SEASON 2022-23 has become the year of the Pelicans.
With the club’s under 16 and women’s cricket sides both bringing home premiership flags in recent weeks, Bookaar’s division one side was hungry for victory when it took on Cobden last Saturday.
“This season has been an incredible one for our club, with all five teams – the 13s, 16s, women’s, division three and division one – making finals,” division one captain Tim Fitzgerald said.
“And to win three flags was just icing on the cake and a great reward for effort. Our club is a very proud one.”
Reflecting on last Saturday’s 60-run defeat over Cobden, Fitzgerald was full of praise for the entire team while making special mention of opening batsman Simon Baker.
“Simon really had a great day out; he batted the full innings and finished on 69,” Fitzgerald said.
“We won the toss and elected to bat first. Our aim was to get plenty of runs on the board and we finished at 9/176 which was pleasing.
“I knew it was a defendable total and the Camperdown pitch was pretty good, which it usually is. I was happy with what we posted and had confidence we could bring it home.”
Baker was well supported at the crease by Sam Allen with 24, Charlie Lucas 18 and Hamish Sinnott an unbeaten 19.
The Pelicans showed consistency and good form in the field, with tight bowling from Fitzgerald (3/36 off 10), Louis Darcy 3/20 off 7.1, Charlie Lucas 2/24 off nine and Michael Winzar 2/25 off eight.
The day was an extra special one for the Baker family.
Not only did Simon have a great day out with the bat, he was able to share the victory on-field with team-mates and sons, Paddy and Tom.
In a remarkable coincidence, 20 years prior Simon celebrated a Bookaar premiership with his father Keith and two brothers, Clinton and Daniel.
They too were team-mates at the time and had defeated Cobden on the Camperdown ground.
