A Two-rrific season
The Men’s cricket season has wrapped up for another year and with another premiership shield to add to the CHCC trophy cabinet. The 5s fell just short in the semis, the 4s pull off one of the great semi final wins before falling short in the Granny and the 2s powered their way to a premiership that appeared to be their destiny from the opening over of the season.
Men’s 5th XI Semi Final versus Glen Waverley at Lum Reserve: Things turn GLUM versus Glen waverley at LUM
This was a battle between 2nd and 3rd played at Glen Waverley’s home ground at Lum Reserve. Our boys bowled first and Geoff Smith made an early breakthrough, via (allegedly) the catch of the summer from Skipper Simon Skoblar, GW settled in and reached 1/53. Then Tiny Teddy Smith and Stan K took two quick wickets which turned things around. 3/53. GW got another partnership going before Stan chipped in for his second. From their wickets fell pretty regularly thanks to Lachie Muraca (3/23 off 5) and the rest of the bowling crew (Ted Smith 2/35 off 7, Geoff Smith 2/17 off 6), Stan (2/30 off 7), as GW finished on 191, a very gettable total on the fast Lum Reserve outfield.
Shout-out to Skipper Simon Skoblar again for one of the great run-outs at a vital point during GW’s innings.
Gettable it was, but we didn’t quite get it, falling 12 runs short, despite excellent batting from Jacko (44), Skipper Simon Skoblar (37), Jack Speed (27) and Jonesy (23).
Not quite the Grand Final berth we were aiming for but nevertheless a great season from the 5s, who had a swathe of different players rotating through the team. Well domne Skobs and all who played for the 5s in 2021/22!
CHICKEN: A spectacular catch, an even more spectacular run out and an almost-match-winning 37 gets Skipper Simon Skoblar the Semi-Final chicken!
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: I was there to witness this. Two balls earlier, Skipper Simon Skoblar looked to be really struggling as he pulled in a ball near the boundary. A minute later, there he was in the infield, diving to save a ball and then throwing down the stumps with a direct hit to dismiss one of GW’s best batters. Brilliant!
Men’s 4th XI Semi-Final v St Paul’s and Grand Final v Bulleen
Semi-Final:
The 4ths finished 4th (seems appropriate) after the home and away games and headed to Chadstone to take on top side St Paul’s in the semi. We had met them twice during the regular season, splitting the results, but St Paul’s were heavy favourites in this match.
We batted first and, although we lost wickets fairly regularly, posted 9/162, a defendible 40-over score. No huge scores but very important innings from Action Man (20, opening), Roadie (28) and then Empty (25no) and Gaz (25) at the rear-end of the innings.
St Paul’s got off to a flyer in the chase and were 0/24 in the blink of an eye. Then Naj stepped up and took two in two balls to turn the tide. He didn’t get the hat-trick but Action man took one at the other end and suddenly they were 3/24. The innings then took twists and turns throughout the afternoon until St Paul’s reached 9/161. A tie would have been good enough to get them into the GF but Naj had other ideas. He slipped one through the gate of their top scorer to give us a one-run win!
Naj finished with 3/23, Action took 2/23 off 8, while Toughie (1/33 off 7), Jack Barrett (1/31 off 8) and Empty (1/25 off 3) played vital roles in the win.
SEMI-CHICKEN: The semi chicken went to the 12th man, Eddie Chiroiu. Despite missing out on selection, Eddie was there to support the team from go to whoa (and he did the same in the GF). Well done ETAC, a true team player.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Naj taking the wicket to secure the win. Check out the video footage of Toughman going nuts at the moment of victory.
Grand Final:
For the big gam we headed over to Stradbroke Park to take on Bulleen. They had knocked us over comfortably in Round 1 but only very narrowly in Round 8 so we gave ourselves a good chance.
