BB King of the Hill
After a well-earned Christmas-New Year break the Hillers kicked back into action on the weekend with plenty of positive results. Here’s your Round 7 round-up.
WOMEN’S 1ST XI - TO HOLY TRINITY, AND BEYOND!
The first game of the 2021 for the women’s first XI was against our old foes, Holy Trinity, who had just moved up to our division. We have moved in to the one-day section of the season, having 36 over matches. We were extremely happy to welcome back John Farnham (Mega), who came out of retirement for the big match - thank you so much!
Unfortunately we were already behind before the first ball was bowled, with our keeper (Charlotte) out late. Bobbie was given the keepers duties as we were sent to the field. In extremely hot conditions, our bowlers started the year as they finished the last - extremely consistent. The opposition struggled to find runs, with only one player hitting double figures. In saying that, this player did make 62, however struggled with the heat and the runs were slow to come.
One of the highlights of the day was Rex’s magnificent one handed diving catch off Izzy’s bowling. Then, Izzy deciding to also take a wicket the very next ball, bowling out the batter with a ball that swung a mile. Unfortunately the hat-trick was not to be, though we still managed to keep the opposition to 6/103. Special congratulations also goes to Hannah, for taking her first catch, and Mega for keeping the keeper hydrated! Bowling figures sensational as always:
Handsy 1/18 off 9 (4 maidens)
Junior 0/24 off 7
Amy 0/18 off 9 (1 maiden)
Rex 3/25 off 6 (2 maidens)
Izzy 2/9 off 4
"Trouper 0/4 off 1
We were happy with our bowling innings and thought they did not have enough runs on the board. That definitely proved to be true, with Rex (21*) and Izzy (61*) reaching the target in the 17th over. Both played a very smart game, with Izzy playing the role of aggressor well. It was a hot 17 overs, but they made it look easy, especially Izzy’s two massive sixes.
THE CHICKEN: Our virtual chicken this week goes to Izzy, for being the first women’s player to reach a half century this season (and the sensational style she did it in), as well as her two wickets.
Match report by Rebekah Drake. Thanks Bobbie!
MEN’S 1ST XI - TO TRINITY (WILLISON), BUT NOT BEYOND
The Men’s 1s also played took on a Trinity club, in this case Trinity Willison, but couldn’t quite get the same result as the winning women. Bowling first we held TW to 214 in their 40 overs, a score which Cap Cap (aka captain Ben Caplikas) described as probably 14 over par on the small Frog Hollow ground. The bowlers were good, with Jim Wright taking 2/41 off his 8, miserly Monty 0/24 off 8 and Benny Levens 2/39 off 7.
We started the chase well with Ned Zaj (20) and T-Rob putting on 47 for the first wicket. We were still looking good at 1/82. But after T-Rob fell for 47, wickets came a bit too regularly, and despite a fine captain’s knock (48) from Ben, we were eventually all out for 190, falling 24 runs short.
THE CHICKEN: The chicken goes to Jimmy Wright, who bowled far better than his figures indicate.
MEN’S 2ND XI — “WORTHY” WINNERS!
It seems it’s a case of “No Monty? No worries!” in the Men’s 2s. With Douglas Montgomery Stuart called up to the 1s, Micah Wortho stepped up to the captaincy plate and got his team to another win, giving him a 2 from 2 record as skipper.
We won the toss and bowled and Az Lanning kicked off what would be a steady stream of wickets by knocking over an STC South Camberwell opener for a duck. Az went on to finish with 3/21 off his 8 as STC struggled to 8/141. Michael “The Better” Jones chipped in with 2/17 off his 8, while AJ, Wardy and Nails took one wicket apiece.
Worthy and Hugh set up the win with a 49-run opening partnership, and we cruised home. Hugh made a brilliant 58, Wortho made 26 and Jake C continued his fine batting form, making 35 as we passed STC five down with plenty left in the tank.
THE CHICKEN: Hugh gets the chicken, and not just because his surname is Ingham. His beautiful 58 meant the result was never in doubt.
WOMEN’S 2ND XI -THE TWOS LOSE BUT RAZZLE DAZZLES!
The 2s headed out west to take on Melton South. Losing the toss we were given the task of bowling first and got off to a great start with Razzle holding on to a sharp caught and bowled opportunity. Doc followed suit soon after with a wicket of her own, thanks to Trina’s safe hands at square leg.
Melton were able to knuckle down and forged a great partnership with two of their batters making unbeaten 50s where they both retired.
Playing with only 9 players, Allie, Johno and B2 were sensational on the boundary covering more ground than normal. Shout out to boomer who kept for majority of the game after an early spell by B2. Razzle and Doc were able to pick up some late wickets with catches to debutant boomer behind the stumps and Catters at silly point.
Chasing 182 for victory was always going to be hard, but our main focus was set on trying to bat out the innings. With a couple of dubious LBW decisions (I’m sure Doc is still seething today) a few rash shots and some elite bowling from the opposition we fell quite short ending all out for 41.
Onwards and upwards to next weekend where we will be back on our home deck.
