F I R S T X I
OLD SCOTCH 1XI 1/126 (14.5)
def. SOUTH CAULFIELD 122 (35.2)
S. DAWBORN 67*, S. SHEARER 34*, W. BONWICK 3/20, L. FRANCIS 2/17
On a Sunday filled with bright sunshine and lots of excitement surrounding everyone at the club, the boys were ready to go. South Caulfield won the toss and sent us into the field. We had Lach Francis and Will Clark opening the bowling for us in the sunshine and they kept last weeks momentum going. Our openers bowled terrifically, with Clark finding grazes in the 2nd and 6th overs to have South Caulfield 2/23. After a strong start, we didn’t ease up at all as Shearer, Stickers, Bonwick and Loveridge kept the pressure high and reaped the rewards from their relentless consistency. Bonwick being the pick of the bowlers with a “surgeon” like spell, 3/20 through the middle overs. Was fantastic to have our ever consistent Doctor back out there for us. Our new found dynamic spin duo bowled brilliantly once again combining for 2/22 off 10. From overs 10-30 our bowling and fielding were as good as it’s ever been as we had South Caulfield 8/87. However through the last 6 overs we allowed South Caulfield back into the game as they were eventually bowled out for 122. Nonetheless, on a batting friendly surface, this was another terrific performance in the field.
With a great opportunity for a BP, we knew we had to come out strong at the top and boy oh boy did we do that. Hamish Francis and Sam Dawborn came out all guns blazing blasting the opposition attack everywhere. Hamma fell in the 7th over with us already on 63 and a platform well and truly set. The fall of wicket didn’t stop Dawborn as he continued to bludgeon the ball to all parts of the ground as he and Shearer cruised through to the required 123 in just the 14th over. Dawborn batted beautifully and showed why he is one of the most dominant openers in the competition with a brutal 64 off 46 not out. Sam and Hamma supported him brilliantly with 34 and 26 respectively.
In the end, a comfortable victory and allowed us all to zoom across town to the Albert to see the 2s chase down MCC in a famous run chase. With the week off next week we look to Old Xavier after the bye in what will no doubt be a quality game.
— Will Clark (1XI Captain)
S E C O N D X I
OLD SCOTCH 2XI 9/185 (39.2)
def. MCC 7/182 (40)
L. GANCE 45, M. WINNEKE 24, T. LOVERIDGE 2/22 & 25*, T. FISH 2/56 & 27
The Second XI were very fortunate to be fixtured at the famous Albert Ground against MCC, as we looked to bounce back from a disappointing loss in Round 1.
Stand-in skipper Tom Edney lost the toss and we were forced to bowl first on a wicket and outfield which looked great for batting.
The father-son duo of Gary and Joel Bennett took the new ball and bowled tidily but without luck. Even after a Tom Loveridge breakthrough wicket, at 1/51 after 13 overs things were looking ominous and the par score looked every bit of 250.
But Loveridge was bowling beautifully, taking a second wicket on his way to figures of 2/22 off 6 overs for the day.
Spin Doctors Charlie Hocking (0/32 off 8) and Tom Fish (2/56 off 8) bowled crucial overs through the middle as the MCC’s skipper Sweetlove made the most of the batter-friendly conditions on The Albert. With Loveridge off the field with a split finger, the ball was thrown to Lachy Gance to bowl the 34th and 36th overs. Gancey (1/5 off 2 overs) bowled exceptionally, not only restricting the runs but also crucially removing the big hitting Sweetlove for 70.
By consistently taking wickets throughout the innings and preventing the MCC batsmen from freely scoring boundaries in great batting conditions, we did well to restrict them to 7/182 from their 40 overs.
Despite an early run out, the top order batted with good intent with contributions from Josh Cobb (14 off 18 balls) and Mike Winneke (24 off 30) setting the tone early. Winneke and Gance were ticking things over beautifully before Winneke’s wicket brought Fish to the crease at 3/55 after 13 overs.
A 63-run stand between Gance (45 off 54) and Fish (27 off 46) was immense in putting us into the box seat taking us to 4/118 when Fish departed.
Contributions from Edney (20 off 24), Stubbings (7 off 8) and Hocking (11 off 13) were crucial in keeping the score ticking over but wickets kept falling around Loveridge as the game got tighter.
With 10 balls left and 2 runs to win, the whole field was in the ring so Hocking took it upon himself to hit the winning runs with a big swing. It was a great swing but unfortunately no contact was made and Hock was castled, bringing Joel Bennett to the crease. 1 wicket in hand. 9 balls left. 2 to win.
It was hard to know who was more nervous at this stage; injured Captain John Stavris pacing the boundary line or Joel walking out to bat for the first time in two and a half years.
Bennett expertly navigated the next 3 balls to see out the over, leaving it to the specialist finisher in Loveridge to be our hero.
The cool-headed Loveridge (25* off 19) guided the boys home with a crisp cover drive for a boundary to seal the win with four balls to spare.
An incredible game of cricket befitting of the famous Albert Ground and an important win we’ll take a lot of confidence from.
— Tom Edney (Stand-in 2XI Captain)
T H I R D X I
OLD SCOTCH 3XI 3/70 (13.1)
def. OLD TRINITY 69 (24.4)
H. JAPP 27, S. PALAZZO 22, C. SMITH 4/10, S. PRIOR 2/18
On a much anticipated Sunday, the thirds arrived at Trinity for their first game for the season, Trinity won the toss and sent us in to bowl and without a recognised keeper in the side Nic Bennett was to take the gloves. The innings was opened with Harry Parsons and Fred Strong. Both bowlers got us off to a great start with accurate bowling with each bowler dismissing the opening batsmen LBW cheaply. With early wickets falling for Trinity scoreboard pressure was mounting, a quick single hit in the direction of backward square leg which was swiftly collected by Fraser Morrisby who threw the stumps down from an angle where only a singular stump would have been visible leaving Trinity 3/15. Strong quickly followed up with another LBW leavings Trinity’s Middle – Low order out early. Trinity however, began forming a solid partnership in the middle leaving Old Scotch without a wicket for over 10 overs yet, the introduction of Charlie Smith to the attack help us break the partnership. Charlie’s ability to bowl with Sam Prior saw very few loose balls and saw them clean through the tail claiming 6/23 between the pair, with Charlie taking 4/10. Chasing 70 runs, the boys were ecstatic with their effort in the field and were eyeing of a potential bonus point.
Old Scotch opened with Sam Palazzo and Fraser Morrisby who got us off to a scintillating start with Sam hitting some superb lofted straight drives. With Fraser’s wicket falling at 1/23 quickly followed by Sam at 2/27 there was slight panic amongst the sideline. However, James Fyfe’s solid defence helped stem those fears alongside Howie Japp’s ability to pounces on poor deliveries saw numerous pull shots reach the rope helping us cruise to the required total in just over 13 overs securing the team their 1st win and a bonus point.
— Nic Bennett (3XI Captain)
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