Seniors Third Round Day 2 Reports
Firsts steadily work towards the win
Returning to Windermere for the first time this season, we faced Knox City. Having loss the toss again, we got asked to bat. Getting off to a solid start on a very slow outfield, Mitch Goddard (9) and Clint Buckland (46) got the score of to 35 runs before Mitch departed, Adam Heath (9) came in and with Bucks scoring freely, we were looking good. Unfortunately for the first time this season, we lost two quick wickets with Heathy and Bucks both departing with the score on 68.
Myself and Dewayne set ourselves the task of rebuilding, however, Dewayne, presumably still struggling from a day of hard Labour, was unable to run and left me to attempt to turn around, which, well I failed at. Struggling at 4/81, Trent Fitzgerald and Dewayne saw us through a tough time to reach Tea at 4/90. After Tea Dewayne played a lot more freely and with Trent (12) put on 52 to get the innings back on track. Dewayne unfortunately fell for a very well made 65 and then with the lower order all contributing, Paul Adams (13) Cameron Wheeler (13) and Josh Lindner finishing off the innings with a very sold 27no we pushed through to 9/219. It was very pleasing to see us bat 80 overs, especially seeing the ground was so slow and they bowled very consistently all day.
Defending 220 we always thought we were in the better position. Which was confirmed when, Paul Adams got us off to a great start with a direct hit run out from square leg in the first over of their innings. After that however, we struggled to make inroads.
All our bowlers hit decent areas early and they applied themselves really well and while they took a few risks, got through to 1/72 until Steve Deller made up for an earlier blemish with a superb low catch at mid-off. This opened the door for us and we had a 10 over period where they scored 3/5 which turned the game in our favour. During that period Mitch Goddard took a great catch after managing to hide behind the point post, as only Mitch could do, and the very next ball, I left a little hole in the Windermere surface but hung onto an outside edge of Wheels like it was a hot pie.
The rest of the innings went on slowly without too many standout performances, Mitch Goddard hung onto 3 very good catches and while we dropped 3 chances as a team, we managed to take 9 which was pleasing. Also having 8 individual wicket takers was also a good sign, with Kev “Chicken” Atacador taking 2/28 of 12 overs.
With South Belgrave losing to Footballers, this result should put us in first position ahead of the only other unbeaten team in the Footballers.
Next week we take on Rowville which is always a game filled with a lot of talk from outside the ground and a team that always troubles us, no matter where the teams are on the ladder, please come down and support MGCC next week at Windermere from 1pm.
Seconds falter early, but, conolidate for the win
The gators came into the second day of the clash of the top two teams with high hopes and positive attitude, which was still buzzing from the previous week having bowled Knox Boronia Churches out for 137.
Rob Witt and Trent Young got the gators off to a solid start, with confident shots being played by the two. Unfortunately, Trent got trapped for his second LBW decision in two games. The return of Rob Witt (finally) in to his first game of the 2014/2015 season, saw textbook finesse shots left right and center, as he quickly added runs to the scorecard. During a few weeks of controversial decisions, Rob Witt was given caught behind on 27. Pete 'Miley' Castledine's innings was cut short with a short cut shot, as he fell for 3, quickly followed by in form Paul Wiles and Goughy both without registering a score (0).
The gators were in trouble being in the position of 5/41, as there in form senior batsmen had all been sent back to the pavilion, only sharing a score of 3 between the 3. The gators needed someone to stand up and take the game into their hands, and this came with Rusty and Brock wanting to be match winners. Carving through the field and making the top team scratch their heads, both the young guns lifted the run rate and placed the game back in the gators hands.
Brock fell on the last ball of tea, getting caught on the boundary for 36, which looked like the start of a very promising season. Josh Burridge took to the crease and knew that he had to help Rusty finish the game. Finishing both not out on 47 and 17 respectively, Rusty and Josh brought the game home as well as the 6 points.
Threes just miss again
Day 2 of Round 3 commenced with Belgrave resuming their 1st Innings at 5/95. With a very wet outfield due to overnight due the ball was reduce to a bar of soap very early, Cam Davey broke through early to get us a very important wicket and he finished up bowling 14 overs 3/33.
At the other end Steve Terrington was keeping it tight with his 5 overs for the day conceding 1 run, finishing with 11 overs for 9 runs. Ryan Fabrici and Lachy Smith bowled well in very hard conditions with Lachy picking up a wicket and taking 2/40 for the match, Ryan finished with figures of 2/36. Brad Croxford and Evert Marjee teamed up for a run out, Brad Croxford and Michael Wheeler then came on to bowl each picking up a wicket each and leaving us to chase 184 for victory.
Our overnight score was 6/91 with Brad Croxford the major contribution with 25, Ryan Fabrici and Dane Heffernan continued from where the left off last week, with Heff defending well at one end and Ryan taking advantage at the other, Dane wasn't to be outdone though hitting a smashing cover drive through the gap to the boundary.
Ryan eventually went out with a well batted 41 which left us still with a chance at 7/134, unfortunatley we lost our last three wickets for 25 runs finishing all out for 159. Dane Heffernan was not out on 18 after battling 40 overs at the crease.
