Steam Train comin’ through!
A tough Saturday for the Hillers with the 5s getting the job done but the other men’s sides copping losses. A slightly better day on Sunday with two wins from five games, including the Women’s 1s and the Men’s Over 40s claiming a place in the Grand Final!
WOMEN’S 1ST XI versus COBURG at Rammo: STEAM TRAIN PLOUGHS THROUGH LONG GRASS
Match report by Rebekah ‘Bobbie’ Drake
While the gardeners seemed to have forgotten to mow Rammo in recent times, it was still a beautiful day for cricket. Having lost the toss, Coburg sent us in to bat.
Lauren "Rex" Chester was quick to capitalise on Coburg's leg side bowling as a left hander, while unfortunately Isobel "Izzy" Fenner kept facing balls perfectly placed on off. Izzy got bowled in the second over for 1, with the ball looking like it was going down leg before swinging late. Amy "Wolfie" Howell came to the crease and had a solid 32 run partnership with Rex, who continued to capitalise on any wayward deliveries, including a massive 6. Unfortunately, Wolfie fell to another ball swinging late, bowled for 3. Rex followed not long later, out LBW for a very well made 25.
With two fresh batters at the crease, Taryn Heddo and Ash "Steam Train" Murdoch, they focused on steadying the ship. They did well, having to run a lot of singles with the long grass. There was a little bit of luck involved, with Steam Train managing to be dropped four times. She rode that luck well to hit her first ever six! With wickets in the shed, Taryn and Steam Train took a few more risks, which eventuated with Taryn being run out for 9. The 55 run partnership was one of the best the Women's Team 1st XI has seen, and anchored the innings well. Every batter that came in from here knew they could take on the game and did so.
Next up was Emily "Dominos" Costigan, who ran well with Steam Train, before being caught out for 4. Then came Rachel "Greyhound" Gray, who was very unlucky to be called out for a quite high LBW, making 1. Steam Train's luck unfortunately then ran out, being caught for 44 after a superb knock. Rebecca "Junior" Nolan and Hannah "Handsy" Watson were at the crease and continued to push the runs before Junior was caught out for 2. Rebecca "B2" Troon combined with Handsy for the last over and a half, with B2 finishing on 1* and Handsy 5*, pushing the team to 8/133.
Entering our bowling innings, we knew the field should be in for the slow outfield. It worked, with pressure being built in the first over by Handsy's bowling, before she took a sensational catch from a high ball swirling in the breeze off Junior's bowling to have Coburg 1/7 off 2. Junior struck again in the fourth, with Rebekah "Bobbie" Drake taking a catch behind the stumps. At 2/8 off 4, Coburg dug their heels in. There was not another wicket until the 26th over. However, in that time Junior and Handsy had combined with Wolfie, Rex, Steam Train, Dominos and Izzy to build the pressure. In that 18 overs, Coburg only managed 27 runs. This included 9 maidens, Wolfie with 4, Handsy with 3, Rex with 1 and Steam Train with 1.
Izzy managed the breakthrough, bowling the batter in her first over of the season. The new batter came in with intent, scoring much more quickly than the previous batters. She took one too many though, when Dominos combined with Izzy to run her out. The pressure continued to build and Coburg struggled to find runs. Dominos got a lovely wicket, taking out middle stump. Taryn then got in the action with two wickets, one another catch behind the stumps by Bobbie and the other another catch by Handsy, this time diving forward. Coburg finished 7/81 off the 36. We had a convincing victory and managed to use 8 bowlers in the process!
Beautiful bowling figures as always: Handsy 0/7 off 7, Junior 2/17 off 6, Wolfie 0/3 off 6, Rex 0/6 off 3, Steam Train 0/11 off 6, Dominos 1/12 off 3, Izzy 1/12 off 2, Taryn 2/12 off 3
CHICKEN: The Chicken was again unanimously awarded to Ash "Steam Train" Murdoch, for a sensational batting innings with some tight bowling and sharp fielding to add to it!
