First XI
We headed to Macleay Park to take on Nth Balwyn in the Grand Final rematch and a vital game, even at this early stage of the season. Win and we were right back amongst it at the top and lose and we could fall more than 2 games off top position.
We lost the toss and were sent out to field! Taylor and Jackson bowled tidily while not being able to penetrate on a slow, dead wicket. Howes, Munro and Guley bowled well through the middle, all picking up a wicket. Watkins was left to the death and was able to pick up 2. Nth Balwyn finished 5/195 off their 40 over. It was going to take a good effort with the stick to chase it down.
Wright and Brown got us off to a great start with a 44 run partnership before Wright went for a quick 23. Brown and Joslin then went about working the ball and hitting the bad balls to the boundary. Joslin went for 64 in the 32nd over, with still 35 runs to get. This ended a solid 119 run partnership. Brown (77) steared is to the end and unfortunately went out trying to hit the winning runs. We chased down the target (4/198) with 5 balls to spare in a great chase!
We have talked about partnerships throughout the first few games and it was good to put on a couple of significant ones in a crucial game!
Go Monts!
Second XI
In what was a rematch of our semi final from last season the 2nd XI took on North Balwyn at home on the weekend. Into the side for their first games for the year were Tim Noble and Udhav Goenka.
After being sent into bat we lost an early wicket before Woods (22) and Fernandes (15) were able to consolidate to have us only one down at tea.
After tea some solid hitting from Laird (23) and Bonnett allowed us to finish the innings on 126. In truth we never really got going in the innings and North Balwyn’s regular taking of wickets meant we were probably 20-30 runs short.
Knowing we didn’t have many runs to play with the opening bowlers got us off to a great start with Power (2/17) taking an early wicket and Cull keeping it extremely tight at the other end.
Noble, Fernandes (3/22) and Goenka kept the pressure on throughout the middle overs with some excellent tight bowling allowing us to take regular wickets. With a couple of overs left we looked to be in with a fair chance of stealing victory unfortunately it was not to be as a few lusty blows from North Balwyn’s lower order meant we lost on the last ball of the game.
Third XI
Our bowling was good in patches, but a few too many loose balls with a slightly below par total on the board would cost us in the end.
The team toiled well all day but ultimately fell a little short in all three departments, EMT knocking it off in 37 overs. Young gun Fraser Baddon the pick of the bowlers with 2/20.
Fourth XI
The 4th XI ventured out to La Trobe Uni for the top the table clash. Losing the toss, La Trobe batted first and we were able to strike with 3 early wickets. After that though, a 105-run partnership for the 4th wicket frustrated us with La Trobe playing the large ground too well and posting 187 off their 40 overs. Craig Vollmer taking 4 wickets and young Lachy Smit taking 2.
With 188 to win we were confident that we could make the runs. AB made a well compiled 31 and the skipper’s brother Adam Dean filling in and making a nice 83 not out in his first and probably only game for Mont Albert. Unfortunately, we kept losing wickets at key stages and fell 27 runs short after being bowled out in the last over.
While overall, we didn’t have a terrible game, some inconsistencies in our bowling, batting and fielding meant we fell just short. We’ll bounce back though and give Ringwood a mighty contest next week.
