CHANNEL 7 & AUSTEREO WIELD THE WILLOW

Channel Seven and Austereo faced off in a game of 20/20 cricket last Friday to have some fun and raise money for the Victorian bush fires appeal. Thanks to Austereo’s Nikki Angelucci for this report.

When Seven Perth general manager Ray Wardrop challenged Austereo GM Linda Wayman to a game of cricket no one was prepared for the intensity. What started out as a match between two rival media organisations, turned into the 20/20 game of the year.

‘Wayman’s Warriors’ thrashed ‘Wardrop’s Woozes’ beating their score of 137 with five overs to go and three wickets in hand in a two hour extravaganza last Friday. Channel Seven’s cricket pitch saw the likes of Mix 94.5 announcer Ian Blackley go head to head with Seven’s sports reporter Basil Zempilas, who pulled a hammi after diving for a one-handed catch.

Rick Ardon was impressive as the ‘objective’ commentator and West Coast Eagle Daniel Kerr was supposed to be the umpire of the match but was forced to step in for Basil after his injury. Wayman ended up bruised and battered after she tried to stop a six by sliding down the grassy slope without spilling a drop of wine from her glass and Wardrop was impressive in the outer field by catching a brilliant would be four hit by 92.9 announcer Nollsy.

The idea first came about when Wardrop was sitting at the traffic lights thinking about organising some sort of sporting game that would cross over as a team exercise. As he looked to his left he saw a cricket pitch and the rest was history. “I called Linda instantly and it took me all of thirty seconds to convince her”.

After the call, Wayman’s Warriors wasted no time with grueling training sessions. Strict criteria applied for a chance to be part of the side with Linda having the final say on who would be in the top 13. “You do have a thirteenth man in cricket don’t you?” was her first question.

“Account Manager Michael Harries was part of the team on the basis that he suggested an esky at square leg and Director of Sales Martin Whittle was part of the team on the basis he offered to field at square leg,” coach Wayman said.

Although the match was all in good fun it was also a chance for people to donate to the Bushfire Appeal. $500 was raised in the two hours from spectators and Austereo gave $5 for a run, $20 for a bowl-out and $10 for any sixes or a catch making the total an impressive $3000.

Wardrop’s Woozers took the loss well and were gracious in the celebrations but already seem to have round two in the pipeline.

“I’m thinking a baseball match in a few months, better start getting into training now!” said Ray on Friday evening. However after more than half of his team pulled up sore the following day he has since revised that to lawn bowls.