These are a bit late, but always good to catch up on what has happened across the club. Thanks again to the writers, including Ross Blair-Holt, who is making the First XI match report his own.
First XI
REPORT ON MACC 1STS V HEATHMONT ON SAT JAN 16TH 2021
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. they played cricket, and the batsmen got runs, and the bowlers got wickets and the fielders took catches. This saying comes from watching Star Trek after Monties games!
Heathmont won the toss and sent Mont Albert in on a pitch no one was sure about. At 4/18 and with Blairy dropped 3 times before he got past 1, we knew. It was a seaming/cutting pitch and slips were having a busy time. Sam Taylor and Blairy set about recovery and put 58 on till Sam was bowled around his legs for 36. With a bit of help from the tail, Blairy got to a defiant 42 and we made 119, 7 less than last week. Scores had come in from other games during the carnage, and it was noted that Surrey Hills made a total of 31, only bettered by Canterbury getting 32! Definitely a bowlers day.
With Padders back from the physio table, and Nathan Mc back from the babies change table, the Monties had belief in defending 119. So it was as Padders who wrecked the top order with 3 wickets, and came back at the end for another 2 to end with 5/14 – pretty much unplayable. Everyone chipped in for an even performance with a wicket each. Much better than last week when every over seemed to have 1 or 2 bad balls. Fielding was good, and Jos’s runout spectacular. Scoreboard pressure eventually got to Heathmont, and the tail succumbed as they hit out. End total 111. Win to Monties by 8 runs. Special mention to Woodsy, who seemed to field about 25% of the balls on the west boundary, running a half marathon and giving him the chance to show the members reserve his emerging mullet a number of times!
When I first heard the boys were training Monday night, I figured the coach had called an extra batting practice session for the top order! Actually, it was because they had a T20 match on Tuesday.
Report on T20 v Glen Iris on Tuesday.
Jos roped in a Melbourne Renegade player, Benny Howell, as our import – he can bat and bowl evidently and played the first 2 games for the Renegades in the BBL this year. Initially I thought it was Benny Howes making an appearance, who can’t bat but can bowl! Jos opened as McNally was still changing nappies and was late. A person in the members reserve was heard to say that Jos shouldn’t open as he wasn’t a slogger! (No names but he is closely associated with Jos!). Jos promptly took the attack apart and slogged his way to 54 with 5 4’s and 2 6’s! Benny got an entertaining 20, and most others did their bit. Blairy added a big hitting 25 off 11 balls at the end to push the score to 151.
Benny import got 3 wickets, as did McNally, and Glen Iris succumbed to 84 in 18 overs. Interestingly, 6 were bowled and 2 were lbw. Shows what happens when you bowl at the stumps (message here for the Aussies maybe!)
The draw originally showed we had a bye in Round 2, but not to be – we play Surrey Hills on Tues Feb 2 at Mont Albert. If we win, quarters v Mulgrave or Clifton Hill.
So to next Saturday v winless Surrey Hills at Monties home. Wouldn’t want to drop this one! And maybe, like in a faraway galaxy, the top order might get some runs.
Second XI
We were greeted at Burwood by a few wet patches on the pitch and a salty Wright, having just been dropped to the twos for his first Second XI game this century. After a substantial delay, we won the toss and bowled on a green seamer.
Charlie got us off to a flyer, taking 4/10 off his 7 overs, in one of his best spells for the season. This included a screamer by Galts at first slip, reminding us all that his hands are crisp. Cully chipped in with 1/7 off 7, and at 5/13 early, Burwood were looking shaky. But, their middle order consolidated with some smart batting, pushing the score up to 61 before the 6th wicket fell. Some late hitting allowed them to make 103. Fraser and Wright both bowled well at the end, taking 2fa each.
Our batting started poorly, losing Lairdy quickly to a sharp catch at short cover. Wrighty and Fraser again combined, this time with the bat, to push the score past 20, but Fraser and Wright both lost their wickets in quick succession. The middle order failed to get the score rolling, as has been the story all season, and we were bowled out for 71 in the 31st over.
A very disappointing end to such a promising start. Some tough discussions were had at the closure of play, and a steely resolve adopted to keep working on improving our ability to build some partnerships and keep the score ticking.
Fourth XI
The 4s were at home facing off against Donvale for the second time this season. With all the rain around, plus a green looking deck, we won the toss and decided to have a bowl first to see what might happen. Jimmy Wright bowled the house down early to snag 3 wickets and have Donvale 3/50. It could have been 4/50, but we were unable to hold on to an early catching chance and they proceeded to put on 135 for the 4th wicket which took the sting out of the game a little. Luke Pelchen fought back for us late to pick 4 wickets for 42 and stem the flow of runs. Donvale still finished up on 245 off their 40 overs, which was going to be a big challenge for our batsmen.
Two early wickets didn’t help our cause as we struggled to build any large partnerships to have a good crack at the total. We were bowled out in the end for 165, 80 runs short of Donvale’s score. Notable performances with the bat were Brad Woolhouse with 49, as well as Jordan Dean (36) and Chris Wijayadharmadasa (27) who put on 51 for the 8th wicket. Our bowling/fielding is the area that needs considerable improvement if we are going to challenge for our first win of the season.