ENTER THE TOYOYA GOOD FOR CRICKET RAFFLE
DIVISION ONE, ROUND 7, 2020-21 SEAON
OLD SCOTCH (131)
def. OLD MELBOURNIANS CC (90)
MATCH REVIEW
Round 7 saw the boys take on close rivals Old Melburnians, in a battle of the best two sides in the MCC Club XI competition over the last few seasons. Both sides had started the season in similar fashion and were both undefeated heading in to the match.
After 50mm of rain on the Friday, the Scotch groundsmen did an outstanding job to prepare a playable Meares Oval surface for the big game and once again can’t be thanked enough. It was however a lush and green bowler friendly looking wicket and OMs had absolutely no hesitation in asking the home side to bat first.
The ball was doing all sorts early and the OMs opening bowlers Hanlon and Hurley-Wellington had the boys under immediate pressure, removing Cam Hemp and Sam and Nick Shearer to have Scotch reeling at 3-15. Mitch Sennitt was offering stubborn resistance at the other end and found a strong ally in the in-form Will Clark, with the pair advancing the score to 3-75 before Clark fell for a valuable 23. From there, wickets fell at regular intervals, with Sennitt going immediately after drinks for 33, and OSCC were struggling at 8/100. Tom Loveridge launced a mini counter-attack in positive fashion and, with some help from Will Hays, was able to advance the score to 131 before falling for a crucial 21. 131 seemed well under the usual mark for a score required to win a game on the Meares, but it was also a great effort considering the conditions and pressure placed by the OM attack.
With a strong seam bowling attack and some hugely favourable conditions OSCC always seemed in the contest and started the defense strongly, with Hays and the ageless wonder Gary Bennett applying the clamps early. Bennett claimed the big wickets of Stevenson and Di Venuto early, with Hays chipping in with the wicket of the other opener Spargo. At 3/20 it was well and truly game on and S Shearer and Clark replaced the opening pair with devastating effect, with Shearer removing Bede and Regan in consecutive deliveries and Clark nicking off Dixon and Pike. After half an hour of superb seam bowling, OMs were suddenly 7/35 and the game was as good as done. The four bowlers had executed the plans to perfection and every chance created was being claimed behind the wicket, with keeper Hugh McLeish, Clark and S Shearer swallowing anything edged behind the wicket.
Old Melburnians dug in and showed plenty of spirit for the remainder of the contest and did manage to advance the score to 90, before the 10th wicket fell. Summing up the bowling and fielding effort from the Scotch boys, Loveridge swooped on a ball at mid-off and threw down the stumps at the strikers end to finish off the match. It was a fantastic effort from the boys to bounce back from a rough start to the day and play some brilliant cricket to claim the points. Clark finished with 3/14, S Shearer 3/21, Bennett 2/9 and Hays 1/21 in a brilliant display from the bowling unit.
This week the boys host Xavier on the Main in another big game, looking to continue the momentum from Sunday’s display. Would love to see you there!
FULL SCORECARD
DIVISION TWO, ROUND 7, 2020-21 SEAON
Match Abandoned
vs OLD CAREY
Points shared, 2 each.