SEASON 2021-22 ROUND FOURTEEN
FEBRUARY 27, 2022
DIVISION ONE
OLD SCOTCH CC 8/231 (40)
def. OLD MELBOURNIANS 150 (35.5)
M Sparks 77*, Hays 3/27
The 1st XI entered the final home and away match of the season looking to extend their winning streak to 12 games and continue to build on a strong season to date. An always talented and tough Old Melburnians were the opponent, in a tantalizing pre-finals clash.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, captain Sam Shearer and Matt Mitchell made a fantastic start to the batting innings and found the rope regularly in advancing the score to 0/50 off 8 overs before S Shearer fell. Mitchell and Mike Sparks went about consolidating after the loss and Old Melburnians were able to build some good pressure, before Mitchell departed. A flurry of OSCC middle-order wickets then followed, with Sparks remaining calm and solid down the other end. Nick Shearer was the first to show any form of resistance, with the pair adding 70 for the 6th wicket and carrying the side to a score that would at least be somewhat competitive. After N Shearer was dismissed, there was an astonishing flurry of boundaries, with Sparks moving from 50 to 77 in the final overs and Will Hays belting boundaries at will and delivering 32 off no more than 15 balls. It was an amazing display of late-innings hitting and an example of the talent the side has all the way down the list. Credit to Mike Sparks, who wasn’t at his free-flowing best and still managed to anchor the side with aplomb.
OSCC started beautifully with the ball, with both Hays and Will Clark banging away at the perfect lines and lengths for extended periods, and managed to stifle the OMs chase from the outset. Both bowlers were rewarded for their patience and skill with skied ring catches and from there the innings was always under control. A third wicket partnership between Swann and Stevenson started to show some signs of danger, before Swann was dismissed by S Shearer and the OSCC boys took another step towards securing the points. All members of the bowling attack executed to perfection, with Will Bonwick, Sparks and Cam Hemp also performing well.
It was a solid effort to end the home and away season, against a very good side, and an encouraging sign for the weeks ahead. There’s still plenty to improve, especially with the bat, as the boys tackle MCC in the semi-final this Sunday on the Main Oval. We would absolutely love your support, as we enter yet another exciting finals campaign.
DIVISION TWO
OLD SCOTCH CC 7/129 (37.3)
def. CAULFIELD/NCG 128 (35)
Melville 21, Meggitt 3/26
The twos were away to Caulfield in the final home and away game for the season. With finals locked in, it was merely a matter of where, out of 2nd, 3rd and 4th, the twos would finish on the ladder.
Bowling first, the boys started positively with Will Meggitt (3/26 off 8) back to his usual and restrictive best really making the Caulfield batsmen earn every run off his overs. Ryan Higgins (2/20 off 5) and Nic Bennett (2/11 off 4) toiled away and at the break, we had Caulfield stifled at 6/79. The remaining wickets were shared as we managed to continue our great work in the field to have Caulfield all out for 128 in the 35th over.
Our openers looked to start positively and get things moving with the bat. Cam Melville (21) again impressed, however despite all obtaining starts, 3 or 4 of our top order fell to poor shots and placed some strain on the run chase and the lower order. When Tom Edney (10) fell, the score was 6/84 and a mountain of work was left to do. Given the strong work with the ball, it was only one partnership required, which would steer us to victory. This partnership of 37 came from Oliver McLeish (20*) and Charlie Hocking (14), who cast aside the loud and boisterous Caulfield fielders and guided us towards a somewhat comfortable victory.
With other results going our way, the twos moved up into 2nd position and secured a home semi-final next weekend against Old Wesley. We are once again proud and excited to be appearing in the finals and cannot wait for this weekend.
DIVISION THREE
OLD SCOTCH CC 9/98 (40)
def. by PEGS 2/99 (26.5)
B Lloyd 24, L Fraser-Smith 1/16
Match report coming soon...