In my 50 years as a cricket captain, yesterday’s game between Middleton Stoney and Melbourne Cricket Club XXIX was the first in which the opposing captain was a first class professional player. Sam Harper has played for his state, Victoria, and in the Big Bash T20 for Melbourne Renegades. He played for Australia Under-19s and is now 22.

I won the toss and we won the game. Just saying.

Of course, I didn’t do anything as dramatic as to bat, bowl or catch, but I enjoyed every moment. Sam nearly won the match for them on his own, with some extraordinarily hard and straight hitting until one of his fierce drives was brilliantly caught by our club vice-captain, Tim House.

I suppose you could say that I contributed by my timing of our declaration in a rain-affected match and by the decision not to bowl our spinners, especially myself, as their Big Bash-er was in such fine form. But it was simply a joy to be out there with the team playing so well and encouraging or congratulating one another at every turn of the game.

Melbourne Cricket Club XXIX is named after a perception of Australian club cricket in the 1950s, that if you were aged 30+, you would not be selected, hence so many players claimed to be 29. This side was designed to allow older players to continue enjoying the game. They certainly helped our team of all the ages enjoy ourselves.

It was probably the best day’s cricket here at Middleton Park in over 200 years.

The evening ended pretty much like the one depicted in my previous blog post #24 on anticipating this match, with the home team waving farewell to our visitors in the dark after an unforgettable day. Funnily enough, the last two players cheering the Australians on their way were the one who took four wickets, Tim Cranston, and the one who took two great catches, Tim House.

Tim Cranston also had the presence of mind to take a photo (reproduced above) of that moment when my spinning of the coin outdid my attempts at spinning the ball over the decades.

Melbourne Cricket Club XXIX set an example of good cricket, good grace and good humour all through the day and the night. It was a privilege to play them. We were inspired to rise to their level on and off the pitch. We have been anticipating this fixture all season and its exhilarating effects will see us through the rest of the season, the close season and on to our 250th anniversary celebrations of cricket in Middleton Park, in 2051, when we look forward to a return match.