Matthew "Dicko" Dickinson and Sam "Shears" Shearer propelled Old Scotch 1st XI to a massive 5 for 281 off their 40 overs at Meares Oval today to never be troubled by Old Haileybury who were dismissed for 103.
After the shock of losing the redoubtable Tom Whitelaw for a first ball duck, Shearer joined Dickinson and in harness they compiled a mammoth 190 run stand of immense class. Shearer was sadly dismissed 3 runs short of a well deserved ton for 97, while Dickinson perished for a typically heroic 81.
Polkinghorne kept the party going with a hard hitting 45 not out that included a maginificent six to shepherd the score to a formidable 281.
The poor lads from Haileybury looked like they had been hit by a Mack truck at full speed when confronting the opening salvos of Garry Bennett and fiery South African tear away Andy Fairman. Fairman made the break through via an amazing caught and bowled chance that he scooped up diving full length a metre or so in front of the batsmans toes after the batsman had top edged a pull into his helmet and the ball hung in the air only momentarily.
Fairman finished with 2 for 31, while Will Hays was damaging with 2 for 24 and Chris Nutter the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 11.
A crushing 178 run win was just the tonic the boys needed as they keep their season alive.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Celebrities continued their inconsistent form in Division 2 by failing to defend a competitive 201 at Meares Oval.
Skipper Harry Hackett compiled a classy 44 to get the team off to a solid start with Vikas Choudhary smashing a dare devil 37. A middle order collapse saw the Celebrities teetering at the brink at 8 for 131.
The man, the myth, the legend, Johnny Stavris, soon rectified this wrong by swinging lustily and smashing some incredible sixes and fours in his innings of 29 not out, to marshall the tail to add a further 70 runs from the last two wickets with able support from Hewy Hewson who made a valuable 24.
201 was far more than even the most optimistic Scotchies could have hoped for after the middle order collapse, but a spasmodic bowling performance saw the Melbourne High Old Boys pass the Celebrities total for the loss of only three wickets to win convincingly.
Next week Old Scotch take on Old Melbournians at Meares Oval on Saturday for the last game before Christmas while the Celebrities host MCC Blue at Meares on Sunday.
Get on down and support the boys as they hold the Old Scotch banner high.
In the mean time...