Highlands Veterans hosted two matches on the tour of Australia by England's Over 60s with the visitors being surprised by a Southern NSW XI featuring seven Highlands players.
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The first one-day international, termed the "Grey Ashes" and played at Bradman Oval, attracted most attention with Australia losing the 50 over game when England chased down 152 with an over to spare.
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Australia won the toss and batted but lost captain and former Sheffield Shield player Mark Gaskell from Queensland early on for 8.
Wickets fell regularly for the home side to be 6-84 but a 7th wicket partnership between Highland's Peter Jensen and Dale Thornton was productive as they put on 48, Jensen doing most of the scoring on an oval where he has prospered many times.
Jensen went on to make an unbeaten 42 and be named man-of-the-match with Australia 7-152 from their 50 overs.
For England both Richard Harris (3-19 from 10 overs) and Keith Harsham (2-15 from 10) bowled really tight line and length.
England lost an early wicket in reply but in the middle order Harris made 40 and John Punchard 35 to keep the runs ticking over and the visitors passed the Australian score on 6 for 153.
Rex Bennett (2-24) and Mick Kettle ((2-32) were the most successful of the Australian bowlers.
Earlier in the week the visitors had played a Southern NSW selection at beautiful Chater Oval.
This was England's fifth fixture on tour with just the one loss to Tasmania and they would have expected to continue their winning run against a regional team.
However Southern NSW chased down their score of 183 with two overs to spare.
England won the toss and lost an early wicket when Foster was bowled by Joe Scarcella but Merriman and Dearden put on a solid partnership before Dearden was run out for 30.
Merriman (29), Bartholomew (33), Stafford (26 not out) and Harris with an unbeaten 49 all made sound contributions to get England to 4-183 from their 45 overs.
Scarcella, Simon Lyon and Paul Cullen all took a wicket each.
In reply Southern NSW lost Rod van Beek in the second over but Highlanders Gary Whitaker and Ian BRadburn batted superbly to keep the home side on track to reach the required total.
Both retired at the compulsory 50 and skipper Peter Jensen continued the healthy run rate by hitting 34 off 41 balls, ably assisted by Peter Rolls who was not out on 33 and Lyon who was unbeaten on 11.
So the home side made 184 in 43 overs, losing just two wickets in an historic win.
Highlands Veterans president David Wells was delighted with the outcome but especially the support received in staging the match and the response from the visitors was overwhelmingly positive.
Highlands Veterans president David Wells was very satisfied with the outcome, especially the support received in staging the matches.
"Everyone in the Club and at Bradman rose to the challenge of hosting the English. Southern Highlands hospitality was to the fore around both games. The pitches and ovals looked a picture, while the catering was of an exceptional standard.
Over and above the cricket, the tourists were also treated to a quintessential Australian experience at Fitzroy Falls with Aboriginal Dancers imparting their cultural knowledge while the displays at the Bradman Museum surprised and delighted the visitors."
Since the Highlands games the tourists have encountered some fickle NSW weather and had two matches washed out as they now head to northern NSW and on to Queensland with two more international matches to be played.