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: In a stop-start season it has been tough to find momentum, but we managed some six scoring momentum, getting our first and second six of the season, courtesy of Rex and Steam Train - it was a delight to watch!
MEN’S 5TH XI versus NORTHCOTE UNITED at THE WORLD’S SMALLEST CRICKET GROUND (aka Sir Arthur Rylah Reserve):
Simon’s Superstars made the short trip to Sir Arthur Rylah Reserve, surely the smallest cricket ground in history to be named after someone bestowed with a knighthood.
We batted first and made huge-sounding 6/323. It was perhaps the equivalent of making 6/223 on Fairlea East. Still, you can only deal with the conditions you have, and Jacko (91 no), Stan (72), Jonesy (36), Timothy Neal (34) and Lachie Muraca (33 no) certainly made the most of them.
Having made a “monster” score, Skobs was not convinced it would be enough. He was nearly right. Eventually, though NU were dismissed for 301. Stan (3/35 off 7) and Tim W-J (3/34 off 5) broke the back of NU’s batting.
The win means the 6s move up to 2nd place on the ladder, replacing the vanquished NU.
CHICKEN: A 70-odd and a three-fa (at just 5 runs an over, which would be like 2 an over on other grounds) gets Stan the chicken.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: A three-way tie between Sir Arthur Rylah turning in his grave at the thought of having such a tiny ground named in his honour, Lachie Muraca hitting TWO sixes (yes, it’s a tiny ground, but Lachie is still a tiny human. His sixes are like Stan Mills hitting the roof at Rammo) and Paul Hodge’s one-handed screamer that sealed victory.
WOMEN’S 2ND XI versus GREENVALE KANGAROOS at Greenvale Reserve: STEAM TRAIN PLOUGHS THROUGH LONG GRASS
Match report by Marlo ‘Mum’ Drake-Bemelmans
When Thursday's Teams email arrived the Twos had 10 players and we were happy with that. I'm not sure if it was the weather (it was a beautiful day) or the location (where IS Greenvale??) but we ended up with 8 players (well - 7 and a half if we take into account Nan's injured hand). So if we have to be honest - and let's face it, there's no reason not to be - the mood was sombre in the change rooms before the match. As Razzle set the batting order, we started to perk up - Nan made her way up to the air-conditioned scorer's box (yes, even our scorer was MIA) and Razzle and Vo Vo and Mum (in a cameo as square leg umpire) headed out to the middle. From the first ball, Razzle and Vo Vo were determined to stay at the crease and make runs when they could.
They got off to a terrific start and looked to be building a decent partnership. They were taking singles and hitting the occasional boundary and the score was ticking along nicely when, in the 7th over, there was a mix-up off a no-ball, both batters were close to the same end, and Razzle was run out for 8. This meant B-Cat came to the middle with a single-minded purpose and it was on! Both Vo Vo and B-Cat kept the score moving nicely and managed to sustain a partnership of 68 runs across 15 overs until Vo Vo was out ro a very dubious (as they all are) LBW.
Hannah "Nellie" Gray was next up to bat and made a very solid 20 bringing the score to 135 . With only a couple of overs to go Mum and B-Cats tried to hit out and both went out, Mum for 1 9bowled) and B-Cat for an incredible 47 (caught). This left Di and Allie at the crease and they made a very credible 5 runs in the last five balls of the innings. The total score 7/146 well surpassed the expectations of all.
The challenge would be to keep Greenvale to less than this given the heat of the afternoon and our lack of numbers in the field. Razzle and Nan opened the bowling and did well. The score at 1/21 with Razzle bowling one of their openers with a ball that bamboozled the batter. The next six overs were taken by Mum and Nellie and conceded some runs with the gaps in the field quite telling. The score moved to 1/62. Vo Vo, after her impressive knock with the bat, took the first stint behind the stumps and did not let anything past. She handed the gloves to our ring-in or reliable fill-in Allie and she took to keeping like a Drake to water (after a couple of balls to work out her best position).
