1^st XI vs Belgrave @ Knox Gardens Reserve#1

In a big game for the first XI we welcomed Belgrave to our place in some really hot conditions. Losing the toss ‘again’, Belgrave wanted to have a bat.

In a radical change is was Nav Singh that took the new ball and bowled a lengthy spell of tight bowling. Alongside him was Burls however we decided to change the pace really early and after 2 overs we had Meth come on and it was spin from both ends. This continued until just past drinks. Nav found a breakthrough of their inform skipper and Meth was tidy at the other end. It was a real war of attrition and at tea it was in the balance at 1/109 off 50 overs. With the bulk of the work being done we found another gear and were able to get wickets with regularity and that held the scoring at bay. Burls and Scotty were prevalent after tea and the spinners were great. A few tidy overs from Butch were very handy as well. Belgrave finished 6/211 in a pretty good effort from the boys.

Day 2 started well with Pete and newly promoted Dyl Wylde putting on 50 before Dyl was dismissed Lbw for 27. Joe, butch and first gamer Adam Wylde and Scotty came and went quickly before Mitch Gregory came to the crease and belted balls all over the park and get the run rate going. He put pressure right on Belgrave and was able to change the game. He was dismissed for a fine 48 however we were reeling at 6/145. Boof was next to go for 2 and we were in some trouble at 7/150. Pete finally got going and started flaying them to all parts. Him and Nav the chipped away at the runs and were able to sneak us over the line with 16 overs to spare with Pete finishing on 90*.

It was a very good chase and keeps our slim hopes alive. We need to use this momentum and just keep winning to see what happens.

2^nd XI vs South Belgrave @ South Belgrave Reserve

A big game for the 2^nd XI with a chance to sneak into 3^rd position as we took on the 3^rd placed South Belgrave while we were poised in 4^th spot on the ladder.

No suprises early as I again lost the toss (round 12 last season being the last win) and without hesitation their skipper was keen to have a hit. Another game and another 4 changes to a very unsettled 2^nd XI thus far meant club veteran Adam Wild would take the fresh pill with our most favourite talk show host Drew Withers. Wilba started well snaffling an early pole then removing their dangerous skipper the very next pill. All bowlers started particularly well which included young Curn and my good self. We all had a wicket and we were in a great position at 5/80 coming into the tea break. Unfortunately, things changed after young Carlton and Wilba started calling the not out opener names and he really got on a roll with the stick. 5/80 became 5/210 in no time with some crisp hitting especially off me with numerous 140 odd metre maximums and a dint in the Wagner family car the only thing slowing the rate as we were now onto our 3^rd different ball. The 3^rd ball must have had something about it as we were able to clean up the tail taking the last 5 scalps for just 22 runs. It was a great start and a fantastic finish on the postage stamp sized oval. Wilba struck early and late to finish with a 5fa while young Curn did a great job picking up 3.

We survived a nervous 10 overs to be 0/8 at stumps.

Day 2 came along and we were pretty confident chasing a very much par score and the fact we chased a similar score last week with ease. Our gun opener Morro slapped one to gully early and the Pott fiddled around scratching around for a few but the scoring rate was quite slow with some tight bowling. Jack Marget came in at 4 and really impressed with his positive batting which put the opposition on the back foot but unfortunately, he too departed too soon on 24 off not many deliveries. Super talented and ridiculously foul mouth Jay Wagner came in next and he and our rock at the top Gez built a nice partnership but unfortunately again we lost another wicket at a key time with Gez falling for a steady 26 just before the tea break. Tea time and we were placed at 4/95 off 40 overs and needing a good partnership to get us moving along. We were very poor and lost 4 for 10 in quick time and left ourselves needing a miracle. Jay Wagner played some glorious shots to get us to 147 all out but it was a disappointing day for such a talented team.

Lessons to be learnt against one of the better teams which now has us needing to win next week to try and sew up a finals birth.

3^rd XI vs South Belgrave @ Knox Gardens#2

After a comprehensive performance against Rowville last fortnight and wrapping up a Top 2 spot in the process, we headed back to Argyle way knowing we had 3 games left at home to finish the year plus a favourable draw which would give us a good chance at wrapping up the minor premiership. We welcomed back Lachie Stuckey fresh from his trip England, Foxy from the 2s and the big South African Thommo. The run of home games kicked off against South Belgrave, a middle of the road side who still had some mathematical chance at sneaking into the first week of March. With stand-in skipper Josh Devenuto-Wylde calling time on his career due to his contract with the Zebras, Rhys took the reins and I was stuck with the VC next to my name.

We won the toss and of course decided to bat on a newish pitch and a slow outfield so anything around 180 was more like 250.

