Flashback 1993: Allan Border smashes a century on the ground named after him – in front of 6000 local fans.
Mosman old boy Allan Border with the Australia One Day International team in 1986.
Mosman’s centenary was celebrated with a one-day cricket match at Mosman Oval, between a Mayor’s XI captained by Allan Border and an opposing local team led by Greg Chappell. The Mayor’s XI won by four runs – before the ground was renamed to become Allan Border Oval, as Phil Wilkins from the Sydney Morning Herald reported on 5 April, 1993.
Mosman Cricket Club’s most distinguished old boy came home yesterday, stopping off long enough to hit a century in Mosman Municipal Council’s centenary match on the ground to be named after him – Allan Border Oval.
Twenty years after he walked 100m across The Crescent from No 27 to play first grade on Mosman Oval as a lad from North Sydney Boys High, Border cracked 160 from 118 balls to lead Mosman Mayor’s XI to a one-wicket win over Greg Chappell’s XI.
Allan Border Oval and the club house, prior to its demolition earlier this year.
Border brought up his half-century with a pull-driven six from national selector John Benaud, his century from 92 balls with a lovely boundary through extra cover, and in all he struck four sixes and 22 boundaries.
More than 6000 locals watched the Allan Border XI v Greg Chappell XI centenary match in 1993.
In front of a crowd of 6,000 and before yet another match-winning innings, Border said: “I always come back here, check the place out, drive around The Crescent and look at the oval.”
“I’ll always be a Mosman boy.”
“To have the oval named after you … you always think that happens to old-timers. Perhaps there’s a message there.”
Mosman Mayor Dom Lopez with Allan Boarder after the 1993 centenary match.
Approaching 38 in July, Border laughed and said: “It’s a huge honour, without question. This is really where it all started for me, so it is the ultimate honour.”
Greg Chappell’s team contained 10 Test players and former NSW all-rounder Hugh martin, who smashed his way to 59 after a fine innings by Trevor Chappell (72) and Doug Walters (64) for what appeared to be a winning score of 9-289 before the intervention of Border and his first Captain Barry Knight (50).
Cricket great Greg Chappell photographed after Mosman’s ‘one-dayer’ in 1993. Images John Hiscox.
Walters, 47, astounded with his fielding dexterity on the fence, Grahame Corling, 51, retained his rhythmical Test run-upwith all his old ferocity for 35 and Chag Chappell, 44, made slips fielding a breeze.
Former Mosman spinner John McKenzie fulfilled an ambition in capturing Greg Chappell. Bill Lawry’s wicket has yet to come.
A significant moment in Mosman’s sporting history. Images: Mosman Library.
FINAL SCOREBOARD
Centenary of Mosman Municipal Council
Allan Border’s XI v Greg Chappell’s XI
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