementary catch to see Kent back to the virtual pavilion for 7.

The equation was now 30 required off the final two overs with just 2 wickets in hand with Joel Marks the last recognised batter at the crease on 7 with Butcher yet to face a delivery.

A six off the first ball followed by another 3 balls later from Marks had Riding Mill in the box seat but there was another twist in the tale with Marks controversially given LBW on the final ball of the over. On close inspections of the replays, the snicko technology detected the faintest of edges before the dice crashed into the pads. Marks had to go however, and we were set for a grandstand finish with 11 needed to tie and 12 to win from the final over.

Shawn Mepham was left with the responsibility of trying to close the game out for SUCC and with the field up, he nearly had the breakthrough on the first ball of the over when Butcher was struck on the pads. After what seemed like an eternity, the umpire said ‘not out’ and the over continued with scores tied on the final ball. A thick outside edge off the bat of Potts somehow trickled into the third man boundary with the Riding Mill faithful bursting into rapturous virtual applause.

The Riding Mill players stormed onto the ground jubilantly and surrounded the last ball hero Tony Potts who had pulled the visitors out of the fire to come away with a miraculous last ball one wicket win.

It is unusual for a player on the losing side to be awarded the player of the match honours but the official judges could not go past Andrew Kirk for his magnificent 62 not out that kept his side in the contest.

All eyes will now be on team announcements for the final game of the tour with speculation that there will be some current WBBL and former BBL players named for the Cricket Library Podcast XI in a fixture that is set to capture the attention of dice cricket lovers around the world.

Heather Graham Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly – The Cricket Library

In our second episode for the 2022/23 season, we are joined by special guest Heather Graham from the Hobart Hurricanes. Heather who is one of only three players in the 100 wicket / 1000 run club in the WBBL, shares with us the origins of her passion for cricket and reflects on the key ingredients to the successful teams she has been a part of. She speaks about what is ahead for the Hurricanes, looks back on winning the WBBL in her 100th game and how much it would mean to the players to send coach Dan Marsh out a winner. Robbie and Matt run their eye over some of the key performances in the Australian Men's Domestic summer to date and the ever popular Tabbsy's Take segment returns after receiving plenty of plaudits following the world premiere of the segment last week. Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.  

1. Heather Graham Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly 53:34
2. Kepler Wessels Special Guest On The Cricket Library Podcast 34:42
3. Michelle Goszko – Special Guest On The Cricket Library Podcast 53:34
4. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Countdown – Aaron Wharton Interview 42:36
5. Emma Hughes Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly 57:08

Pomborneit Cricket Club was established in 1883 and has a rich history of being an inclusive and progressive club. They have men’s senior teams who play in the South West Cricket Association in Victoria as well as 2 grades of women’s senior cricket in the Colac District Cricket Association’s Women’s competition.

They also have junior boys and girls teams as well as a Woolworths Cricket Blast Centre where the next generation of players can learn and develop their cricket skills.

It is our understanding however, that this may be the first time that Pomborneit Cricket Club will be taking part in a game of dice cricket. No doubt the anticipation levels are high as players prepare themselves to take on seasoned campaigners Riding Mill who have toured Australia previously and participated in domestic dice cricket leagues in the UK.

Riding Mill have played four games on their tour to date including victories over Burrabadine and Dubbo CYMS before going down to the Wagga Wagga RSL Bulldogs and Kissing Point.

There are a couple of changes for Riding Mill who continue to utilise all members of their 13 strong touring party with Brian Watson recovering from some muscle stiffness after his cameo at the batting crease against Kissing Point while it is believed Aly Hall is just being rested and will return for the game on the weekend.

As usual you can follow the coverage of the game on the official Cricket Library Twitter feed with full scorecards and match reports to follow the completion of the match.

It is great to have Pomborneit involved in the tour and we wish them all the best for their dice cricket debut!

