Season kick-off 26-27

ROUND ONE

Saturday November 17 and Sunday November 18, 2026

FIRST XI

OLD SCOTCH 1XI 5/258 (40)

def. MELBOURNE HIGH 9/254 (40)

S. Dawborn 108, P. Burchard 52, S. Shearer 5/65, S. Goodwill 3/28

The 1st XI started the season off at our home away from home, Melbourne High. With a slightly new look team, the boys were keen to rip in and get off to a strong start. We won the toss and elected to bat first with Sam Dawborn and Luca Van Der Sluys striding to the crease. However a couple early wickets had us slightly on the back foot at 2/40 with Burchard joining Dawborn at the crease. The two of them got to work and began the fight back with Burchard complimenting Dawborn’s power perfectly. Dawb was at his punishing best launching balls all over the park, then after just 68 deliveries, brought up a magnificent century in style. This was both an impressive and inspiring innings after what had been a tough week, Dawb showed true leadership, determination and flare to dominate his was to 3 figures. Yet again proving why he’s one of the best players in this competition. Paddy continued in his ways and brought up his maiden half century for the club, many more to come for the young gun. Dawb (108) and Burchard (52) were the mainstays during the middle overs and set us up perfectly. Clark (41) and M Sparks (32*) were able to cash in late to set Melbourne High 259 to win.

After some breath work and a warm up, the boys looked a touch confused but ready to rip in. With High needing to capitalise on the powerplay, they came out hard and swinging. However the ever reliable GOAT Shearer was able to pick up our first 2 wickets of the day and we had High on the back foot at 2/30. With their 2 Premier 1s players at the crease now, we knew this wasn’t going to be easy. The 2 batted well and brought High back into the game, that was until Sam “Stickers” Goodwill re-entered the game and picked up the dangerous Redhu then grabbed another the next ball. All of a sudden it was game on again, 4/179. Shortly after stickers grabbed another to have the home side 5/201, however their set batsmen was still out there on 88. But next over, Shearer comes back and strikes! The following over he gets 2 more! High were 2/179 and now 8/228. An incredible fight back from us. Shearer has 5 and Stickers 3. High would show a bit of fight and knock a couple boundaries but with 17 needed off the last over it was all too much and we came away with an important 4 run victory. A fantastic victory to start the year. Once again, the man of the day with Sam Dawborn. An incredible innings, an incredible player and an incredible man. What a way to start the year. See you next week at Flack park.

— Will Clark (1XI Captain)

SECOND XI

OLD SCOTCH 2XI 7/157 (33.1)

def. OLD TRINITY 9/156 (40)

E. Kunaratnam 28*, T. Murphy 27, A. Callaghan 3/23 & 31, T. Hucker 5/12

Cricket is back, and what a day to kick things off. Unfortunately the day got off to a rocky start, with Bulleen local Tom Murphy sending us to a closed cafe, but nevertheless we were able to find a caffeine hit and a quiche for some and navigate the roadworks in Bulleen. We lost the toss and were asked to field on a softish pitch and an outfield described as “ground under repair” by disgruntled fielder Dethridge.

Tom Hucker opened our season with the ball, desperate to find a slightly better average this year than last, and immediately caused issues, very close to snagging a wicket in the first over. Debutant Ollie Sparks from the other end bowled a tidy line and length, and challenged the batsmen’s front pad on regular occasions, probably unlucky not find an LBW. Truck opened his account with an edge caught by Bodon, however from there the wickets were hard to come by, with some good Trinity batters bunkering down and making things difficult. Hugh Hasker’s lack of eyewear cost Ben McMahon a wicket, after a sky ball was lost on the sun, however we managed to break through shortly after, with a rank full toss from the skipper chipped to Hasker at a much lower trajectory and thus without any glare related issues. Like clockwork, a maiden from Tom Murphy before drinks ensued and we had them 2/71. Some electrolytes and 1 grape in our Level ups at the break spurred us into action, and we managed a breakthrough soon after drinks with an LBW that certainly struck pad first from Callaghan, followed by an unplayable ball from Tom Murphy resulting in a Fish catch. From there the wickets really tumbled, and Tom Hucker who has clearly learnt from last year cleaned up the tail for a well deserved first career 5 wicket Haul.

We were set 157 to win, and Tom “2chainz” Fish picked up where he left off from the previous year, winding up and having a swipe at the first ball sending it to 4 at the point fence, “good of you to see 5-10 balls first” exclaimed Schilling. Fish was out not long after, bringing Murphy to the crease, who played some fine strokes, made even more special when considering he has a hole in the bat. Dethridge fell, and Callaghan and Murphy looked to advance the score at an even tempo, with run rate never really being the issue. Murphy was bowled, and Schilling struggled to get going after a long few days, and was dismissed as well bringing Kunaratnam to the crease. Rat played some beautiful strokes and made it look easy out there, however with the game in control, Callaghan was caught and bowled, which brought Hasker to the middle. With only the one fielder out on the leg side, Hasker was desperate not to hit it either side but back himself to hit straight over him, apparently he just “sees the red mist”. With not many to get, Hasker and Bodon were both dismissed, but Truck played a tidy innings and he and Rat saw us home, winning by 3 wickets in the end.