Razzle and Nan returned with the ball and were again quite tight with the runs. Razzle bamboozled another batter to have her second wicket, bowled. Score after 18, 2/87. Mum, Nellie and B-Cat bowled the next six with the only real highlight a cracking wicket to Nellie, juggled and caught behind by Allie. Score 1/140. Razzle and Nan returned to bowl and after 7 balls, Greenvale finished the match with a 4. We were spent, we lost, but we were very proud of our efforts.
CHICKEN: The chicken is awarded to B-Cat* for her incredible 47 runs, awesome bowling and run-saving fielding. Special mention to Vo Vo for her innings and keeping.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: After letting through a couple of byes, and then working out that her long arms meant she needed to take a few steps back as well as watch the ball, not the batter - our Killer Hiller moment goes to Allie for her entertaining juggling and ultimately a decent catch.
*EDITOR’S NOTE: Just as well she was awarded the chicken, otherwise she might have protested and we would have had B-Cat going to VCAT.
VETS OVER 40s versus HAWTHORN at Hawthorn: AIN’T LIFE (OVER 40) GRAND!
Peakey’s Professionals took on Hawthorn in the Over 40s semi and reversed last week’s result against the same team to claim a spot in the Granny!
We batted first and opened up with Farnesy and Benny B and they did a great job of setting the game up. Benny retired on the maximum 45 and Farnesy made 36. Stan K (42 retired) and Ian Nolan (25) as we racked up a very creditable score of 180.
Hawthorn made a good fist of the chase but our bowlers were too good, restricting Hawthorn to 155. Bowling highlights included Daisy’s 2/9 off 4.2, Benny B’s 1/11 off 6, Stan’s 1/16 off 6, Peakey’s 0/27 off 6 and Harro’s 1/25 off 5.
Grand Final here we come!
CHICKEN: I have not consulted Peakey about this but surely Benny B gets the nod here.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: I consulted with Harro on this, expecting Benny B to be involved. Indeed he was, but not in the way I expected (a six to get himself to 45). Harro revealed that Benny’s match-winning innings almost never happened. He cut a simple catch to gully early in the piece. Not only did their gully shell the sitter, he copped the ball on the lip and had to go and get nine stitches, giving Hawthorn one less batter! Brilliant batting Benny B!
VETS OVER 50s versus BOROONDARA at Victoria Road Reserve:
Our other Over The Hillers didn’t have quite the success the Over 40s did. Ralph’s Rebels took on Bingley’s Boroondarans and we bowled first with Boroondara piling on the runs all the way through. They made 232 despite the best efforts of the Funkster, Chris Gill (1/28 off 6), Peter Ryan (2/35 off 6), Sal Ferraro (1/2 off 1) and Rhian Hinkley (1/22 off 5).
Our chase did not go well. Excellent knocks from Sal (33) and Tim Blaikie (31) were not enough to prevent us from being bowled at for 92.
A disappointing end to the Over 50s’ first season, but we’ll be bigger (and not just around the waist) and better next year!
CHICKEN: Sal Ferraro’s 33 and 1/2 earn him the chicken. Bring him on earlier next time Ralph!
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Normally an entire innings wouldn’t count as a moment but Sal’s 33 came in the blink of an eye and prevented a complete batting disaster. Sal has hardly been able to get on the park in the past couple of years, due to back issues, and this was only his second knock of the summer. Onya Sal!
MEN’S 1ST XI versus Trinity Willison at Rammo: NOT SURMOUNTING THE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE
We bowled first and TW got off to a solid start, putting on 75 for the first wicket. Things improved from there and they finished on a not insurmountable 7/186, thanks to good bowling from Stinger Barrett (3/40 off 8), Kieran Schulz (1/27 off 5(), Michael Jones (1/11 off 2 - should’ve kept him on!) and the ever-improving Finlay Ward. 1/16 off 8 in a 1sts one-dayer is outstanding stuff.
