Kelly heroics sparks a remarkable comeback

F I R S T X I

OLD SCOTCH 1XI 7/202 (39.2)

def. MELBOURNE HIGH 6/201 (40)

M. SPARKS 39* & 1/14, S. DAWBORN 30, S. SHEARER 2/36, S. GOODWILL 2/36

On Sunday we witnessed what can only be described as a Miracle on the Main. To start at the end, those lucky enough to be at Scotch on Sunday were gifted the greatest comeback in my cricketing memory. With a side knocked down and battling to stand back up, the one and only Tom Kelly extended his arm and lifted this club to its 10th straight 1st XI Grand Final appearance.

Now back to the beginning, we begun the day with ball in hand and started off positively, with some tight bowling and terrific fielding we were able to restrict Melbourne High to just 22 in the powerplay before Mike Sparks broke through for the first wicket. We continued to keep the pressure up and on a good batting surface were able to restrict the reigning premiers to 71 at drinks. The most critical part of our bowling innings would be overs 20-30 with Melbourne High in a solid position to launch, much like they did in last years GF. Stickers struck straight after drinks and put us back in front once again. However a solid partnership for Melbourne High brought them back into the game. We continued to bowl and field well and after 40 overs they ended up on 201. Credit goes to their opening batsmen, Gamage, who batted brilliantly for 106.

Onto the batting innings, we had to start fast and strong to give ourselves a chance. Nick Sparks got us off to this start with some positive stroke play before being dismissed for 27. After a good start we quickly lost 2/1 and had 2 new batsmen at the crease at 2/43. Shearer and Dawborn were calm and composed at the crease as they partnered for 61 before Dawborn fell for a well compiled 30. Shearer fell soon after and yet again we had lost our two set batsmen in quick succession and were 4/115. This was quickly followed by another 2 wickets as we were 6/125 after 30 overs. Needing 77 off the last 10 overs we would need another big partnership to get us home, we looked to have this with Goodwill and Sparks combining well with some positive stroke play and fight. This was until Stickers fell for a fast 19 in the 36th over with us needing 42 off the last 4 overs.

The last 4 overs were wild with so many emotions felt from all at the ground. With Mike Sparks and Tom Kelly at the crease and the equation being 39 off 24 balls.

The 36th over went for just 3 runs and made things even tougher for us immediately.

Now it’s 36 off 18….. 37.1 was a leg bye. 35 off 17… 37.2 was a single.

34 off 16…. With Tom Kelly on strike, Melbourne Highs leading wicket taker and strike bowler bowled a good length delivery on off stump. Kelly steps deep in his crease and flushes one into the sky. The crowd thought he’d skied it, his batting partner thought he’d skied it, but Tom didn’t. With Mike yelling at him to run, Tom replies “F… Off it’s 6”.

Ok deep breath, 28 off 15… that was handy but still a big task ahead. Kelly on strike…. Knee high full toss…. CRACK….. the ball sailing towards the fielder at deep square leg… not sure if out or six…. Fielder underneath it…. Big jump up as the ball brushes his fingers and sails over the line…. ANOTHER ONE!! Kelly goes bang bang.

This is remarkable, 22 off 14…. TK is strutting around, game still in the balance. The bowler runs in again, pressure is on. TK set up deep in his crease again and swings hard at another length ball on the stumps and BANG!!! The crowd goes ballistic! No one could believe what they were seeing. The ball sails over long on and it’s 3 on the trot!! TK has got us back in the game. This is the Miracle on the Main!

16 off 13… TK and Mike meet in the middle, and the smart heads prevail. A single off the last ball of the over and TK maintains the strike.

15 off 12…. 7 down and 1 wicket away from disaster. Hitting into a strong wind now and the field spread to protect the straight boundary. Highs opening bowler charges in and similar to the last over, TK sits deep in the crease and swings hard. This time a thick outside edge… hearts in our mouths as this ball sails into the air and 3 High players run in. Some brief confusion between the fielders and a late dive and THUD…. It lands safely. TK and Sparks scamper through for 2 and a sigh of relief rings across the supporters.

13 off 11… Tom wasn’t going to die wondering. Deep in the crease yet again and just like he did the previous over clubs a ball towards the long on fielder. This time into a strong wind, a much tougher shot. But just like the last it flies over the jumping fingertips and lands safely for 6. OH MY GOD! WHAT IS GOING ON! 4 maximums in the last 6 balls!!

7 off 10…. We’ve gone from down and out to in front in the space of 6 balls. And it’s all because of one man. With a measured Mike Sparks at the other end, they took a deep breath and knew the equation was simple now, no need for the big strokes, just get the runs. It would only take 6 more balls for us to make the final 7 runs and the unthinkable and unimaginable had happened.

A big crowd had just been given the show of a lifetime. Tom Kelly you hero. Big credit to Mike Sparks for a courageous 39* and keeping us in the fight.

What a day! What a win! 10 straight Grand Final appearances booked in!

Our minds now move to this coming Monday where we take on rivals Old Haileybury. Get down to Haileybury to see what will be another high quality match up. See ya there!

— Will Clark (1XI Captain)

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T H I R D X I

OLD SCOTCH 3XI 184 (39.1)

def. OLD CAMBERWELL 71 (26.1)

M. GRIFFITHS 47, N. BENNETT 42, J. FYFE 3/6, H. PARSONS 2/7

In an exciting fixture the 3rds were up against Old Camberwell in a semi-final. With some light showers/drizzle around winning the toss we elected to bat. Griffiths (47) and Morrisby (32) got off to a scintillating start with us 0/50 after 10 overs on track for 200. Morrisby was dismissed at 83 total runs then in typical fashion we then proceeded to have a batting collapse going from 2-90 – 5-90 losing 4 wickets for 0 runs. However, Palazzo (25) and Bennett (42) rallied soaking up the pressure initially while applying scoreboard pressure back on Camberwell. Fyfe (15) and Strong (10) provided some valuable runs late in the innings with Strong launching a 6 onto the roof of the clubrooms. With 184 runs on the board, we felt confident and proud of our ability to overcome the adversity earlier in the innings.

Parsons (2/7 from 6) was effective with the ball again getting two early wickets pairing well with Strong (1/22 from 5) who picked up one with Camberwell in a precarious spot at 3-26 after 9 overs – well behind the run rate. Bennett (2/15 from 5) was handy with the ball claiming two wickets with the assistance of a soaring Parsons catching in the field. Morrisby (1/4 from 4) and Fyfe (3/6 from 3) helped see out the middle to tail order with Sam Harle claiming the victory with the final wicket bowling Camberwell all out for 71.

A very exciting win as we look forward to taking on Old Caulfield Grammarians in the Grand Final next Sunday

— Nic Bennett (3XI Captain)

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