An imperfect performance but important to start the season off with 4 points, and importantly get the Flag defence under way.

— Andrew Callaghan (2XI Captain)

THIRD XI

OLD SCOTCH 3XI 8/119 (33.5)

def. MACCABI AJAX 9/117 (40)

C. Warner 30, N. Bennett 26, H. Parsons 3/11, E. Shearer 2/9

After much anticipation the cricket season has returned for the Old Scotch 3rd XI who were being hosted by Maccabi Ajax’s 2nd at Gary Smorgon. In typically fashion, it was impossible to access the ground so with the captain running a few minutes late John Stavris and Eddie Shearer won the toss and elected to bowl.

Parsons (3/11) opened the season running down wind and skittled Ajax’s captain with the third delivery of the innings. Parsons politely ran past him pointing at which direction to walk and the boys were humming. New recruit Zac Matters (0/24) bowled opposite Parsons creating some aerial chances that narrowly flew by fielders and was unfortunate not to have picked up a wicket in his first spell at the club. Fyfe (1/20) and Stavris (2/13) joined the attack and had an immediate impact on the game with Stavris and Fyfe both utlising the variable bounce the pitch had to offer clean bowling Batsmen 2 and 3 with Ajax 3-34 after 11. Old Scotch managed to constrict the field and limit run scoring deliveries in the overs leading to drinks with Eddie Shearer (2/9) claiming his first for the day the delivery prior to drinks with Ajax 4-55 after 20.

Post drinks, the emphasis had turned to spin as pace off and variable bounce proving difficult to score off. Flynn O’Brien(0/12) impressed, landing plenty in good areas and Tom Rourke (0/13) and Monty McCann (0/10) following suit. Parsons and Stavris managed to maintain tidy figures toward the end of the innings picking up a wicket each in their 2nd spells with Ajax totalling 117 for the loss of 9 after 40 overs.

Shearer and Warner opened up with Shearer being quickly dismissed for 0 popping one up. Warner looks comfortable at the crease with Flynn O’Brien (FOB) as they dug in and took the shine off the pill steadying the ship. Despite FOB looking at home at the crease the pitch had continue to deteriorate as the day progressed with balls staying awfully low making it very difficult to score. Subsequently, he was dismissed for 2. Fyfey showcased his preseasons form by carving the ball through the infield for a short and sharp 9 before being bowled by a lowie. Through 10 overs we were 3-44, well ahead of the required run rate so we were content with putting the head over it.

Warner was soon dismissed for 30 from 36 which was a fantastic knock considering the pitch conditions. Bennett was at the crease with McCann, McLeish and Matters for a very brief window as we had gone from a comfortable 4-60 to 7-68. Bennett was content by going at 1-2 and over to take it deep but Rourke has other ideas, belting beautiful straight drives over mid off and on alleviating the mounting pressure and creating easy singles as sweepers were dropped to the boundary. Bennett was dismissed LBW for 26 to take us to 8-101 bringing an enthusiastic Parsons to the crease. Parsons is not one to shy away from expressing his dismay at batting lower down the order and pushed his case for promotion by showing great poise and patience scoring 10* assisting Rourke 27* to help chase the total

A cracking win for the 3s who now face Haileybury at home

— Nic Bennett (3XI Captain)

FOURTH XI

OLD SCOTCH 4XI 9/153 (40)

def. by MCC 8/185 (40)

L. Francis 42, E. Shearer 24 & 3/27, B. Balot 2/21, J. Ross 1/28

A strong club effort all round this weekend, with plenty of players putting their hands up to make sure we got a side on the park. Special mention to Tom Edney, Nic Bennett, Eddie Shearer and Bailey Balot, who all doubled up across the weekend and were invaluable in helping the club field competitive teams.

Taking on MCC, Old Scotch fought hard but ultimately fell 32 runs short chasing 186. The home side posted 8/185, with the Old Scotch bowlers sticking at the task throughout the innings. Eddie Shearer (3 wickets) was the pick of the attack, while Bailey Balot (2 wickets) struck at important moments. Jack Ross and Alexander Ross also picked up a wicket each, while John Stavis bowled tidily and helped keep the pressure on.

A highlight of the day was seeing Ben Sutherland and Lachlan Francis make their Division 4 debuts. Both looked right at home, with Francis leading the chase with an excellent 42, while Sutherland got his first runs at the level. Tom Edney got the innings moving early, Eddie Shearer continued his strong all-round day with 24, and Nic Bennett contributed a valuable 22 in the middle order. It was also fantastic to see Sennitt (20) back out on the park after recovering from a broken leg. The lower order kept fighting to the end, with Bailey Balot showing plenty of intent and Alexander Ross and the rest of the tail hanging tough as Old Scotch pushed for the target.

Another great sight was having three Ross’ in the one XI, with Jack, Alexander and John Ross all taking the field together. Not many scorecards can claim that.

While the result didn't quite go our way, it was one of those days that showed what makes the club special. Debuts for Sutherland and Francis, a successful comeback for Sennitt, the Ross contingent out in force, and a number of players doubling up to help the club. Plenty of positives to take into next week.

— Tom Lindholm (4XI Captain)

#surroundyourself