England 234 all out from 47.5 overs lost to Australia 235-7 with 10.1 overs to spare
Sydney Cricket Ground
Tri Series ODI Cricket
Friday 16 January 2015
Twitter @ball_sup
I've been looking forward to this since I first heard of the Matilda Bay Brewers Pavilion in the revamped M A Noble Stand Members area at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Matilda Bay beers were Australian Gateway Beers for me.
They were more widely available than very small & independent craft beers. Fat Yak in particular made me realise it's not all wishy washy sugar water lager style.
Look, they're no longer small potato craft. And haven't been "for decades". They're the craft "arm" of Evil Empire big boys Carlton & United. We have an increasing number of these craft arms of big brewers in the UK. Matilda Bay did come from independent craft stock - a long long time ago. Myriad location changes. Myriad personnel changes. Not the same recipe. Not the same ingredients.
But. We know the realities. Sports grounds are tied up financially with Pouring Partners. At least with this model we get some CHOICE & VARIETY. It's not just light, mid or cider. It's not just yellow or brown.
For the record, the M A Noble Stand Brewers Pavilion has; Fat Yak, Ruby Tuesday, Alpha Pale, Minimum Chips Golden Lager & Beez Neez Honey Wheat. And for the Buffoons Carlton Draught.
Unbelievably. One of those was a tick for me. Australian beer #309.
The physical set up is absolutely superb. Bright, modern & airy. With sweeping Level 2 views over the ground. Oh & bang behind the bowlers arm. Lots of good quality food outlets. Lots of staff, who know what they're doing, can pour beer & serve lots of people quickly.
Here's the verdict. In the modern reality of Sports Grounds & sponsorship, this should be THE aspirational model for all the others. Hats off to the SCG & Matilda Bay Brewing Company.
A fair amount of Carlton Mid fuelled Buffoonery in the Outer.
England lost 2 wickets in the first over. They hadn't practiced recovering from that in Canberra had they (see earlier Blogs). Fair play to Eoin Morgan, who compiled a great ton to get 'em back in the game. But the bowlers are a bit ineffective anyway, always a tough ask to defend that.
Great, great beer (strictly speaking beer venue) day.
74/178
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