A Nuggety Innings
All our senior teams were (meant to be) on the park this weekend as round 2 got underway. Catch up on all the weekends action with our match reports below:
Men’s 1st XI – Burstin’s Bombs
The 1’s were at home to St Pauls who won the toss and chose to bat first. This proved to be a good toss to lose as Jimmy Wright (3/21 off 8), Wardy (3/26 off 8), Lou Burstin (1/15 off 8) and Adam Weir (2/16 off 8) helped bowl SPCC out for 124. In response we made a slow start, prompting Benny Cap to promote the big hitting Burstin up the order. Lou responded with 37 off 30 balls including four 4’s and two 6’s, and with support from Lenny Dean (24) and Benny Cap (22*) we were able to chase down the target with 5 overs to spare! The chicken went to Jimmy Wright for his opening spell that set up the win!
Senior Women's X1 - Round 2 – Clifton Hill vs Keilor, our first win of the season!
Having enjoyed a positive start to our season last Sunday – despite the very narrow loss – we approached our Round 2 match against Keilor at Rammo optimistically. Winning the toss and choosing to field first, under somewhat ominous grey skies, it was our captain Hannah Watson who began our bowling attack with Maya, and from the very beginning their radar was on!
Two early wickets in her first two overs was the perfect welcome back for Maya! We had talked about doing the simple things well before our match and then, to the entire team’s credit, went about exemplifying exactly that. . .
Bowled Maya. Caught behind by Sherin off Maya, Stumped by Sherin. Caught Laura bowled Lou. Caught Angie bowled Lou. Caught Ash bowled Lou. Caught Hannah bowled Ash. Bowled Ash – with tight, pressure bowling and chances taken in the field, wickets continued to fall and Keilor was forced to run for almost their entire score.
Special mention to Lou who took 3 wickets at an extraordinarily economical 4 runs!
Keilor – 8/59 from 20 overs
Chasing 60 to win and with 20 overs to get our runs, we asked Zaynab to set up our innings after her great form last week against Melbourne Uni, along with Angie who has been training well in the nets. A good ball got through and Lou joined Angie at the crease. What ensued was a terrific, methodical 29 run partnership, built on great communication, running and intent. Angie making 15 runs. After pushing for one too many, Maya was with Lou in the middle, and together they patiently made the remaining runs without further loss. Lou making 13 runs, not out and Maya, 4, runs not out.
Clifton Hill made the 60 runs we needed calmly and in just 13 overs for our first win of the season! The chicken went to Lou Castrignano for Taking 3 wickets for just 4 runs and then contributing 13 runs, not out.
Men’s 2nd XI – The Best Number 11 in the League
The 2’s ventured out to Mount Waverley for the second time in as many weeks to take on Mount Waverley Uniting. As is customary, captain Monty won the toss and had a bowl. In a similar story to the 1s, we were able to bowl MWCC out in the 36th over for 116, through the efforts of Nailz Parlane (2/23 off 6), ½ Empty (3/26 off 8), Auley Brown (2/10 off 6) and the chief destroyer – Lachie Smith (3/2 off 4). And in similar fashion to the ones, it was the best number 11 in the league, Aaron Lanning who was promoted up the order to get us off to a fast start. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, and we were in trouble early at 3/27 before Dan Castelow and Private Player (see playHQ comment below) came together to steady the ship. Once the private player departed, the better Jonesy (31*) and Dan saw us home with 4 overs to spare, with Dan unbeaten on 52*. Chicken to Auley for his economical bowling.
Men’s 3rd XI – Long Road(ers) Trip
After a big win last week, the threes took on Monash Roaders (whatever that means?) in Monash, without regular captain Lachy Smith (who was in the 2’s) and regular run scorer Cal Behmer (severe hamstring awareness). Stand in captain Naj won the toss had a bowl and led from the front with 3/36 off his 8. Lucas Harris also chipped in with 2/22 off 6 but unfortunately wickets were few and far between with Sonny the only other wicket taker. We got off to a good start in reply with Kishan (26) and the ex-pres, Adam Lewis (24), but from there on, our only other batter to score double figures was the Ferrari (22). We were bowled out for 109 in 36 overs, but the lads will regroup for next week to take on Boroondara at Fairlea Wet. Despite loud calls for a self-chicken from Naj, he missed the memo about giving it to the bowlers this week and gave it to Kishan instead for his 26 with the stick.
Men’s 4th XI – Spock Turns Back the Clock
In the 4s it was stand in captain Eddie Chiroiu who lost the toss and then in his words “did nothing”. If that was the case, then I’d like him to continue to do nothing all season as it was his bowlers, clearly inspired by his captaincy, who did the job, restricting BUCCC to 102. Wickets were shared between Gabe O’Shaughnessy (1), Roadie (1), Empty (1), Lucian Bickford (2) and Henry Macmorran (1). Jonesy (30) got us off to a great start in the chase and Spocky (47*) finished the job in quick time to have the boys back at Rammo by 4 o’clock. Eddie got the memo and gave the chicken to Gabe for his opening spell!
Men’s 5th XI – Gorillas Gazumped
The 5’s got on the board in the form of a forfeit from another rebranded team - the Melbourne Deaf Gorillas (strong name).
Vets Over 40s – Boom Boom Burwood
The vets over 40’s were away on Sunday at Burwood. We lost the toss and bowled first and according to playHQ, which seems incredibly reliable so far, it was the double leg spin combo of Spock and Harro that opened the bowling. Burwood quite enjoyed Harro’s bowling and racked up a score of 5/267 off their 36. In response we started well above the required rate, but with retirements and a few quick wickets we eventually limped to 6/136 with Jim Allen (40*), Ian Nolan (40*) and Fill In (see playHQ comment above) (25*) the pick of the bats.
Vets Maroon – (Un)fortunate Timing
In a similar story to the over 40’s, the over 50’s maroon lost the toss and found themselves in the field. They also found themselves chasing a big score, with NACC posting 3/280 off their 36. In response, we were perfectly poised at 7/106 with 10 overs to go before rain cruelly intervened in what would have been a certain victory. Jonesy (40*) and Tim Blaikie (32*) were the pick of the bats.
Vets Navy – Dingle Destroys Dingley Dingo’s
In a headline that Andrew Gigacz would be proud of, it was Mark Dingle (2/12 off 6) combined with Chris “Mount” Hotham (2/4 off 3) and Ben Richmond (2/22 off 6) who restricted Dingley to 8/133 off their 36. In response, we actually were on our way this time at 3/111 before rain curtailed our chances in this one too. Pete Barron knocked up 41* whilst Matt Aulich was unbeaten on 20*.
Tom Bellis Award
As the headline suggests, it was the younger nugget, Dan Castelow who received the Tom Bellis award this week. Dan helped the 2’s chase down MUCC’s score with his maiden half century in the twos.
