What a round! Week one saw the firsts, seconds and thirds all in strong positions. However, with less than ten overs remaining on day two, all three games sat on a knife edge.
The round also saw the continued emergence of young players James “The Bear” Blair-Holt, Reg Cooper, Dan Bonnet, Andrew Padbury, Joel Guley and Rufus McLean. Udhav Goenka snagged a 5fa, including a hatrick, whilst Wayne Harris wound back the clock with the stick.
First XI
We headed to Olney Oval to take on St Kevin’s in our first 2-day affair since round 1. It was warm conditions, the pitch looked a little under-prepared and the outfield looked more like a cow paddock than a cricket outfield. We lost the toss (once again ?) but were sent into bat ?, which we were hoping to do anyway!
We got off to a skakey start with 3 early wickets falling (3/25). It wasn’t until Blair-Holt strode the crease and consolidated the innings with positive intent and fluent stoke making. He and Joslin put on a 74 run partnership before Joslin was dismissed for 25. Blair-Holt continued on his merry way, playing a very mature knock, making his debut 1st XI hundred for the club. He was dismissed for 117 with the score at 209. Padbury (31no) played a vital innings towards the end to take our total to 232 but unfortunately we were bowled out in the 72nd over.
We had 5 overs at them and knew a wicket or 2 would hold us in good stead for week 2. We were able to take 1 (Padbury) in the last over of the day and went into week 2 having St Kevin’s 1/16.
We arrived on day 2 ready for a contest. Padbury and Cull started the day with a brilliant bowling partnership, with Cull claiming a crucial wicket and bowling 9 overs on the trot for a miserly 10 runs, while Padbury found rhythm that has deserted him so far this season due to a nagging hip injury. We bowled and fielded extremely well considering the challenging outfield conditions. While St Kevin’s had a couple of guys who batted well down the list, we were able to maintain our discipline with the ball and eventually dismiss them for 190 in the 76th over. Padbury (4/45 off 20 overs) was the pick of the bowlers and great to have him back to his competitive best with the ball. Watkins toiled manfully without a lot of luck (2/59 off 24.1 overs), while Cull, Wright and Fernandes all chipped in with a wicket each.
It was great to scrounge out another win, while still not playing at out best and not bringing all 3 disciplines together. We have one game left before Christmas against our arch rivals North Balwyn at home, which promises to be a big game and a tough one at the selection table, with many blokes back available putting their hands up for selection.
Go Monts!
Second XI
In our first two dayer for the year, the 2nd XI took on Burwood at home. Up for their first 2nd XI games for the year were Gaj and Minzy.
We lost the toss and were sent into the field, knowing we would have to work hard for our wickets on a hot humind day with a good deck for batting. Burwood were off to a reasonable start after the first couple before their opener lost concentration during an LBW shout when he was run out having stepped out of his ground, by Daff. This was one example of what was a pleasing fielding effort from our boys on the weekend. Power (2/31) took the next two wickets and Noble (1/10) was also able to grab one (the ball after doing a hammy) to have them 4/40 odd early on. Burwood were able to build occupy the crease during the middle overs, without ever getting away in terms of runs. With Noble going down the slower bowlers were going to be crucial and Gaj and Prateek were able to bowl over after over for very little runs. Jones, 1/24 also bowled well down the hill from his 14 overs. In the end it was Singh (3/34 off 21.2) who was the pick of the bowlers and did the most damage, supported well at the end by Bonnett (2/5) who bowled an exceptionally tight spell conceding just 5 runs off his 11 overs. Ultimately our ability to keep the pressure on and the runs tight was very pleasing and allowed us to bowl out Burwood for just 137 off 73. Daffey and Jones were then able to see out a couple of tricky overs to have us 0/3 off 3 in reply at stumps.
Arriving at MACC for week 2 the emphasis was to occupy the crease knowing that if we held wickets in hand and batted our overs we’d reel in the 137. After the dismissal of Jones, Daffey (26) and Cooper (31) applied themselves well to get us through to drinks on a morning where conditions were tough. Their partnership coming to an end in unlucky circumstances with Daffey run out at the bowlers end from a feather from the bowler on a straight drive back onto the stumps. Bonnett (23) and Cooper saw us through to drinks at a very healthy 2/95 with a solid base to build on after the break. After tea we unfortunately lost wickets in a clump on two occasions. Firstly Reg and Dan were dismissed in consecutive overs with the score on 103. Another hiccup occured with just 15 to win when we we lost 3 wickets without the score moving. The cooler heads of Gaj (10*) and Power (11*) were then able to see us home after the late fright.
Ultimately a pleasing performance for our first two dayer save for the loss of late wickets in the end. The win leaves us in 2nd with top of the table NBCC up next week. Go Monts!
Third XI
The threes hosted top of the table Donvale and knocked them off in a thriller!
Udhav Goenka the star of the show week 1 with 5/49 off 17 including an incredible hattrick, all bowled! At 7/51 we were well and truly on top before a lower order fightback ensued, Donvale managed 215 and we were 1/16 at stumps. D. Laird (2/32) and Johnsen (3/47) the other wicket takers.
Needing 200 with 9 in the shed, all we needed to do was bat time and the runs would take care of themselves. 16 year old Joel Guley was the glue that held us together, with a patient and gritty 49. Ably supported by Stragalinos (25) and Orchard (20) it allowed Dave ‘Big Papa’ Laird (30) to loosen the shoulders and bomb a few boundaries at the end in a 62 run partnership for the 8th wicket with Johnsen (38*) to get us close enough to the line, with Fentoss hitting a 150 metre 6 to win us the game with an over to go.
A very satisfying and well earned win sees us move into 3rd on the ladder with our season well and truly back on track.
Fourth XI
The 4s ventured out to Donvale for their first 2 dayer of the season. Winning the toss we had a bat on beautiful day for batting. Unfortunately we lost wickets at regular intervals and never got a significant partnership going. We ended being bowled out for 183 in the last over. Notable knocks included 30 from Craig Vollmer and a fantastic knock of 60 not out by Wayne Harris.
Week 2 we set out to bowl Donvale out feeling confident with runs on the board. Unfortunately, Donvale outclassed us and made the runs with only 1 wicket down. Craig Vollmer picking up the only wicket for us. We face La Trobe Uni at home next week and hope that we can turn our fortunes around and nab a win going into the Christmas break.
Fifth XI
MACC 5/97 def by Rich Union 5/98 (R. McLean 3/23).