Heather Graham Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly – The Cricket Library

In our second episode for the 2022/23 season, we are joined by special guest Heather Graham from the Hobart Hurricanes. Heather who is one of only three players in the 100 wicket / 1000 run club in the WBBL, shares with us the origins of her passion for cricket and reflects on the key ingredients to the successful teams she has been a part of. She speaks about what is ahead for the Hurricanes, looks back on winning the WBBL in her 100th game and how much it would mean to the players to send coach Dan Marsh out a winner. Robbie and Matt run their eye over some of the key performances in the Australian Men's Domestic summer to date and the ever popular Tabbsy's Take segment returns after receiving plenty of plaudits following the world premiere of the segment last week. Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.  

1. Heather Graham Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly 53:34
2. Kepler Wessels Special Guest On The Cricket Library Podcast 34:42
3. Michelle Goszko – Special Guest On The Cricket Library Podcast 53:34
4. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Countdown – Aaron Wharton Interview 42:36
5. Emma Hughes Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly 57:08

The Wagga Wagga RSL Bulldogs are priming themselves for what promises to be another dice cricket blockbuster this Wednesday night 6:30pm UK time when they take on a Riding Mill outfit who are riding high after back to back wins to start their virtual tour of Australia.

When they last toured, it was a high scoring affair with Riding Mill coming away with a 6 wicket victory after peeling off 170 in 8.4 overs on the virtual Wagga Wagga Cricket Ground surface that was very batter friendly.

With a wet start to the summer in Australia, it will be interesting to see if the runs will be flowing in a similar manner early this Thursday morning Australian time. The Bulldogs will be again skippered by their first grade captain and leg spin bowling all rounder Sam Perry. Sam’s younger brother Ethan is expected to be a key man at the top of the order after registering a rapid 47 off 14 the last time the two teams met with Joel Marks the one to snare the key wicket.

Riding Mill have continued to adopt a rotation policy with Brian Watson and Scott Dickson making way for the return of Iain Longstaff and Tony Potts. Steve Kent has been moved to the top of the order and will be looking to take the opportunity with both hands.

As always you can follow the action via the official Cricket Library twitter feed with a full match report and scorecards to follow the day after the game is completed.

Heather Graham Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly – The Cricket Library

In our second episode for the 2022/23 season, we are joined by special guest Heather Graham from the Hobart Hurricanes. Heather who is one of only three players in the 100 wicket / 1000 run club in the WBBL, shares with us the origins of her passion for cricket and reflects on the key ingredients to the successful teams she has been a part of. She speaks about what is ahead for the Hurricanes, looks back on winning the WBBL in her 100th game and how much it would mean to the players to send coach Dan Marsh out a winner. Robbie and Matt run their eye over some of the key performances in the Australian Men's Domestic summer to date and the ever popular Tabbsy's Take segment returns after receiving plenty of plaudits following the world premiere of the segment last week. Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.  

1. Heather Graham Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly 53:34
2. Kepler Wessels Special Guest On The Cricket Library Podcast 34:42
3. Michelle Goszko – Special Guest On The Cricket Library Podcast 53:34
4. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Countdown – Aaron Wharton Interview 42:36
5. Emma Hughes Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly 57:08

Tom Barber has claimed a hat trick and scored 30 off nine balls but it has not been enough to get Dubbo CYMS across the line as Riding Mill snuck home to claim a second consecutive win on their virtual tour of Australia.

With conditions perfect for batting, CYMS skipper Angus Norton had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss. Norton would be joined by his opening batting parter Marty Nelson getting the CYMS innings off to a flyer racing to 0-39 after the opening two overs from Watson and Butcher.

After surviving a huge shout for LBW, Marty Nelson was the first to depart out to a neat catch by Greenwood behind the stumps off the bowling of Collins for 18. This was soon followed by another good catch from Greenwood off the bowling off Kent to remove Norton for 32 off just 10 balls.

Joel Marks copped a bit of punishment from the powerful Paul Suckling who deposited one in the virtual tennis courts before Marks had the last laugh bowling Suckling for 15. Hall soon picked up the big wicket of Patterson LBW for 5 and the game was evenly poised with Dubbo CYMS 4-98 with a nice partnership building between Weekes and Barber.

