On Saturday in a rain affected match at Uni, the 1st XI won a crucial toss which saw the Richmond top order dealing with a reasonably hostile wicket. Reduced to 25 overs a side, Richmond compiled a competitive total despite a top order collapse which saw the them reeling at 8 for 34. Some good lower order hitting had the tigers with 94 runs on the board and a nasty wicket facing MUCC. Matt Marshall collected 4 wickets in his return to the 1sts, whilst Greg Kennedy and Nick Williams continued their fine starts to the year.
University commenced a tense run chase slowly losing regular wickets on the difficult track. Jarrod Leggett played a central hand and held the innings together, and left the final runs to be knocked off by former Richmond player Mark Simpson who guided the home side to victory in the last over. A good team win.
Back at the Uni Main on Sunday Casey South Melbourne won the toss and sent in MUCC on a slow wicket. MUCC again failed to compile a match winning partnership, and lost wickets at regular intervals. Brett Murphy’s return to the side at the top of the order played a steady hand, and whilst most batsmen contributed the team could only manage 179. This was despite some lusting hitting from Matt Marshall, Nick Williams and the skipper Paul Percy. With runs on the board MUCC felt if it could execute its bowling plans it would be able to defend the total.
In the field Greg Kennedy removed one of Swan’s openers with the first ball of the innings to take the early momentum. At 1 for 59 the game was slowly slipping away, but thanks to the best bowling partnership of the season so far, between Scott Sanders and Brendan Goonan, MUCC had South on their knees. Sanders and Goonan bowled unchanged for 20 overs netting 5 wickets for a mere 36 runs. MUCC had the game there for the taking, South Melbourne were 6 for 83 requiring nearly 100 more runs at a run-a-ball. However, from this point in it was all the Swans. University was unable to execute its plans well and a superb batting partnership was compiled. An extremely disappointing loss considering the position MUCC was in. A more ruthless University will need to take to the field in the future.
The 2nd XI rocked up to Punt Road on Saturday and found a completely uncovered and unprepared square therefore no play despite all bar one game getting a run in the 2's. The Tigers curator taking the "less is more" approach this week.
With this in mind, Sunday was a big day. Lose and one day finals chances are gone, win and we keep breathing for now.
Central Reserve was soft, but certainly not diabolical. Casey South Melbourne's skipper wasn't present for the toss so one of their young batters represented them for the crucial toss which we lost. Surely MUCC will be sent in to bat on a slow, damp deck... "We'll have a bat" the CS-M youngster said with authority.
Tim Rankin bowled superbly in a slick performance. 3-15 from 10 overs of hostile and disciplined fast bowling. With no extras, excellent lengths and genuine speed in his second spell, Rankin was a class above and led the attack. Dan Hibbert again bowled very well with 3-18 from 8 overs, to take his tally to 7 wickets from three outings. Hugh Van Cuylenburg returned for strong second and third spells and also took three. Tim Robertson pouched 5 catches in a mostly clean display of keeping.
We ousted the Swans for 91, and whilst this was aided by a sympathetic deck for the bowlers, we also held our chances in the field again and did not allow partnerships to form.
With the bat we knew it was crucial that we replicate the Essendon experience and ensure that an opener was at the crease for the winning runs. Nick Hutton continued his strong start to the season and played a mature and well paced knock and was not out with 40 at the end. On a difficult deck and with some challenging bowling especially from their young opener De Wet, Hutton thrust his name forward for promotion. Terrence Dixon was classy again for 33 but disappointingly was out with victory 10 runs away.
This was an important bonus point victory for the 2's to keep 1 day finals chances alive. It is so important, when conditions are in your favour like they were, to be ruthless and disciplined enough to make the most of them. This is what good sides do.
The 4’s lifted themselves off the mat after last week’s heartbreak to dismantle Casey-South Melbourne in clinical fashion.
During the warm-up it became apparent the largely pre-pubescent opposition would struggle under MUCC pressure. Runs were scarce during Casey’s innings with a variable Craw pitch and a Somme-like (circa 1917) outfield. Early inroads were made and the rot never abated for the Bloods, being dismissed for under a hundred.
With a piriformis strain the week before Wetherell bowled his nine straight and retired for the day after claiming the first two scalps. A sharp run-out to Gonsalvez had the Bloods’ tail clambering for their kits. Enter the 4’s stable of spinners. Skipper Mark Bhattacharyya nabbed three, Hamish Bull one and Englishman Dale Highton another along with three run outs and Casey were all out for 90.
The scene was set for Jude Fernando and Apurwa Sarve (aka Greenidge and Haynes) to get the runs without loss that was before Jude was hit on the thigh-pad and given out LBW. A succession of wickets saw a nervy 4-40 with Sarve still at the crease. Thankfully Gonsalvez blasted 22 and the win was nigh. Sarve hit the winning runs to make an unbeaten 32. A precious bonus point gained.
In the Mercantile Cricket Association there was no play possible for the Melbourne University 5th XI. This means the match against Burnley CYMS will become a 1 Day fixture this weekend.
The VWCA XI stumbled on the weekend against the undefeated Coburg. Uni won the toss, batted and only managed 51 on the lumpiest synthetic wicket this side of the Coburg drive-in. Zehra Naceem, making her batting debut, was unfazed by the uneven bounce making 4 not out batting at number 11. Defending such a tiny total was always going to be a tough ask for the bowlers. Uni picked up two Coburg wickets along the way. Mrs Mitchell was rewarded for bowling with pace and Ledene Ellis completed a run out following some super fielding at mid-wicket.
The VWCA XI has a two week break to regroup before taking on the other undefeated side in the competition, Darebin.