They batted first and Naj and Action Man once again did the business with the new ball and Bulleen were very quickly reeling at 3/6. They recovered to be 3/75 but then wickets came regularly as Bulleen eventually made their way to 9/142. Naj (3/14 off 7) was a star again, as was Action (3/21 off 8), and they were well backed up by Captain Jack (1/38 off 8 after getting carted in his first over), Toughie (0/21 off 6), Empty (0/28 off 7) and Roadie (0/18 off 4).
In the chase we lost two early wickets and it was a struggle from there. Eventualluy we were all out for 106 despite great efforts from skipper Gaz (16 no), Captain Jack (14), Empty (11), and a trio of 12s from Action, El Presidente (Adam L) and Toughie.
It wasn’t to be on the day, but it was a great season. Take a bow, Gaz, Scott Morgan (who skippered in Gaz’s absence) and the entire 4s team.
GRAND CHICKEN: Naj with 3/14 off 7 and a run out gets him a Grand Final chicken to go with his Semi-Final Tom Bellis.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Naj again, with a direct hit run out!
Men’s 2nd XI Semi-Final v Northcote United and Grand Final v STC South Camberwell
Semi-Final:
The 2s hosted Northcote United at Rammo in the semi and bowled first, as usual. We got a couple of wickets early but then NU settled in and took the score to 2/73 before we ramped it up with the ball and in the field. NU crumbled to 101 all out on the back of brilliant bowling from Michael Jones (3/8 off 6), Lou B (4/23 off 7), James Wright (1/13 off 7) and Monty (0/10 off 8). Jonesy chipped in with a vital run out too.
We had a brief early hiccup in the chase with Wortho going early but then Lenny Dean and Jake took us to 44 before Lenny fell for 7. Jake continued to dominate and his quick-time 48 broke NU’s back. We had a few more hiccups but, with an important not out from James (13) and a vital 12 from Jonesy, passed NU six down to reach another Grand Final!
SEMI-CHICKEN: 12 important runs, 3 important wickets, 1 important run out = a Jonesy chicken!
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Lou B getting their two set batsman out in the same over to swing the game was the SF KHM.
Grand Final:
A quick look at the scores and you might think that this was another routine win for the 2s. But the full story is far more nuanced. We bowled first (standard) and got a couple early (also standard) through JIm Wright (bowling) and Jim Wright (fielding) but then STC, the only team to beat us this year, got on top and they were 2/80 off 20 for drinks.
They took it to 2/82 before Az Lanning entered the scene. Lanno turned the game on its head with a devastating spell that not only broke STC’s back, it ripped their guts out and gave them a full-on disembowelment. STC lost an incredible 8/14 and were al out for 96. Az took 4/10 off 7 but there was great bowling all round from Jonesy (3/7 off 6.4), Jim Wright (1/12 off 6) and Lou B (0/18 off 5).
In the chase we lost Wortho for 7 but then Lenny ‘The Wall’ Dean (26no), Jake ‘The Gun’ Castelow (24) and Lou ‘The Mature’ Burstin (34) took us to victory three down!
A PREMIERSHIP END TO A GREAT SEASON!!
GRAND CHICKEN: Chicken to Lenny for playing his role perfectly, batting through the innings and being there at the end.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Slightly longer than a moment but it felt like THE moment of the season: The whole 13 overs after the drinks break (they were 2/80 at drinks) — 13 overs 8/16!!!!
THE SEMI FINAL TOM BELLIS
Naj had never taken more than 2 wickets in an innings before the 4ths semi. He got two early and then broke through for a 3-fa in the greatest way possible, skittling the off stump of their top-scorer to take us to the Grand Final. His spell made him a worthy SF TB winner, and his 3-fa in the GF almost got him another Tommy B!
THE GRAND FINAL TOM BELLIS
He rarely has a bad game, or even a bad moment, and, boy, did Aaron Lanning seize the moment in the Grand Final! His devastating spell was a GFGC (Grand Final Game Changer) and he deservedly gets the final Tom Bellis of 2021/22.
