There have been many glorious days in Old Scotch Cricket Club's storied history, but Saturday's performance was as fine as any witnessed on the scenic Main Oval at Scotch College. In incredible scenes, Old Scotch won a high class contest against Old Melbournians by 69 runs to shore up their position in the top four heading into the Christmas break.
The day belonged to in-form opening batsman Tim Hosking who compiled a masterful 113 not out in an innings of such composure and timing, it elicited nodded approvals from the old timers watching on from the sidelines. Hosking caressed fourteen sumptious boundaries and one towering six in an innings that lasted from first ball to last. Hosking brought up his ton to raptuous applause with a bunted drive to cover for a single and a raised bat to his appreciative team mates.
Cam Melville also continued his recent impressive form with a typically industrious 46 that featured a lot of hard running and three boundaries in an opening stand of 114 with Hosking. Next to join Hosking was OSCC glamour number three batsman, Sam Shearer, who immediately made himself busy turning over the strike with a series of singles. In a partnership of 99, Shearer contributed a typically stylish 43 that featured three boundaries and a six. Rounding out the innings, skipper Tom Murray joined Hosking at the death and was 4 not out at the compulsory close.
In spite of the impressive total of 2 for 223, the pitch was not as easy to bat on as the score indicated. Immediately, Armstrong and Hayes brought back memories of their halcyon days in APS cricket as they bowled nary a bad ball in their opening salvos of their spell. Seb "Stretch" Armstrong finished with a typically miserly 2/8 from five overs and the always improving Will Hays finished with 1/13 off eight tidy overs.
Old Melbournian star batsman Morris momentarily livened up the encounter with some flamboyant and enterprising stroke-play to compile an impressive 70 before being trapped LBW to evergreen veteran fast bowler Gary Bennett. Bennett - as he is prone to do - was full of lip to the batsmen and cleaned up in his second spell, finishing with 4/35 off eight overs.
Eventually, Old Melbournians succumbed for 154, but not before Sam Shearer took a freakish leaping one handed screamer on the fence to lay claims to catch of the summer.
The day, however, belonged to Tim Hosking who made his first century on the Main Oval to set up the match and continue his Indian Summer of heavy scoring.
In Second Division news, The Celebrities selected their strongest line up for the summer thus far to take on the might of MCC Blue at Meares, only to be informed late Friday night that MCC Blue would not be fielding a team and were forfeiting the match. Whilst understandably disappointed not to be getting a game in, the points from the forfeit have remarkably seen The Celebrities sitting in the top 3 going into the Christmas break! With a run of winnable games post Christmas, The Celebrities would be keenly eying off a finals slot to make it a summer to remember.
As we enter the Christmas break, we would like to wish all Old Scotchies a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!
In the mean time...