We started off poorly with the old foss Rhys chipping one straight to mid-wicket for 2. That started a batting collapse that can only be matched by England’s top order where at one stage we were 6/36. Lachie hit one straight to mid-wicket and called yes to burn young Benny Marget. I then joined Lachie and put some sort of resistance together with a partnership of 10 off around 12 overs before Lach hit one straight down fine legs throat for 14 (3/24). My painful innings finally came to end by being skittled through the gate for 2, Lamby walked out, got hit on the pad then walked back to the pavilion (5/24) before Thommo skied a full toss to leave us at 6/36 at drinks. Things were looking grim and it semed as though we would be getting a second hit before Jase and Reidy compiled a very patient but important partnership of 54. They were able to turn the strike over and somewhat punish the bad ball on the outfield that was slower than Gregor batting.

Jase then snicked off for 19 (7/90). His dismissal brought Foxy to the crease and he smacked a few around the park for a little cameo of 24 before Bailey and Reidy put on 31 for the 9th wicket which allowed to post a competitive total before Bailey and King were then dismissed pretty quickly and we were rolled for 156 off 78 with Reidy top scoring with 64*. He batted superbly and to be able to be that patient and bat time and also bat for long periods of time is a rarity these days and definitely took his opportunity up the order.

Rocking up Day 2 we knew it would have to be a tough slog and that’s exactly what it turned out to be. We gave the new rock to young gun Bdog and Thommo. They started off really well with Thommo bowling one of the openers around his legs and then the old Fox taking out 2 stumps and at drinks the score was 2/25 with Bailey bowling fantastically without getting any success with myself dropping a soda at 2nd. From there it was a slow burn with South not even scoring at 2 an over and not much really happening. We brought King on just before tea and bowled beautifully before he pulled one down and the skipper taking a brilliant diving catch at square leg to get a key batsmen out and at tea they were only 3/69 off 49.

After tea they put on a couple partnerships of 20 before Rhys removed their overseas professional with a good catch by Reidy at mid on and the Fox removing their opening bat with a clean caught and bowled to get our noses ahead at 5/104. From there it was all Knox Gardens as King cleaned up the tail and they lost 6/25 to be all out for 129 off 70 overs.

Everyone bowled brilliantly but King was a standout with 5/34 from his 19, Foxy 3/30 off 15 and Bailey without taking a wicket 0/15 off 12.

After being 6/36 it was a great effort to take the 6 points, we had to fight and slog it out and I think it was a good prep come finals time and learn how to win tough games. We are still searching for that perfect game and with players still to come back down from the 2s and holidays we are building nicely and hoping we can make it 3rd time lucky for the 3s

4^th XI vs South Belgrave @ Raes Land

This week we had South Belgrave away and with us being out of the top 4 this was going to be an important game to get back into the top 4. I lost the toss and we fielded first

Myself and Nibby opened the bowling and we were able to keep things tight and this pressure let to the first wicket falling in the 8^th over with them being 1/13. Unfortunately from there a few missed chances and we didn’t bowl tight enough through the middle overs which gave them a chance to get away a little. We kept working hard and got the breakthrough in the 27^th over when Nibby got his first and dismissed one of the openers for 56 with them on 2/87. We keep working and were unable to get any further sculps and they finished their 35 overs at 2/110.

In reply, Scotty and Deepak opened for us. It wasn’t our day though with Deepak chopping one on and we were 1/5 after 3 overs. From there Scotty was unlucky to pick out the fielder and he to went with the score at 2/11. Nibby nicked one behind and left a quick as he came and we were 3/11 and in a little trouble. We lost our next wicket not long after and we were 4/15. Fortunately for us Crystal v2 and Gregor dug deep before Gregor was out with us at 5/40. I was in next and not able to improve on my average when I chopped one on and we were 6/41. Young Mulder hang around with Crystal v2 before him and Crystal v2 were out and we were 8/62 with Crystal v2 compiling a great knock of 37. TP added some excitement and himself and the Gator saw us through for the day to finish at 8/92.

It was always going to be tough for us to come back from where we were but not impossible. They unfortunately got away with a few and the breakthrough came off Scottys bowling to have them 3/154. They continued to take advantage of their wickets in and hard work saw us get the next wicket through Young Mulders first ever senior wicket to have them 4/206. We had Young Mulder and Direin bowling and they dug deep and got the next wicket at 5/232. From there it was a succession of wickets to have them 8/239.

TP and the Gator continued things for us and unfortunately it wasn’t long before the Gator was bowled and we were 9/95. Sammy came in next and faced a few balls before TP skied one in the next over going out for 29 and we were all out for 95.

This is our lowest score this season and for as long as I can remember. It was a disappointing result as finals would only be possible now if we win the next 2 games and results go our way. It was great to see the younger bowlers try hard and dig deep and get some reward and great to see Crystal v2 and TP doing some damage with the bat. We will continue to fight hard to make finals and give the last 2 games a red-hot crack.