After some further consolidation with 17 coming off the Ali Raza over, skipper Liam James had an immediate impact removing the set Barber for 30 off 9. Edmunds came in and immediately got the runs flowing getting off the mark with a huge six that crashed into the virtual scoreboard.

Dickson was able to tighten the screws with Greenwood adding to his two catches with the stumping of Edmunds for 23 off 9. Debutant Ben James got his first taste of dice cricket finishing 2 not out with Gavin Weekes steering the ship at the other end making a valuable 26 from just 13 deliveries.

The Riding Mill run chase got off to an absolute flyer with Scott Dickson clearing the virtual pickets on three consecutive deliveries before Corey Suckling had the last laugh sending the stumps cartwheeling to remove the dangerous Dickson for 18 in an eventful first over.

Ben O’Donnell was greeted to the bowling crease by Liam James who deposited his first delivery into the virtual cricket nets before he struck back wrapping the skipper on the pads and was sent back to the pavilion for 8.

Ali Raza and Jonny Bennett were increasing the score at a rapid rate before debutant Ben James finished his over with the wicket of Bennett who had compiled a more than useful 37 off just 12 balls. Despite the wicket, Riding Mill were well and truly in the box seat at 3-76 with 6 overs still to be bowled.

A steady flow of wickets continued to provide hope to CYMS with Edmunds removing Hall for a golden duck, Patterson accounting for Marks who made 12 and Paul Suckling luring Raza down the track before Weekes had the bails off in a flash to se him depart for 27.

However, the Riding Mill run rate continued to escalate with the score moving to 6 for 130 leaving only 22 runs to get off the remaining 18 deliveries. This would normally be a walk in the park but what was about to happen would turn the game on its head.

Tom Barber after being hit for 6 by Steve Kent was caught behind thanks to an athletic catch from Gavin Weekes. Next ball, saw Barber taking the catch of the tour so far, moving briskly to his left to see Butcher on his way first ball and finding himself on a hat trick.

Captain Angus Norton brought the field in for the hat trick ball which Greenwood skied high into the Dubbo skyline with the ever reliable Paul Suckling moving steadily to his right to claim the catch with the CYMS fans going into raptures in acknowledgement of the heroics on display.

Brian Watson strode to the crease with he and Collins needing to find a way to reach the total without losing the final wicket. Collins hit a six followed by a three to put the number 11 on strike. Somehow, Watson managed to get a thick outside edge sending the ball down to third man. Despite a valiant effort from Norton who had to cover a lot of ground in the field and prevent a boundary, the Riding Mill batsmen made it home for the three most valuable runs of Watson’s distinguished career, bringing up victory for the visitors.

Tom Barber was named the Cricket Library player of the match with reports that there will be an official presentation of the match dice at a later date in acknowledgement of his hat trick and all round performance.

The next assignment for Riding Mill is on January 5 when they will take on the Wagga Wagga RSL Bulldogs at the virtual Wagga Cricket Ground.

Heather Graham Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly – The Cricket Library

In our second episode for the 2022/23 season, we are joined by special guest Heather Graham from the Hobart Hurricanes. Heather who is one of only three players in the 100 wicket / 1000 run club in the WBBL, shares with us the origins of her passion for cricket and reflects on the key ingredients to the successful teams she has been a part of. She speaks about what is ahead for the Hurricanes, looks back on winning the WBBL in her 100th game and how much it would mean to the players to send coach Dan Marsh out a winner. Robbie and Matt run their eye over some of the key performances in the Australian Men's Domestic summer to date and the ever popular Tabbsy's Take segment returns after receiving plenty of plaudits following the world premiere of the segment last week. Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.  

1. Heather Graham Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly 53:34
2. Kepler Wessels Special Guest On The Cricket Library Podcast 34:42
3. Michelle Goszko – Special Guest On The Cricket Library Podcast 53:34
4. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Countdown – Aaron Wharton Interview 42:36
5. Emma Hughes Special Guest on the Cricket Library Weekly 57:08