Straight to the challenge I told you about last week, then. The rules were, I had to face four overs against a spin bowler, Locksy, from the men's A grade (just below state level). I couldn't get out and I had to hit four boundaries. The whole men's and women's sections had turned out unexpectedly, but I was feeling confident even though there was a lot of banter… then I got to the crease.
In the back of my head I had planned for a left-arm orthodox spinner, as that was what everybody had told me he was, so I was surprised when the first one spun back in… and viciously. He was actually a Chinaman bowler.
The first over was playing sensibly and he chucked in a full toss which I pumped away for a six. I was giving him a bit of cheeky chat and then came the wrong'un and I had no clue, but he didn't get me at that point.
He tossed a few up and I hit them nicely through the covers, so I was semi-settling down. I started getting nervous because I wasn't going for the big shots and the lads started up: "This is not a Test match." The keeper was chatting and the girls joined in, trying to encourage me: "Come on Ebs, hit out, hit out." Three overs gone, one over left and I needed three boundaries. The pressure was building.
The first one I miscued over midwicket, then my head went and I lost it. I got out three times trying to hit straight so Locksy had won. But I still won as dinner was on him anyway!
It was definitely an interesting experience, and put me under pressure, which gave me further insight into how to hold my nerve – I will look to repeat such challenges in the future. As a side point, it was good to get the club interacting and afterwards it was nice to know that the guys thought I was a decent player, and that I hadn't let women's cricket down.
And because I was feeling a bit gutted about failing the challenge, I was more determined and put in some intense practice in a session on Friday I had arranged with Australia's Emma Sampson. I had already had sorted out a net with another Aussie player, Kris Britt, at the Adelaide Oval on the Tuesday prior to the challenge, it's good to be able to get this experience.
I got to work on the off-side shots and that gave me confidence going into Saturday's match against Northern Districts, who are just above us in second in the table. Rain overnight meant it was a lively wicket, and with the ball seaming around I knew it was important to play sensibly and only hit out when the ball was really there.
The first ten were quite slow, then when the pitch dried out it was time to capitalise, picking a few areas to go for the boundaries. I felt really well set then I was run out by a direct hit on 48. Fuming. We batted the 50 overs but were at least 50 runs short and we ended up losing pretty easily. At least it wasn't scorching this week, though.
Off the field, I managed to get to the India-Sri Lanka ODI thanks to Jen's colleague Bek at South Australia who organised a ticket and for me to sit in the press conference to see it from the other side. It was interesting to hear Yuvraj Singh and Mahela Jayawardene talking so much about their innings, they said a lot more about batting than is often reported in the press through lack of space, and I picked up a few tips.
I also went to Victor Harbour, Bluff and Middleton, all in the south on the coast, and they were breathtakingly beautiful places, a must-see for anybody coming out here.
I am so looking forward to the next game because at last I'll get to play alongside Emma but even more exciting is being on the same team as my batting idol Karen Rolton who I've idolised since I was when 14 when I saw her play in England. Everybody's been quite amused by how nervous I get when I'm around her but this is going to mean so much to me and hopefully I can learn from her, too.
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