Mont Albert Cricket Club are thrilled to bring you more action from the junior ranks, with match reports coming thick and fast of fantastic performances and signs of development within our junior program.
Today, with what could very well be the front-runner for the report of the season, we look at Saturday morning’s match for our Mont Albert CC U/10 Golds, lead by coaches Greg and Kylee, against Wyclif Blue CC at Highfield Park in Camberwell.
Following a frustrating two-week delay to the start of their season (due to an opposition forfeit in week 1, and last week’s dispiriting washout) the Mont Albert U10 Gold boys were champing at the bit to display their wares against Wyclif Blue at a magnificently re-laid Highfield Park on Saturday morning.
The team, ably led by captain Joshua Martin, prevailed in a comfortable 65 run victory against a brave but outmatched Wyclif outfit.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bowl first, Harry Nicholson opened proceedings from the southern end. Harry set the tone by bowling with pace and control, conceding only 1 extra in his 4 over spell.
His pressure was rewarded in a devastating spell in his third over when he rattled the stumps twice in three balls – he was only narrowly prevented from achieving a hat trick when the batsmen jammed down on a searing yorker on the middle of the three balls.
Joshua followed his example in a similarly accurate and miserly 4 over spell, in which only 1 extra was conceded. His pressure led to a great team run-out as the Wyclif middle order chased runs in pursuit of a competitive total.
Late substitute Lucas Smith simmered with intensity as he sought to prove his credentials to the selectors, bowling a tidy 3-over spell. Felix Allen also stepped up to maintain the clamps on the Wyclif scoring rate, delivering two of his three overs as maidens, with his slinging left arm action difficult to get away in the overcast morning light.
Perhaps the highlight of the bowling effort occurred during the first over of William Borello’s searching three over spell. When William drew a ballooning edge from the shoulder of the Wyclif batsmen’s groping bat, keeper Oliver Trone dived forward like a startled gazelle to grasp the ball inches above the turf.
To conclude the Mont Albert bowling innings, Ben Boyd swapped keeper’s pads for the ball and sent down 2 wily overs of right arm over, from which the opposition could only muster 1 run from the bat.
Knowing that a steady and determined effort would be required to overhaul the Wyclif total, the Mont Albert batting effort opened with Felix and Oliver taking on the new ball. Both batsmen blunted the testing spells of the opening bowlers, and both would go on to record 4 runs and no outs.
Next to the crease was Ben, who put a high price on his wicket, defending stoically throughout his stay. The only blemish was providing a faint nick through to the Wyclif keeper who produced a fine catch of his own.
William and Joshua then joined forces to anchor the middle innings run chase. William unfurled some elegant straight bat shots while accumulating 4 runs and was a counterfoil to Joshua’s brute force with the bat which yielded 8.
Joshua was powerful square of the wicket, although a little lucky when a pull shot off the hip was put down by the man at midwicket. Harry backed up his fine bowling with a great all round effort, seeing Mont Albert through to stumps striking cleanly in the ‘V’ as he assembled 7 no-fuss runs.
The revelation, however, was newcomer Lucas, who unleashed a dizzying array of strokes around the wicket, including one rasping pull shot for the team’s first boundary of the season. He would finish top score on 13 runs.
Congratulations to the Under 10 Gold team on a fine start to their 2018-19 campaign. They concentrated and stayed involved throughout and played the game in the right spirit. It seems remarkable that this was the first game for all of them.
Thanks to the parents and helpers who filled match day roles. If you can get down to Elgar Park for their next game on the 10th November following the Cup Weekend bye, the boys will no doubt put on a show worth catching.