Hugh Powell put on a cricketing masterclass at Knobble Hill Primary School’s annual Father-Son match, including hammering his own son, James Powell, for a maximum six consecutive sixes in an over.
Early Fireworks from Powell Snr
The Father-Son match is a beloved tradition, typically played in the spirit of fun. However, Mr Powell had other ideas. When the Sons came out to bat, 12 year-old James Powell walked out to open the batting.
On seeing his son taking middle, Mr Powell ran to the wicket and snatched the ball from Brian Anderson, who was warming up to bowl the first over. Mr Powell then marked out a 30-yard long runup, ignoring the friendly two-step approach that most of the Dads embraced.
Powell charged in to bowl, like a man possessed. His first ball, a vicious, head-high bouncer, sent his son James scrambling for cover, missing his unprotected head by inches. The next delivery, a perfectly executed yorker, sent middle stump flying out the ground, and James trudging back to the pavilion for a duck. Reducing the Sons to none for one wicket within minutes.
“Honestly, I thought Mr Powell might take it easy on me,” Anderson later admitted, still rubbing his shin after attempting an ill-advised forward defense. “I should have known better.”
Young Justin Anderson, came in at number three hoping for an easier time at the crease, soon realized he was also in Powell Snr’s firing line. A sharp in-swinging delivery trapped him plumb LBW, sending him back to the pavilion shaking his head.
“Honestly, I thought Mr Powell might take it easy on me,” Anderson later admitted, still rubbing his shin after attempting an ill-advised forward defense. “I should have known better.”
By the time Powell had finished his first over, the Sons had lost three wickets and failed to score a single run.
The Father’s team Captain, Principal Bryan Blumrick, fearing a complete rout and his owns son Ray’s safety, insisted that the other Dad’s complete the remainder of the overs.
With tamer bowling from the rest of the Father’s veteran attack, the Son’s recovered to score a spirited 145, setting up an exciting chase. Joshua Paulo, who’s father sadly passed away a few years ago, top-scored with 62, capitalizing on his Mom’s underarm full tosses.
Lunch and Drinks
The lunch time break proved a festive affair. Class Mom Jan Airton made a meatloaf, dry and hard as a brick, that would have been inedible had drinks not been sponsored by Knobble Hill Hotel owner Terry Dunstan-Smith. The Dad’s got stuck into the free beers like men getting stuck into free beers. By the time their innings came, the Fathers were three sheets to the wind and rocking from side to side.
Powell Snr Takes Charge with the Bat
The Dads’ reply started shakily, with Mr Moorhouse misjudging a full toss and finding himself caught for a golden duck, much to the delight of his son Dale. The youngsters bowled and fielded exuberantly while the Dad’s looked in a complete shambles as wickets tumbled at both ends.
With the Father’s innings in tatters at 43/7, a sober Hugh Powell strode to the crease.
Facing his son James, Powell Snr launched a relentless assault, sending the ball soaring into neighboring gardens, the school car park, and even onto the roof of the science block. He struck six consecutive sixes in one over, leaving the Sons’ fielders chasing shadows and James questioning his life choices.
A Controversial Finish
Powell’s rampage continued, with every shot bigger than the last, until, with the Dads just nine runs from victory, he launched one final monstrous six off James, sending the ball sailing deep into the forest behind the school.
A tense silence fell over the pitch.
With no replacement ball, Mr Blumrick declared the match a draw, despite the Fathers needing just three runs with heaps of time left. The Sons, having escaped certain defeat, celebrated wildly hugging and high-fiving.
Powell, however, would not hear of it.
Holding his bat aloft like a conquering hero, he turned towards the pavilion, where the moms had gathered to watch the spectacle, and celebrated as though he had just won the Ashes.
“The game is over!” he declared triumphantly. “The Dads are victorious!”