An air of excitement descended onto Coogee in the lead up to the Lefand Cricket Week with local businesses, the Mayor Dylan Parker and Randwick Council and The Hon Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP getting into the spirit of the week with great support and enthusiasm. The Consul General of Ireland Rosie Keane was also instrumental in the successful hosting of Ireland by ensuring a strong Irish flavour was present especially through the support of Waterford Crystal and The Lansdowne Club.

When Cricket Ireland touched down on September 30 the atmosphere was palpable. It was a thrill for all at the Randy Petes to welcome back former players, now in the T20 World Cup team to compete in Australia, including the skipper Andrew Balbirnie, up-and-coming batter Harry Tector, explosive all rounder Barry McCarthy and talented batsman/WK Stephen Doheny and newly appointed spin coach Nathan Hauritz.

Coogee, the coastal walks and the Courtyard Cafe certainly assisted the team overcoming their jet lag before hitting the centre wickets expertly prepared by Green Options and the crew led by Kane Campbell on Sunday and Monday afternoon. Bombs were hit into Dolphin St and it was a unique sight to see the Irish coaching staff lined along the road with baseball gloves at the ready. A number of our younger bowlers had the experience of bowling to the Irish team who were open to impart their knowledge over the course of the training sessions and thank you to Horrie for conducting an informative and unique Masterclass which was hugely beneficial to all those who attended.

There were nerves as the weather reports weren’t promising but sunshine greeted Tuesday October 4 as a beacon and Coogee looked a picture for the first T20 between Ireland and Randwick Petersham’s 1st Grade side.

Daya Singh called correctly and took advantage of a flat looking pitch with Camden Hawkins and Ben Mitchell striding to the crease. Hawkins (6) fell cheaply to Barry McCarthy (2-11) to have the home side teeteering 1-10. Anthony Sams was the next to depart to the spin of Gareth Delany (2-10) before Ayre (27) combined with Mitchell for a 53 runs stand. The other bats pushed the score to 7-125 in the allotted overs as the Irish bowlers tightened the screws backed up by good fielding all round.

In response Balbirnie fell early to Ayre and Lorcan Tucker (9) fell to a strong catch by Sams off Ralston and when Campher (4) fell the scoreline read 3-31. But Doheny stood tall and showed his knowledge of the Coogee wicket to hold the innings together with a well constructed and powerful innings with 65* from 54 deliveries to give Ireland a 3 wicket win in 19 overs.

Doheny was a well deserved Man of the Match awarded by Michael Anker and Randwick Petersham Co-Patrons Robin Gardner and Alan Turner presented Andrew Balbirnie and his team with the beautiful Waterford Crystal Lismore trophy made specially for the match.

Unfortunately, matches 2 and 3 of the Lefand Cricket Week series v an SCGXI and a NSWXI were abandoned without a ball bowled due to the heavy rain hitting Coogee with over 90mm falling mid week. Despite this the week was a great success providing Cricket Ireland with the opportunity to acclimatise on turf before entering the ICC T20 World Cup the following week and great success to quailfy for the Super 12s with victory over Scotland and the West Indies as well as victory over England at the MCG.

Randwick Petersham extend our thanks to all the major partners of the week. Without your support the week would not have been as successful. In appreciation. Trust, Respect, Humility.