Four from Five

Melbourne University Cricket Club had a great weekend. From the five completed matches 4 grades were successful. The only team to go down were the 2nds. On the individual front Steve Flight took his maiden five wicket haul in the victorious 3s, while Dan Hanrahan anchored the 4th XI to victory with a sensational unbeaten 114. Hanrahan is now the 4th maiden century maker for MUCC this season.

Defending 332 the day started well for the 1s with opening bowler Greg Kennedy taking the first wicket with just 5 on the scorecard. From there MUCC bowled in lovely areas without much luck, and the 2nd wicket combined to take the score to 114. Scott Sanders and Nick Williams bowled a great spell after the lunch break and Sanders (3/31) was finally rewarded with the second wicket. But again the Hawks regrouped with another 50 run stand and the scorecard at the tea break only showed 3 wickets – a huge effort in the last session would be required to take the 6 points. Lead by coach Brett Harrop (4/47) MUCC took the final 7 wickets with 13 overs to spare. Harrop bowled with good pace and reverse swing to show us what we have come to expect from a first class cricketer. Special mention also goes to Tim O’Brien who took his first wicket for MUCC 1st XI in a great 18 over spell. Nick Elsmore also displayed great control and guile to dismiss the key batsmen in the 90's. Overall it was a great effort with bat and ball – coming of age from Keely and O’Brien with bat and experience and class with ball from Harrop. Another huge game is shaping up against the Dragons this week....a win will see the First XI go to Christmas 5 wins from 10 games and possibly a move from 11th up into the final 8.

At Monash Uni the HMU 2nd XI resumed on Saturday morning at 1/69 chasing 168. Some quality line and length bowling but a benign wicket, saw the first session yield 1 wicket for 45 runs in 33 overs. After lunch the slow scoring rate continued but eventually after 85 overs, HMU passed Melbourne Uni’s score 4 wickets down. It was a good bowling performance but the side was let down the week before by a poor batting display. The highlight of the day for MUCC was undoubtable the wicket taken by stand in skipper Huw Birrell. It his last match before relocating to Chile, Birrell was rewarded with an LBW decision. Although available records are incomplete it is believed that this was Birrell’s first premier wicket for MUCC since his debut in 1998/99. The loss leaves the 2nd XI sitting 6th.

The 3rd XI arrived at the Crawford knowing 7 wickets were required to get the 6 points. Steve Flight got MUCC away to the perfect start collecting wickets in each of first 2 overs, including the key opposition batsman. This left the Hawks teetering at 5 for 45 in replay to our 167. The dismissals lead to a change in attitude from the Hawks who appeared content to use all the available overs to chase down the target. Wickets either side of drinks to Tom Williams and Lachie Richards (a super caught and bowled) again put MUCC in the box seat. Slow going meant just 22 runs were scored in the next 20 overs to tea. Still needing 3 wickets with just only 60 runs left to defend it was game on at tea. Two quick wickets after the resumption meant it was up to last pair to add 57 for victory. It seemed only a matter of time when Flight got through the defences to hit the stumps – only for the bails not to fall. Positive batting by the number 11 saw the Hawks reduce the target to below 20. In the end it took a bit of fluky fielding from Hamish Bull to secure the points. After missing a regulation run out chance the previous ball the batsman tried their luck once too often. An ordinary throw was made to look good by keeper James Graham who completed the job – 6 points secured! With the ball Williams (2 for 31 off 19) supported Flight who starred with 5 for 41 from his 19 overs. The win leaves MUCC in 4th spot. Next week’s clash is against the top of the table Dragons.

On Monash Uni No 2 the MUCC 4thXI were clinical in their defeat of HMU. Chasing 149 there was a little bit of nervousness around when the 4th wicket fell at 51. Fortunately Dan Hanrahan played the innings of his MUCC career. His 114 not out included 8 4s as he handled the Hawks bowling attack with ease. He was supported in partnerships by youngster Jesse Hristovski (19) and skipper Mark Bhattacharyya who complimented his 5 wickets from last week with 24 to safely see the team home. Time was called after 62 overs when MUCC were 6 for 219. Another great win by the team sees them sitting 3rd on the ladder. Next week will be a vital match taking on the 2nd placed Northcote side.

The 5ths started a 2 dayer Vs Indigos at Crawford on Sunday. MUCC lost the crucial toss and were sent in to bat on a slightly damp wicket in humid swinging conditions. Despite a steady start, once the first wicket fell with the score at 23, wickets fell at all too regular intervals. Disappointingly the final score was just 99 which looked very hard to defend on a wicket that had dried out meaning batting conditions had improved significantly. A hard hitting 31 from Nick Snowdon was the only batting performance worth mentioning. With 37 overs remaining in the day, MUCC were hopeful of taking early wickets and making a game of it, and after Adam Pustola took a wicket to make it 1/8 things looked promising. However, the Indigos had too much hard hitting and the MUCC bowling and fielding was too inconsistent. The second wicket, again to Pustola, did not fall until the Indigos were past 100. Late in the day Laban Ditchburn removed the keeping gloves and took the ball claiming 2 quick wickets to put a positive spin on a tough day. Stumps scores were MUCC 99 all out vs Indigos 5/202.

The VWXA XI faced their first weekend of two days of cricket in a long while. On Saturday Uni took on Essendon Maribyrnong Park (EMP) as part of the Victorian Women’s Cricket Association Twenty20 competition and on Sunday faced Moonee Valley in Round 9 of the One Day Central grade.

In the Twenty20 Uni lost the toss so bowled first but restricted EMP to 3/95. Laura Brady found some form in the ball taking 2/18. In reply, Uni were all out for 89. Unfortunately a washing machine incident left the VWCA XI a player short. Rachel Derham held the innings together with 48. Despite the regular loss of wickets the score continued to tick over. In the end Uni fell just 6 runs short of EMP’s total with one over remaining.

On Sunday, Uni faired a lot better winning the toss and the game. The girls batted first and off their 40 overs finished with 3/183. Openers Katie (52) and Ledene (32) got the side off to a great start and the inning was finished in fine fashion with a 4th wicket 65 run partnership between Rachel (34*) and Zoe Speck (32*). Uni bowled well finishing the match in 28 overs with Moonee Valley scoring 73. Rachelle Goldburg finished with 4/22, Madeleine Mitchell with 2/8 and Ellie Button with 2/13. All wickets were taken either bowled or LBW. The support of the club president at and following the game was appreciated.

The VWCA XI take on Edinburgh next Sunday on Uni Main.