Bowling figures:
Razzle 3/29 off 9
Doctor 2/38 off 9
Catters 0/33 off 7
Mum 0/41 off 7
Trina 0/32 off 3
Johno 0/7 off 1
Batting - you can use your imagination.
THE CHICKEN: MVP goes to captain Razzle for her elite bowling, well done captain!
Match report by Sarah Catterwell. Thanks Catters!
MEN’S 3RD XI - THE BB GUN GOES BALLISTIC!
Harro won the toss (STOP THE PRESSES!!) and batted first against Glen Waverley at Lum Reserve. James Allen (38) and Zac Wilson (51) set the tone, putting on 75 for the first wicket. From there things just got better, thanks to some big hitting from Fletch (Luke Fletcher, 38) and some even bigger hitting from Ben Bruscella. Benny B went bananas with the bat, and capped off his and the team’s innings with three big sixes in three balls to take our score to 4/274 and his own to 103 NO OUT!
To their credit, Glen Waverley made a reasonable fist of a big chase, but couldn’t match our total. They were all out for 175 in the 40th over, with good contributions from all our bowlers, viz. (Fletch 3/32 off 8), (Dave Burgess 3/24 off 6.5), Mister Tulk (3/43 off 8). Boggle (Declan Niere, 1/22 off 7) and Joel (0/27 off 8).
Another great win for Harro’s Heroes!
THE CHICKEN: Fletch gets the Frizzle (it’s a breed of chicken) for his 38 and 3-fa!
MEN’S 5TH XI - SIMON SAYS “WIN!” (AND THEY DO)
The 5s were at home to Mazenod, who won the toss and batted first but they were no match for our garrison of gun bowlers, who kept the ‘Nods to 8/110 off 38 overs. Alex Smith (3/18 off 7), Stan Kroenert (2/9 off 7), the Seakins (Daylon 2/20 off 5, Rhys 1/11 off 3), Jesse Viney (0/10 off 7) and Gilly (0/29 off 6) all bowled beautifully.
The chase was a very comfortable one with Stan Croissant-Doughnut — I mean Kroenert — leading the way with a fine 60 not out. He was well backed up by Alex Smith (20 no) and Simon Jackson (17), and we got the runs just three down with a massive 15 overs to spare.
THE CHICKEN: Stan gets the Silkie (also a breed of chicken) for his silky skills with bat and ball.
MEN’S 4TH XI - FOURS IN THE WARS
Not a great day for Gazza’s Gladiators, who played Boroondara away and lost. Or, to put it another way, we went down to Boroondara and went down to Boroondara.
Batting first, we were in trouble from the start, with Rhino making a blob (and when rhinos make blobs, they’re big ones!) before Eddie and Cal Behmer steadied the ship slightly. But when Eddie fell for 7, we crumbled and wickets tumbled, despite solid knocks from Cal (31) and Dog (Scott Morgan, 21). We were 8/91 at one stage but Lachie Elmore (34) and Toughie (16) helped us get to a respectable total of 153.
Respectable it might have been but it was not quite enough and they passed us six down with a couple of overs to spare, despite the fine efforts of Jack Barrett (2/22 off 8), Toughie (2/40 off 8), Empty (0/20 off 8) and Eddie (0/15 off 4).
Back on the horse next week, boys!
THE CHICKEN: Lachie gets the Leghorn for his swashbuckling 34 and good bowling (0/35 off 8).
MEN’S 6TH XI - AT SIXES AND SEVENS
The 6s have moved up to seventh on the back of a second win in three rounds. I lost the toss and we bowled first at Fairlea. Lachie Muraca and I kept a tight rein on East Doncaster’s batting early and that set the scene for an excellent 35 overs in the field.
Lachie took two early wickets before E-Do settled and took their score to 2/80. They looked like launching from there but great bowling from Geoff Smith (1/26 off 7), Ramapaging Roy Girvan (0/35 off 7), Jeff Burstin (2/10 off 4) and Lachie again (3/11 off 7) saw the oppo finish up on just 6/138 off their 35 overs, a brilliant effort on the small Fairlea East ground.
We lost an early wicket in the chase but Jim Entwisle (50 retired), with his third consecutive half century) and Mike Belchamber (51 retired) took us to the verge of victory, with Hugo Northrop (11 no) and Lachie (13 no) polishing off the last few runs with style. We passed the target with more than five overs to spare!
THE CHICKEN: Several players were in the frame for this week’s chicken but under extreme pressure from the Saturday evening stayers, this week it’s Belchamber’s Bantam!
THE LADDERS
The club’s in pretty good shape overall, with the Men’s 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s, as well as the Women’s 1s, all in the top four. The Men’s 1s are only half a game out, the Men’s 6s are on the move and the Women’s 2s are ready to make a charge!
THE TOM BELLIS AWARD
Some fine efforts from players of all sides this week but Benny B gets the nod for his magnificent unbeaten ton! Ben, if you build a time machine, go back to Saturday night and turn up to Rammo, your drinks are on the house!