The weekend produced a 50/50 result for MUCC. The highlight was the bonus point win by the 3rd XI which secured them a spot in the One Day semi finals. Sunday also saw a powerful 5th XI have a comfortable win. The 2nd XI managed 2 points as their match against Fitzroy-Doncaster was tied in dramatic circumstances. It was not to be for the 1s in Mooroopna or the 4s at the Crawford.

In stifling conditions at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, the Lions 1s won the toss and elected to bat. A couple of early run outs including one of the key wickets in Peter Dickson put pressure on the batting team. However the other key wicket Lloyd Mash starred making a fine century. His innings was the backbone a competitive 9 for 240. The pick of the bowlers was Greg Kennedy taking his best haul for the season of 4 for 43. Nick Williams was the other multiple wicket taker finishing with 2 for 44 from his 10.

Needing just under 5 an over MUCC were a good chance of taking the points. After losing Nick Ellsmore early, Brett Murphy and Jarrod Leggett combined for a 64 run second wicket partnership. Disappointingly neither could go on and score half centuries – Murphy 47 and Leggett 40. This was to be the story of the innings with Antony Keely (36) and Tim O’Brien (42) also falling short. In the end the run rate and lack of wickets in hand was too much and MUCC fell 21 runs short.

The loss now leaves the 1st XI in 11th position, just over a game outside the 8. With 4 matches remaining each one is a must win proposition.

With the chance of playing one day finals already gone the 2nds were keen to get a win in the final white ball fixture to push for a top 4 spot on the overall ladder.

After losing the toss on a fantastic looking one day wicket, we came out to bowl hungry for early wickets. Excellent opening spells from Tim Rankin and Hugh Van Cuylenburg, we kept the run rate down around 2 per over. The Lions batted conservatively through the first half of the innings keeping wickets in hand. Mark Simpson chipped in with 2 wickets to help swing momentum in MUCC’s direction. Overall, a good solid performance with the ball kept Fitzroy Doncaster to 8/211 with 2 wickets to Rankin, Van Cuylenburg and Simpson.

After losing a wicket in the first over, Eben Martin and Nick Hutton combined to see off the new ball and set up our innings. After the dismissal of Martin and a strained quad from Hutton, we pushed through the middle overs with out losing too many wickets but the run rate crept up over a run a ball with still over 120 to chase down. The batting power play proved to be our life line with Matt Marshall combining with Mark Simpson and Michael Nalesnyik in a productive 5 over period, scoring at over 8 an over. With less than a run a ball required and less than 50 to win, we kept scoring but lost crucial wickets. 2 runs required with 2 balls to go and we lost our last wicket after a mix up attempting a second run. Match tied.

The 2 points might prove handy by the end of the season but this is a match we should have won. The focus is now on 2 day cricket and the run home against some good sides to secure a home final. Currently the team sits in 6th position.

At Schramms Reserve it was a must win game for the 3rds to make the one-day finals. MUCC won the toss and elected to bat on a slowish deck and lush outfield. Sam Skinner and Pat Halpin opened up looking to build a solid base from which to launch. However when Skinner was bowled and the in form Sean Kirby followed soon after, the batting collapse from the previous match was fresh in everyone's minds. But a solid partnership between Halpin (38) and Shiv Bardolia (38) moved the score along to 90, going at over 3 an over and looking to accelerate from there. However both fell in the space of a few overs things looked shaky again. Enter Apurwa Sarve (49) and Jude Fernando (38) who smashed the ball to all parts, combining good running and forcing pressure on the opposition. Some late order hitting helped Uni take make over 100 off the last 12 overs and set up a fantastic total of 6/197.

Feeling confident and fresh the 3rds were ready to unleash the young and quick bowling attack on the Lions. However their openers came out swinging going at 10 an over for the first 6 and putting us right on the back foot. Steve Flight changed this when he out thought their big hitter with a slower ball cleaning up his middle stump. From here Uni took control, Tom Williams (3-23 off 9) came on and bowled his best spell for a month forcing pressure on the batsmen and taking regular wickets. He combined with Matt Doyle (2-7 off 6), Bardolia (1-25 off 7) and Lachie Richards (1-24 off 6) who all bowled tight and were able to force errors from the batsmen. In the end the Lions were dismissed for 145 securing a bonus point for the team.

The effort in the field was one of our best yet, taking all chances and forcing a run out. A special mention must go to keeper Sam Skinner who in his first game back keeping took 3 catches, 2 tough ones when standing up to fast bowlers and a blinder to finish the game off.

A one-day semi-final is the reward against Camberwell in a couple of weeks time and if we play with the same intensity and execute our plans in a similar way then we will be in with a show. The win also took the team up to 4th in the 2 Day Competition.

An inexperienced MUCC 4th XI bowled first after losing the toss. The opening bowlers Josh van Cuylenburg (2 for 34 off 9) and Chris Guy (2 for 29 off 9) both got the ball moving around creating many chances. Unfortunately only one of these chances was taken. Skipper Mark Bhattacharyya came on for immediate success. A solid 3rd wicket partnership saw the Lions reach 2 for 93 before a brilliant couple overs saw a collapse of 4 for 1. Another partnership developed but fortunately for MUCC they failed to lift the scoring rate. The 4 over batting power included a maiden by Hamish Bull. At 9 for 158 with 3 overs to go the team was confident of restricting the score to below 180. Unfortunately the set batsman made the most of a couple of relatively easy chances and punished our bowlers meaning 34 were scored from the last 3 overs taking the score to a respectable 9 for 149. Along with van Cuylenburg and Guy Ahilan Sivakumaran (2 for 25 off 5) picked up 2 wickets.

In response our innings never really gained any momentum. Sivakumaran looked good for his 28 but was dismissed trying to force the pace. His dismal caused a mini collapse taking MUCC from 2 for 56 to 5 for 64. Mark Bhattacharyya joined Jesse Hristovski (30) for a 53 run 6th wicket stand. Hristovski fell just as the wicket started to play some tricks. The lower order were unable to support Bhattacharyya who ended up 40 not out as the team was rolled for 149. A disappointing loss meant that the 4th XI slipped out of the top 4 in the One Day competition to miss a semi final spot, whilst maintaining 4th position in the 2 Day competition.

The 5ths had a great win 3/215cc defeating Powerhouse 209 all out. Backing up from his Saturday performance Apurwa Sarve made 72 (off 106 balls) got the side off to solid start with Liam Alexander 30 (52), before Sean Kirby went to boom town scoring 71no including four 6s and 62 off the last 34 balls he faced. Kirby and Chris Guy 28 (26) combined for an undefeated 80 run partnership in the last 9 overs. Both Sarve 3 for 49 off 9 and Kirby 3 for 26 off 7.3 overs then followed up their batting performance by taking wickets in a great display of death bowling in a close battle for the 3 Scholars Votes. They were back up by Alexander (2 for 43 from 8 overs) and tight bowling from Lachie Richards 1 for 27 off 9 as well as great catching from Guy. Many thanks to all the players who doubled up and played 2 hot days in a row. The victory keeps MUCC within striking distance of the top 4 in A grade and looking forward to another big performance next Sunday.

The VWCA XI resume next Sunday following the Christmas/New Year break.