A big hand for Handsy!

The vagaries of Melbourne’s weather meant that our Men’s 1s and 2s and our Women’s 1s and 2s got onto the park but our Men’s 3s, 4s and 5s spent Saturday on the sidelines.

The Men’s 1s and 2s games are halfway through. Progress reports of those two games are below. But first, the women!

Women's Team 1st XI vs Edinburgh at Rammo - Match report by Rebekah "Bobbie" Drake

We were excited to start cricket for 2023 and it began against Clifton Hill's fierce rivals, Edinburgh. Rachael "Razzle" Jones won the toss and we decided to bowl in lovely conditions at Ramsden St.

We were made aware that Edinburgh had recruited a young South African player and she made her presence felt, scoring boundaries in the first over, even with Hannah "Handsy" Watson opening the bowling. Amy "Wolfie" Howell was also bowling well, but still getting hit for runs. To be fair, some lovely cricket shots were played. But also, there was a lot in the air, with the ball landing between fielders or us missing some half chances (Wolfie was especially unlucky to miss out on a few).

Handsy did manage a breakthrough, with the other opener getting out, the catch taken by Lauren "Rex" Chester. Edinburgh then put together an impressive 136 run partnership, with the left/right hand combination, strong wind and skill from the batters making it difficult to get the wicket. Some field changes helped to slow down the run rate, as did some strong fielding by Emily "Dominos" Costigan, Isobel "Izzy" Fenner, Rachel "Greyhound" Gray and Laila "Electric train" Rae . Ash "Steamtrain" Murdoch,  Razzle, Dominos and Rebekah "Bobbie" Drake all bowled well, but it was Handsy that got the breakthrough again, with one of the opener's shots finally falling into a fielder's hands, with Razzle taking the catch.

Just eight runs later Handsy had got her third wicket LBW, with Edinburgh's top three batters out. From here, Edinburgh managed just 12 runs for the final seven wickets. Wolfie effected a run out, then Dominos got a wicket with catch of the day for Rex - a superb take in slips, diving to her right! The very next ball Dominos trapped the batter LBW. On a hat trick, Dominos bowled a beautiful ball, which was played at but missed by the batter. Wolfie was next to strike, bowling the middle stump out of the ground. Dominos then got another wicket bowled, continuing her fine YPL form. Razzle got a caught and bowled, before the innings was finished with the Gray sisters, Greyhound and Hannah "HG" Gray, combining for a run out. Edinburgh finished 10/173.

We knew it was going to be a relatively big run chase, but we had faith in openers Rex and Handsy. They were calm from the start, playing nice and straight and picking the balls to go after. Rex was getting going with a few boundaries before she didn't quite get on to one and was caught out for a very well made 33.

The opening partnership was 72 runs, putting us in a really good position from the start. Razzle joined Handsy at the crease, and they both continued to capitalise on any loose balls. The run rate was going along strongly before Razzle was out LBW for 22 runs. Another solid partnership, 65 runs, strengthened our position. Izzy joined Handsy at the crease, with Handsy in the late forties. Izzy was quick to score from the start and it wasn't long before Handsy made her maiden half century for Clifton Hill - congratulations Handsy! She played a superb innings and never looked like going out, playing superb cricket shots the whole way through. Not long after Handsy reached the milestone did the team reach the total, making 174 in 27.4 overs - more than a run a ball in a one day match! Handsy finished on 54* and Izzy 28*.

CHICKEN: The chicken without a doubt goes to Handsy, almost the perfect all round performance!

Women's Team 2nd XI v Sydenham / Hillside at Hillside Recreational Reserve - Match report by Rebecca "B2" Troon

This week we were lucky enough to have "Nan" Jess Aldridge join us and captain our team. Her enthusiasm and intent are great assets and the perfect complement to what we have been fostering in our team since the beginning of the season. And Nan's captaincy began perfectly, winning the toss and choosing to bat!

For the first time Sherin and Tylah opened together, and both were off the mark quickly! Facing some very good bowling, (including from a first class Irish international player in Alannah), wickets did tumble, and we found ourselves 5/9 in the fifth over.

But with Laura beginning to settle at one end, and Gemma - on debut! - joining her at the crease, they began our recovery! Both hit boundaries and worked together to rotate the strike, adding 21 runs, before Dutchy joined Laura in the middle.

As Dutchy began to amass her innings, she was joined by Mum and together they were patient enough to stave off the good deliveries, while taking advantage when they could - Dutchy scoring 3 boundaries!

Mum was steadfast throughout her innings, and with Georgia, stubbornly defended her wicket to establish our next long partnership, batting for more than 12 overs together! While not in for long, it was Heather again, who was our not out batter.

After a formidable recovery, that showed the importance of partnerships and batting together, we finished the innings - all out for 83 runs.

Into the field and Laura and Nan began our defense, Nan bowling her three overs without conceding a single extra!

Our wonderful juniors in Annika, Eloise and Gemma, were terrific in the field, each watching the ball off the bat, with Eloise and Annika sweeping different areas of the boundary and creating chances - a possible run out at one stage!

Again Tylah and Dutchy were up and about fielding at square leg and point respectively, but perhaps our stand out in the field this week was Sherin behind the stumps who smothered anything and everything that came her way.

Eloise and Georgia bowled our next spell of overs, offering some tricky flight for the Sydenham / Hillside batters to contend with.

It took Sydenham / Hillside, and in particular their star player Alannah, who made 60 runs, 12 overs to reach their target.

CHICKEN: This week our Chicken is "Dutchy" Fiona Holland for her highest score of 15 runs, including 3 boundaries. Well done Dutchy!

Thank you again to Nik for acting as our square leg umpire, always appreciated!

Well done Hillers! 

Men’s 1s v Toorak-Prahran at Rammo

Having pulled off a miraculous away win over TPCC a week earlier, our men’s 1s faced the same team again, this time in a two-day game at Rammo. With the temperature pushing into the high 30s, Benny Cap did the right thing by winning the toss and batting.

Kyle and Lenny (20) put on 25 before the first wicket fell and then three more fell while we made it to 79, at which point Malty and Hughie came together. They put on 42, which coincidentally is what Malty made. Malty made way for Cottsy and he and Hughie put on 66 before Hugh fell for an excellent 53.

Cottsy pushed on and with the support of Finn Peake (22) and Lou B (38 not out) ground the TPCC players into the dirt, finishing up at 7/291, an excellent total.

Steve finished on 76 not out, a brilliant follow-up to his 62 not out the week before, and a reminder to us all not to rest on our laurels! (Mind you, I always like the idea of having two partners named Laurel and coming home from work to rest on them.)

Men’s 2s v Toorak-Prahran at Orrong Park

The Men’s 2s also did not rest on their laurels. Having skittled TPCC for 56 last week, we went five better this week and knocked over for 51! Bowling highlights were provided by everyone! Monty (3/5 off 10!), Daisy (2/8 off 7), Lanno (2/16 off 8), Dan H (2/6 off 2.4), Jack Barrett (1/11 off 7) and Joel (0/2 off 5).

We had plenty of Day 1 batting time left, and Nick Zaj (78) and Kosta (21 not out) made good use of it as we racked up 2/121 and declared. At stumps TPCC in their second innings are 1/37 and still behind.