While Campbelltown Camden cricket club were cruising to victory yesterday morning in their quarter final clash against Sydney at Raby, none of their supporters were getting carried away.
The phrase, cricket’s a funny game, was heard quite a few times on the balcony and inside the Ghosts amenities building as openers Aaron Yabsley and Mitchell Carruthers dismantled the Sydney attack.
On a very hot late March day, the Ghosts openers looked set to bat for most of the day as they chased down the 307 posted by the visitors before they declared their innings on the previous afternoon.
It was a smart move by Sydney as it meant Carruthers and Yabsley, who had been out on the field and under the hot sun for most of the day, had to face four hostile overs before stumps.
But the Ghosts batsmen negotiated that minefield very well and headed to the dressing rooms unscathed.
Next morning, the pair picked up where they left off and rarely gave a chance as they took the overnight score from 0/17 to 0/114 at lunch on Sunday.
Yabsley was on 75 and for all money was going to put another ton against his name.
His partner, Carruthers, was on 35, but he did not add any more runs when he was the first wicket to fall straight after lunch.
Yabsley added just one more run before he was also caught when the Ghosts total was 115.
Just to prove that cricket really is a funny game, the home side collapsed, losing six wickets for 48.
At the end of the rout the writing was on the wall, despite a rearguard effort by Nathan Baker, who remained 29 not out when the last wicket fell at 198.
Baker’s was the next highest score for the Ghosts after Yabsley and Carruthers.
Luke Webb also deserves honourable mention for facing 43 balls and supporting Baker before he was out lbw for 0.
As a result of their defeat, the 2017-18 minor premiers have dropped to fourth in the rankings, which means they lose their home ground advantage.
Next weekend they head to Old Kings Oval to take on Parramatta in a semi final.
Bu win and they’re in the grand final – and a chance to win their first ever premiership trophy in 34 years.
Told you cricket is a funny game.
We are still in it so lets give the Ghosts our continued support