DIVISION ONE, ROUND 10, 2020-21 SEAON
OLD SCOTCH (7/117)
def. MELBOURNE CC (112)
MATCH REVIEW
Round 10 saw the OSCC First XI capture a bonus-point win, in an entertaining contest with Melbourne Cricket Club at their new Beaumaris complex.
Losing the toss and asked to bowl first the Scotch boys put in a very disciplined and balanced effort with the ball, stifling the MCC scoring rate and taking regular wickets along the way. MCC finally were dismissed for 112 off 38 overs, to cap off a very solid performance from the OSCC attack. Will Hays (3/14) captured three wickets, with Sam Shearer (2/19) and Tom Loveridge (2/28) snaring two and Will Bonwick (1/14) and Charlie Loveridge (1/15) chiming in with one each.
The message at the interval from captain S Shearer was clear, with the boys looking to play positively and knock off the MCC target within 20 overs to secure the bonus-point. S Shearer set the tone early, with a flurry of boundaries taking the score quickly to 30, before he was knocked over for 25. Nick Shearer offered some resistance to a decent MCC opening burst, before a flurry of wickets left the Scotch boys under a fair amount of pressure at 5-49. Charlie Loveridge and Hugh McLeish steadied the ship, with C Loveridge taking the attack to the MCC bowlers and placing the pressure back on the home side. It was a fantastic counter-punch and exactly the positive cricket the boys are looking to play, with C Loveridge advancing the score to 85 before perishing for an entertaining 35. Hays joined McLeish at the crease and after some fantastic hitting (and some more than friendly MCC bowling), the boys were able to secure the bonus-point with one ball to spare. Hays finished on a brisk 22 not out, to cap off a fantastic individual performance and see the boys home.
Despite the scoreboard showing a close game, the positive way the boys went about their work was great to see and was ultimately rewarded with the extra point and a five point gap to the second placed side on the ladder. This week the boys again tackle MCC, this time on the Meares, and look to continue to improve and build on the success so far this season.
FULL SCORECARD
DIVISION TWO, ROUND 10, 2020-21 SEAON
OLD SCOTCH (9/162)
def by. MELBOURNE HIGH SCHOOL (8/163)
MATCH REVIEW
Round 10 saw the boys at home to Melbourne High. On equal points on the ladder and approaching the hotly contested finals series, this was always going to be an important contest. Melb High won the toss and sent us in to bat on the Meares.
Despite the early loss of Charlie Schilling, Nick Jamieson (76) and Mark Griffiths (26) pushed through the opening spell to put us in a commanding position leading into the drinks break. When Griffo fell, the score was on 69 and the boys were streaming towards a great total. Tom Edney (11) made his way to the crease and put on a quick fire 20 with Jamo before running himself out. This signalled the start of a collapse, with James Halse (0), Oliver McLeish (3), Jamo and Charlie Hocking (0) all losing their wickets in quick succession to have us 7/136. A late fight back from Fraser Sutherland (16) and the tail saw us in a defendable position at 9/162 after the allotted 40. Just before the close of the innings, disaster struck as our number 1 bowler, Will Meggitt tore his hamstring and would take no further part in the game.
The loss of Meggsy put us on the back foot and meant that it was vitally important that everyone bowled to a clear and direct plan. Unfortunately, it only got worse as James Halse bowled 3 head high full tosses in his first over to be taken out of the game for the remainder of the match. Now two strike bowlers down, the odds were heavily stacked against us. Nick Jamieson (2/25 off 8) and John Stavris (2/42 off 8) took over and steadily brought us back into the game. Fantastic catching and tight bowling saw us right in it, with Nick Bennett (1/29 off 7.3), Ryan Higgins (1/30 off 8) and Charlie Hocking (1/22 off 7) holding things up at both ends. Melbourne High required a run a ball for the final 3 overs and that is the way it played out, with the equation coming down to 6 off the final 6 delivers. Nick Bennett had the ball and executed perfectly, with a dot and then a run out, Melb High needed 6 off 4 with 2 wickets in hand. Unfortunately, the next ball was cannoned for 6 by the number 10 batsman to see Melb High come away with a victory. Despite the loss, with two of our best bowlers out of the contest there was plenty to be excited about as we are well and truly still in the finals race and now look forward to hosting Trinity this week.
FULL SCORECARD