Victors: The Catholics win Bible Society’s inaugural #cricketforbibles match at the weekend.

The “Appeal for the Light” ten over round robin was held yesterday (15 March) on Sydney University’s main oval, with teams representing Catholics, Anglicans and C3 denominations. It was an afternoon that threatened rain that only appeared after the last ball, concluding a contest between the Catholics and C3 in which the players refused to abandon the game as the rain set in.

‘The contest exceeded expectations – especially in the quality of play,” said the Bible Society’s CEO Greg Clarke who presented the awards.

“I was thrilled to see these three denominations take to the pitch as opponents, but more importantly as partners in supporting Bible mission. It was a joy to be there.”

“I expected the outcome to be simple, with one team winning two games. But every team won a game’ said Chris Melville, the scorer and Bible Society’s International Manager. “So we had to use a system devised with Brian Booth the former Australian Captain, which gave the victory to the team with the highest combined average.”

That was the Catholics on 63.5 and the Anglican’s 56 average gave them the runners up position. The C3 team (like the Australian team) played for an outright win, a tactic that looked like giving them the prize until the fourth-last over. Several catches on the boundary gave the Catholics the final game over C3. C3 had won the first game over the Anglicans, who defeated the Catholics in the second.

The Catholic XI.

Bishop Bosco Puthur, Bishop of the Eparchy of Melbourne of St. Thomas in Australia for the Syro-Malabar Catholics, who played in the game, accepted the winner’s cup for the Catholics.

Tony Payne of Moore College and Matthias Media accepted the runners up award for the Anglicans, and Paul Bucknell for C3.

Against the immaculate green of the oval the Anglicans looked like Queensland in maroon, the C3 team looked like NSW in light blue and the Catholics were in papal whites supplied by Harry Solomon of the Kingsford Sports Centre, along with the trophies and other gear.

The C3 XI coming off the field.

Chris Gordon, director of Catholic Chaplaincy Services at Macquarie University was awarded Player of Tournament, racking up three crucial catches, a stumping and not getting out during the day.

Bishop Bosco won the sportsmanship award, presented by Brian Booth who warned the Bishop “Next year you will have to improve your Bowling action.”

The Bishop told Eternity that although he comes from India, “sent from Kerala a year ago by Pope Francis to help the Oriental Catholics in Australia”, he was pleased to support the women’s literacy project in Pakistan, that was Bible Society’s fundraising focus of the day.

“We are all members of the one body of Christ, and it is important work to teach Women to read. We all need to support Bible Distribution,” he said.

Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally who played for the Catholics, won the un-sportsmanship award, jokingly judged by Greg Clarke “for her unkind remarks regarding the one true church.” She also attributed the Catholic defeat at the hands of the Anglicans to the coach, James McCarthy, leading the team in insufficient Hail Mary’s before the game.

Kristina Keneally, playing for the Catholic XI. Her friendly rivalry and jovial attitude on the day boosted team spirits for the win.

Brian Booth was asked if it was hard to be a Christian and a test cricketer. “I am often asked that question,” he said. “But I don’t think it is harder to be a cricketer for a Christian than it is to be a doctor, or an accountant or a nurse.

“The psychological battle within yourself, between how the Bible says you should live and what society says how you should live is the same.”

Former Australian cricket captain, Brian Booth, watched from the grandstand and cheered on the teams.

The “Appeal for the Light” match was a demonstration to show how to use a new Bible Society website, eventsforbibles.com, that allows groups to use events to raise funds for Bibles projects.

The “Appeal for the Light match” raised funds for Bible Society’s Beacon of Light project in Pakistan. This interdenominational project bravely teaches underprivileged Christian women to read using Bible-based material.

The Beacon of
Light goal in 2015 is to teach 7,000 Pakistani women to read and then help them read the Bible. You can find out more about the project, here: www.biblesociety.org.au/pakistan-appeal

Asked what besides cricket would work to raise money for Bible Society on the new website, C3 team manager Pastor Paul Bucknell said “How about soccer? But trivia nights and meals would also work for churches and groups.”

The “Appeal for the Light” continues although the match has been played and won. Bible Society has some fantastic cricket mementos being auctioned for the Pakistan project via the links on the home page of www.cricketforbibles.com

Three signed bats from Michael Clarke, Chris Gayle, M.S. Dhoni and a signed cricket ball from Mitchell Johnson. Ending Sunday 22 March at 14:00. All proceeds going to the Bible Society’s Pakistan project.

Check out the signed cricket bats up for grabs on our eBay auction!