1^st XI vs Upwey Tecoma @Upwey Recreation Reserve

In a crucial game at the Dome vs Upwey, I was able to win my second toss in two weeks and we elected to bat. Conditions above allowed the ball to swing around a bit, but we were hoping to be able to get some runs on the board.

I opened up with Morro fresh off a big ton in Decoite Shield last week. Morro was able to score freely with the Tigers bowlers feeding his areas. I played the boring role down the other end. Morro was dismissed around the drinks break for a well compiled 41. Joe and myself steadied the ship until I got out softly for 42 which had us 2/100 just before tea. Butch and Joe then put on close to 100 and started to score at will. Butch started to hit his straps and Joe after doing all the hard work was cashing in. With great support from the boundary we raced past 200. Both Joe 39 and Butch 71 were dismissed and this brought the burrito brothers Mitch and Boof to the crease. They batted with maturity and played themselves in before the carnage started. Mitch went past 50 with an array of shots and Boof played a handy role finishing on 30. We finished our 80 overs on 4/296.

With some poor weather late in the week and ordinary weather reports for Saturday we decided to stick with our original plan of bowling with patience. Todd and Scotty were able to really tighten the screws. We found ourselves in a good position having them 5/37 off 22. A decent partnership guided them out of real trouble, however we were able to maintain pressure and make the required rate sore past 6po. Once we were able to get the breakthrough the pressure was too much for Upwey’s tail and we were able to get the last few wickets and have Upwey all out for 185. Scott took 3 with Todd, Nav and Daine 2 each and Wilba got 1. Great effort by the boys and an even bigger game this week against the sharks

Pete

2^nd XI vs Monbulk @ Knox Gardens Reserve

A couple of changes to the team this week which saw us take on (equal) ladder leaders Monbulk, on our home deck.

The first day was quite overcast and Monbulk won the toss and decided to send us in to bat.
3^rd XI skipper Andrew Potts opened up the innings in his first game in the 2's for a while and watched 2 wickets fall early from the other end as we were 2 for not many after not many overs. Andrew was then joined by the in-form Gerard Jongen and the two worked well to resurrect our poor start. Both went on to make 30's which seemed to be the theme of our day - Too many starts but no scores that were going to be crucial in setting a large total. Youngsters Josh Curnow and Jay Wagner (playing his first game in the 2's) batted well together in the tail-end of the innings which saw us make 176 with approx. 10 overs left in the day, meaning we would get a crack at the opposition before close.
Unfortunately we could not get a breakthrough and Monbulk finished the day 0/20.

The next week rolled around and we were forced to wait 30 mins before getting onto the field as recent heavy rain had left puddles near the wicket. I used one of my Mum's towels to soak up the puddle and she was obviously quite upset with that when she found out.
With Monbulk needing 150 odd to win with 10 wickets in hand, it was crucial that we struck with wickets early. I thought the bowling was good for the majority of the day, but the experience and composure of Monbulk shone through and they passed our total 1 wicket down. Josh Curnow was the pick of the bowlers and was very economical throughout his 17 over spell. Matt Young also was posing quite a few headaches for the batsmen too.

All in all, a disappointing result, but there is stacks our young group can learn and develop their own games from that.
Onto Olinda in a T20 at home next week before the Xmas break!

Drew

3^rd XI vs Monbulk @Silvan Recreation Reserve

G’day boys I’m back captaining the 3rd XI as I know many people have been asking for in Pottsy’s absence.

We had Monbulk just up around the corner in Silvan on Saturday looking for our 7th win of the season to keep the undefeated run going. We lost the toss and were sent in to bowl on a pretty overcast and humid day which we were pretty happy about with the bowling attack we had!

Monbulk got off to a good but slow start until Nibby took the first scalp with a beauty of a short ball which got us the first wicket. We had Monbulk about 1/30 around drinks which I was very happy with and the run rate moving very slowly along until a returning Kingy to the side dismantled the top order taking the next six wickets in short succession and finishing the innings 6/51. Leaving them 7/60 around at tea. After Monbulk had a short stand to get them just past 100 with Bailey and Nibby finishing them off all out for 114.

With 28 overs still left in the day Rhys and Scotty Christiansen opened for us with 115 to win. We got off to a flying start with an opening stand of 100 until losing Scotty for 34 a couple of overs before the end of the day. Rhys powered on for an unbeaten 77*. We past Monbulk two down looking for an outright victory the following week after a dominate display by the us!

We came in next week looking for quick runs so we could get as much time as we could get at Monbulk. Special mention to Rhys making his second 100 for the year making 114 and really helped setting us up to bowl again. We finished 4/186.

Unfortunately with few chances and things just not going our way out on the field we were only able to get 2 wickets and have Monbulk 2/130 odd after 50 overs at them and both teams agreed to finished the game there. After this game’s effort it leaves us clear on top of the ladder looking to finish the year on a good note and stay undefeated with the 20/20 next week.

Josh

4^th XI vs Rowville @Knox Gardens Reserve#2

I had not long got off the 8.40 Chartered flight from Wantirna South to Doreen airport when the call came through requesting me to come out of retirement to don the Baggy red for only the third time in 2567 days. Satisfied that my pre season had been sufficient, having faced 7 balls from the under 13s the previous week, I went to bed Thursday night comfortable in the thought I would bat in the bottom 3, bowl two overs on the second day and be reminded 15 overs in why I retired in the first place.