Seniors Second Round Match Reports
Firsts make it 2 from 2
We headed out to the countryside to take on Aura Vale, and on the back of their new recruits from Beaconsfield it was always going to be an interesting game. I lost the toss and we were asked to Bowl. Opening up with Cameron Wheeler (4/12 of 8) and Dewayne Bowden (2/17 of 8) we started very well. Both got early wickets with good balls and edging off their best two bats in Miles and Phillips. After having them 3/3, Aura Vale batted very well and got themselves to 4/88 through some solid, risk free batting. The wickets from there continued to fall and we finished up bowling them out for 139 of the last ball of the innings. With Paul Adams, Rusty Wilson and Josh Lindner taking a wicket apiece as well as Trent Fitzgerald taking his first wicket for the club. On top of our good bowling efforts, we took 8 out of 9 catches, which is a vast improvement from our efforts last week.
Chasing 140 is always a tricky score. Kallum Croxford (13) and Mitch Goddard (33) got us of to a solid start, both in the best form of the year so far. Adam Heath returned to Mountain Gate’s firsts with a solid 13, and while we continued to lose wickets at regular intervals we were always on top of the scoring rate. Dewayne Bowden came in and made a quick fire 25 and departed with only 20 to win. Next up was skater boy Paul Adams, his shoes somehow brought a little spice into the game but we were always a few runs ahead and very slowly found our way over the line.
Overall it was a solid win, and now await our first two-day game, and more importantly our first game back at Windermere against Knox City next week.
Seconds cruise to a second win
After a long week of trying to finalise the final numbers for the 2nds, the fresh look squad entered round 2 with yet another hot sunny day. After winning the toss yet again, Eraj sent Auravale into bat, and had high hopes of replicating last weeks performance. With the absence of George Shaw, Eraj opened the bowling with Nick Burridge. With the openers keeping the runs dry and the batsmen defensive, the gators were still searching for their first wicket. The bowling change of Goughy and Kev continued the pressure on the batsmen, and eventually forced a runout. Kev finished up with 2/14 off 8, with Goughy being near impossible to put away with 0/2 off 5. With the pressure remaining consistent on Auravale, the gators were able to restrict them to 75, with Nick Burridge being the pick of the bowlers with 4/30 off 6.1. The boys were up and about, and were confident with a similar total to last weeks win. Unfortunately, similar to last week, we found ourselves 3/7. Once again, Wilesy found himself coming into a situation where he had to build an innings and a solid partnership. With Heathy up in the ones after last weeks performance, the Gators needed someone to step up and stay out there with Wilesy. Enter Robert Gough. The two took to the Auravale bowling attack, and tore them apart, and quickly making any chance of an Auravale comeback near impossible. In what looked like a T20 innings, the dynamic duo brought the victory home for the gators within 15 overs, with Wilesy finishing on 39 and Goughy 27 not out.
The real challenge starts next week, with the first two day match against tough rivals, Knox Boronia Churches
Threes phone lots of friends!
Despite a week of ‘Phone a friend’, or ‘Tag a Facebook friend’, the Threes somehow managed to find 11 blokes to suit up and put in a competitive effort against Knox Boronia Churches.
With many unavailable up the grades this week, answering the call were Ryan Fabrici, Rick and Zach Lindner, Evert Marjee, Max Smith, Gary Walsh and Jimmy Kehagias.
KBC got off to a flyer, despite some excellent bowling from Cam Davey and Dane Heffernan early. Fab, Zach and Max also bowled well without luck, with the ‘Silver Fox’ Gary Walsh being the only wicket-taker, with 2/27. Evert also got a nice runout as KBC finished with 3/163 on a big, slow, hard ground.
The chase was solid without really threatening to reach the total, with key early wickets not helping. Captain Glenn Robinson put on a brave performance, doing his medial ligament again, getting hit in the chops, yet finishing unbeaten on 58. Nice work Robbo! A number of others got small starts, but Walshy was next best with 14 in the total of 7/128.
Thanks to everyone who helped out this week.
