CENTENARY OF GRINSTED CUP… The 2019 Parkes team was joined by Tim Keith, Bob Aitken, John Davies and Lex Hodges before the match on Saturday.
History repeated itself last Saturday in the centenary celebration of the Grinsted Cup game played at the Woodward Oval.
In 1969 Parkes staged an amazing revival to defeat Forbes by one wicket in the 50th anniversary of the Grinsted Cup. The same result was achieved last Saturday when Parkes scraped home to win by the barest margin with Forbes 10/91 off 39 overs and Parkes 9/92 off 39 overs.
After the official launch of the new LED lights at the oval by Member for Orange Phil Donato and Councillor Louise O’Leary, the match began in sensational fashion when Parkes opening bowler Phil Dunford produced a wicket off the first ball to clean bowl Jarrod Nicholson.
Forbes staged a comeback as Mitch Bayley 34 and Scott Neville 15 took the Forbes score to 51 in the 19th over. Parkes 15-year- old Harry Bayliss entered the attack with his well flighted leg spinners as he ripped through the middle order and claimed 6/29 off 10 overs.
Forbes batsman Mark Simmonds (20 no) displayed plenty of grit to boost the Forbes total to 91 off 39 overs. Phil Dunford (3/18) and Blake Smith (1/18) put Parkes in a good position for victory.
At the toss before the match were (L-R) Peter Yelland (Parkes Captain), Mitch Bayley (Forbes Captain), Glenn Pepper (Parkes) and Robert Ryan (Forbes).
In reply, the Parkes batting line-up soon found that they had a difficult task as Mark Simmonds turned in a terrific display of sustained accuracy to smash through the Parkes batting order. Parkes were reeling when their score stood at 5/27 after 12 overs with Mark Simmonds collecting four of the first five wickets to fall. Andrew Hall and Toby Hurford also bowled tightly for Forbes.
A very determined Shane Jones (33 no) and Paul Dunford (11) added useful runs, but Parkes continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. The Parkes score stood at 9/75 when the final batsmen, Ben Coultas joined Shane Jones with Parkes requiring a further 17 runs for victory.
Shane Jones survived a dropped catch that would have given Forbes victory. Ben Coultas hit the winning runs off the following over to give Parkes a memorable victory over a gallant Forbes team.
The Grinsted Cup is said to be the longest running sport competition in NSW. Michael Greenwood gave an overview of all the top historic moments of the past 100 years at the Woodward Oval. He said it was the showpiece of country sport 60 years ago, and told the Parkes team, who defended the sought after trophy last Saturday, and the Forbes team they were part of great sporting history.