Yrae Chronicles

So yes, THAT. OH GOD IT WAS AMAZING. I know nobody on my flist will care but it's my sodding journal so there. I'm still grinning. That last over was EPIC. Every dot ball got cheered as though it was a wicket. Even the singles were applauded because it was still restricting them to less than what they needed. And oh god the NOISE. Slow clapping in for every ball from around the entire ground, and before the last ball the cry of "REDBACKS! *clapclapclap* REDBACKS! *clapclapclap*" which put any AFL chants of "ADELAIDE!" to shame. 10,000 people chanting all at once, even the members stand. It was just incredible. Reason I watch sport, ladies and gents.

AND THEN. LAST BALL. Two runs to win, one to tie. NOISE EVERYWHERE. There's no way the players could have heard each other shouting across the ground. I can't imagine the pressure the bowler must've been feeling, but HE DID IT. Restricted them to that one run, and because we'd finished the season at the top of the ladder, that meant we WON THE TOURNAMENT OMFG.

The sheer joy on all their faces. Jumping up and down like maniacs, waving fists and stumps in the air and just basically going "YEAAAHHHH" at the crowd and alskjghask I love my boys.

Michael Klinger, the captain, thanked us all in the presentations at the end, and from the grin and completely unprepared way he was saying it, bloody obvious he meant it. They were just all so happy and ecstatic and eeeeee!

They absolutely revelled in it. They all came around to do a circuit or two of the Oval afterwards, some running around the boundary giving high-fives to the crowd, at least half stopping for autographs and photos and hugs and general words of congratulations. I got a hug from Cameron Borgas, who had been fielding in front of me for the innings. He was fun :D There was one point where he sorta fumbled a boundary save a bit, so it bounced right up over his head and he was scrabbling over the ground to stop it going for four and generally looking very undignified. He laughed at himself when they replayed it on the big screen, though X3 And yaknow, that save ended up saving the game, so WOO!

I got autographs from several of them, hugs from, as I say, Borgas and Crosthwaite, the wicket keeper, and photo with Crosthwaite, too, and they were all just so happy and, dare I say it of grown sportsmen, squee. THEY JUST WERE OKAY.

Just amazing. I love those boys so much. Beware the parochial South Australian X3

( PHOTOS )

No sporting event I've ever been to--or, likely, ever will be to--could possibly top that. And I was there when we beat Geelong, and various other amazing cricket and footy wins. Seriously, nothing will top last night. It was epic.