- contributed by Ross Munro.

In a dramatic tension-filled final over, the CQU International Students X staged a courageous fightback to edge out the luckless CQU Staff X to win the inaugural 'Ten 10 Cricket Match' on  Monday evening, May 14, at the CQU Oval.

The limited-overs day/night cricket match was staged as part of a varied program to introduce Pallavee Dhaundiyal, a journalist from  the prestigious Times of India newspaper to CQU.  Pallavee had visited the CQU Sydney Campus in recent days.

The match had everything and surpassed the expectations of the organisers and the players. The small but vocal crowd thrilled to the lusty hitting, intimidating bowling and spectacular catching, and agonised with the acts of courage that went beyond the call of duty. They became ever more boisterous as the game went on and as the large quantities of Coca Cola and Sprite that had been consumed began to take effect.

The match was played under modified rules borrowing from the indoor cricket format. 5 pairs of batters faced 2 overs each with 5 runs being deducted for the loss of each wicket from their total. Each bowler was limited to a maximum of 2 overs. Wides and no balls were scored as one run and with the ball being bowled again.

The ever popular Chaplain, Matthew Ryan withdrew from the Staff X on the eve of the game but was ably replaced by Sam from Engineering. The Staff openers  faced a hostile bowling attack, particularly from Shaun  who had wreaked havoc in the recent Chaplain's Challenge Cup, and from the accurate Rohit.

By the close of the 4th pair of batters the score was modest due to accurate bowling and superb fielding. Avan bowled beautifully with Naimish contributing  with his left arm medium fast deliveries.

The doyen of umpires, Kevin Tickle, was called on early in the game to display the wisdom of Solomon. During  the 4^th over, queries were raised about whether byes and leg byes would be counted. A huddle quickly gathered around the official scorer but Kevin adjudicated with aplomb and the matter was soon resolved and the game proceeded. The match was always threatening to bubble over with passions running high but Kevin was able to keep the lid on these emotions and allow the game to be played in the right spirit.

While Sam, Farooq, Zahid, Lokesh and Peter all tried valiantly to push the score along, it was left to the final pairing of Sohail and Christian to resurrect the innings and put some respectability into the final score. Christian's  2 towering sixes off consecutive balls were well worth the entrance fee to the game. The Staff X managed the final total of 32 runs. Long time cricket and baseball watchers in the crowd were doubtful that this would be enough to prevent the strong students' line-up from winning. Special mention must go to Peter who was prepared to lay his body on the line, literally, and on more than one occasion for the Staff cause.

The lights came on at 5pm and the mood turned serious. There was a steely resolve in the eyes of the Staff X. Ably led by Captain Farooq, together with controlled bowling by Lokesh, Sam and Christian, inspired fielding had the Students in trouble and facing an ignominous defeat with 3 overs to go. Naimish as captain of the students powered a big 6 and the margin was down to 12 with 2 overs to go. Disciplined batting by Ishak and Jignesh coupled with manic fielding in the penultimate over left the students in the driving seat; 4 to get with 6 balls left.

With the words of the immortal cricket bard ringing in his ears,

          " There's a breathless hush on the (CQU) oval tonight

             Four to make and the match to win

             A bumping pitch and a blinding light,

             An hour to play and the last men in.

             And it's not for the sake of the ribboned coat.

             Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,

             But his Captain's (Farooq) hand on his shoulder smote

            "Play up! Play up! And play the game!"

 Ross took the white ball for the last over. A sweep to the mid wicket boundary by Ishak saw the scores tied. A couple of wides edged the students ahead. It was down to the last ball of the match. The ball was tossed up outside the off stump turning away from the batsman who prodded nervously forward. The ball fizzed and rose steeply off the pitch towards Farooq who clutched it gleefully.

Pandemonium erupted as the staff embraced and celebrated in  true soccer style the catch that would win the match. Eyes turned towards Kevin willing the right index finger towards the heavens. Alas, it stayed down and with it went the hopes of the Staff X. The Students were the winners. But really there was only one winner and that was cricket and friendship.

Naimish accepted the trophy on behalf of the winning team while he and Christian shared the men of the match award. 2 State of Origin beach towels that were generously donated by the CQU Bookshop were won by Christian (best shot) and  Shah (best catch). Sohail reflected the courage and effort as he stood as wicketkeeper for the Staff X and incurred a broken finger on the right hand.

In conclusion, a big thanks must go to Mike Donahue for his promotion and sponsorship of the game. Robyn Bailey, Connie Moore and Gagan Deep contributed to making it happen with their hard work. Special mention to Kate Anderson who helped organise the screen printing for the T-shirts worn by both teams. Finally, thanks to the ground staff and security for preparing the wicket and lighting.

Plans are already underway for a return match in 2008.