A huge weekend saw both the 2s and 3s win their respective grand finals in emphatic fashion. The 2s, led this year by Luke Fernandes (in the absence of the injured star wicket-keeper Luke Galtieri), made it four in a row, which is surely one of the strongest arguments in history for promotion to A-turf. Only 2 players – Greg Cull and Colin Orchard (pictured) –
played in all four flags, demonstrating the strong depth that has been cultivated over the past few seasons at MACC.
The 3s made up for missed opportunities in 2017-18, with a barnstorming finish to the season. Led this year by the specialist himself, Kiel Johnsen, a clear focus was placed on providing opportunities to players 30 years and under. Again, it is a credit to the depth at MACC that this young third XI side was able to come home with a crushing win over sub-district aspirants Donvale.
Read on for a full account of the weekend’s events. A big thanks to Luke, Luke and Kiel for their leadership this season. And to Jack Joslin, Jordy Dean and Gus McLean for leading the 1s, 4s and 5s respectively. Hopefully more success is just around the corner in season 2019-20.
Second XI
After finishing top of the ladder and with a strong semi-final victory, the 2nd XI earned the opportunity to host the grand final against Nth Balwyn. We won the toss and batted on a good wicket, with Jack Woods showing his class to get us off to a good start. The introduction of spin saw us lose 2 wickets in 2 balls with the score on 34 to put us on the back foot. Woods and Nat Cutts then combined to steady the innings before Woods was dismissed to a good catch for a very well made 46. Travis Baker and Cutts then saw us to tea with no further loss to put us in a strong position at the main break.
With wickets in hand, we knew that partnerships and set batsmen were the key to us posting a big total. Cutts and 
Baker combined well after tea before Baker was dismissed for 20. At this stage, Cutts was hitting the ball to all parts, which allowed Dan ‘The Show’ Bonnett to get himself in. The pair combined for a terrific 127 run partnership which set us up for an attack on the final 10 overs. Both batsmen were dismissed inside the last 10 overs, with Cutts backing up his 97 in the semi-final with a brilliant 120. Bonnett played a great support role (living up to his self proclaimed nickname) with a well made 52 as we finished our innings with a more than competitive 8/273.
With a good total on the board, our bowling group were confident of defending the total on day 2. Jackson and Thorn took the new ball and bowled well without luck, as Nth Balwyn put on 28 for the first wicket. The introduction of Roy Taylor brought immediate success as he ripped through their top order with 4 quick wickets to put us well on top at 4/44. A good partnership from Nth Balwyn threatened to get them back in the match, but Baker and Jackson were able to put 
the brakes on once again to push the run rate out to more than a run a ball. Taylor broke the partnership and then Baker (2/39) and Jackson (1/37) chimed in with some wickets of their own as Nth Balwyn were dismissed for 218 in a great chase. Taylor returned the incredible figures of 7/59 from 18.1 overs – a fantastic performance on a great batting wicket.
Nat Cutts was awarded the Man of the Match for his match winning 120 – a great reward for a magnificent finals series. The premiership was the fourth in a row for the 2nd XI – a reflection of the depth and strength in our club. Congratulations to Luke Galtieri (injured) and 
Luke Fernandes who captained the side to a premiership in their first year as captain.
Third XI
The Threes took on Donvale in the big dance at Surrey Park in what feels like a second home come March for a lot of our players in recent years, and a happy hunting ground at that!
Saturday: We lost the toss and Donvale elected to bat on what can only be described as the Hume Highway. It was a hard, flat road and a perfect day to bat, but with our bowling attack we knew if we struck early we could tear through them.
At 6/29 they were well and truly on the ropes, before a spirited fightback from their number 7 and 8 saw them put on 107 runs before we struck again. We toiled hard in that period, bowling quite well I thought, and Donvale had some of the luck that was afforded to us earlier in the day. Once Lachy struck, we ripped through them, taking the last 4 wickets for 5 runs. Lachy the best of the bowlers again, his class shining through on his way to wrapping up the tail to be all out for 141 in 70 overs. 
- Power: 18 overs, 7 maidens, 4/36
- Guley: 13 overs, 4 maidens, 1/26
- Johnsen: 7 overs, 2 maidens, 2/16
- Noble: 14 overs, 4 maidens, 1/27
- Singh: 13 overs, 6 maidens, 0/21
- Greedy: 5 overs, 0 maidens, 0/14
Our opening pair of Daff and Lawrence had a difficult 10 overs to negotiate to end the day, and they managed to get through unscathed, finishing 0/14 at stumps. With very little to gain and everything to lose it can’t be underestimated how important it was to be none down at stumps.
Sunday: We resumed at 0/14 with the full 80 ahead of us. Early partnerships were the key, and Daff and Loz set about chasing the target.
After surviving a couple of early shouts, Daff eventually fell for an important 15.
Enter Brendan ‘Lawrence’ Laird. Cometh the moment, cometh the man. After being joined by Reg Cooper he proceeded to take the game away from Donvale, landing some brutal blows to all parts of the ground on his way to a match winning innings which would earn him ‘man of the match’ honours, and deservedly so. Well done Loz.
Reg’s patient and mature knock can’t be underestimated, anchoring the innings so Loz could play with freedom and set the game up. Both playing the best innings’ I’ve seen them play for the club, in total control throughout their knocks.
Once Lozza fell, Jimmy Rawlings joined Reg and saw off a difficult period of good bowling where the runs had dried up. Something had to give, and finally Jimmy slapped a few boundaries before skying one to mid on trying to win the game before tea. After the tea break, Joel and Reg made quick work of the 3 runs required, to hand us a dominant 7 wicket win in the 50th over.
- Daffey 15
- Laird 70
- Cooper 36*
- Rawlings 14
- Guley 4*
Well done to each and every person that played in the threes this season. To finish second and win the premiership in a grade full of Second XI teams is a remarkable effort and I can’t wait to do it all again next season in C Turf.
Up the monts!!!!