Even though 186 was not an insurmountable total, Ben’s Batters did not in fact surmount it, crashing to 102 all out despite the best efforts of Cottsy (35) and Malty (27).
Bad luck chaps.
CHICKEN: Wardi gets the chicken for another great spell of bowling.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: This one undoubtedly goes to Kieren Schulz, who managed to miss THE ENTIRE PITCH with his first ball. This is such an impressive feat that I would have been tempted to give him the chicken, but Benny Cap did not agree. The discussion is probably best summed up by the fact that KIEREN SCHULZ GOES OFF THE PITCH is an anagram of
”SO, UH.. GET THE OL’ CHICKEN PRIZE?” ”FFS!”
(By the way, Kieren, it was Benny Cap, not me, who nominated you for this.)
MEN’S 3RD XI versus BUCCCCCCC at Fairlea West: TOUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE
Batting first, Harros’ Heroes got off to a solid start, reaching 0/24, but that’s pretty much where the good stuff ends. We were all out for 72, with only Dan Castelow (18), Zac Wilson (13), Tulky (11) and Benny B (11) getting to double figures.
Defending such a small total getting an early wicket was the KEY and LACH SMITH (see what I did there?) obliged with a wicket in his first over. Sadly that first wicket was also the last, and BUCCCCCCC won by nine wickets
CHICKEN: The Chicken goes to Daisy for his insanely good figures of 5 overs, 4 maidens, 1 for 4.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Daisy features here to, for trying to get a catch he took from an off-the-pitch no ball included in the MyCricket stats. His effort failed, but if I know Daisy (and funnily enough, I do) he’ll record that (non) catch in his own personal records, which he as been keeping in a notebook since before John F Kennedy was assassinated.
MEN’S 2ND XI versus SPC BAKED BEANS AND SPAGHETTI — sorry, I mean STC SOUTH CAMBERWELL at Hartwell: END OF TWO ERAS
In a shock development that made news in the Northern Hemisphere (I’m sure Cheggs and George Cook would have discussed it), we lost the toss and BATTED FIRST! Unable to recover from this, Monty’s Men could only manage 9/123 and STC chased the target down for the loss of only two wickets, handing our 2s the first loss of the summer.
Excused from our poor performance were Lou Burstin, who made a gritty 34 as wickets fell around him, James Allen (25) and Monty (15no), along with Joel Clark (1/23 off 8) and Pablo (1/32 off 7).
CHICKEN: Louis B’s mature knock gets him the chicken
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Monty’s first-ball bomb that (I’m told) would have been six on the MCG is the KHM, although it was nearly matched by a six off Monty’s own bowling that nearly hit his car .
MEN’S 6TH XI versus Glen Waverley Sunday at Brentwood: WE WUZ ROBBED!*
As a Footscray fan, I really hate Greater Western Sydney, but if there’s one GWS I hate even more, it’s Glen Waverley Sunday. Why are we forced to play them on a Sunday in a Saturday comp?! And on a day when we can’t field a full-strength side because half of them a playing vets?!?!
This is just plain wrong.
Anyway, Billy’s Boys did what they could to make the best of a grossly unfair situation to cobble together a team and a score of 9/63, Well batted Brother (15) and Henry Sundram (11) and to the whole team for getting through the full 35 overs against the odds.
GWS passed us two down despite good bowling from Max Sundram (1/8 off 3) and Tiny Tim Smith (1/7 off 2)
CHICKEN: I’m giving the chicken to Billy who continues to do a great job as captain in very difficult circumstances with his team changing dramatically almost every week. I know Billy felt bad about Sunday’s loss but Billy, you have a magnificent leader and mentor all year.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: The Killer Hiller Moment goes to whoever dictated that we had to play a Saturday comp game on a Sunday when our two vets sides were also playing. Whoever you are, you’re killing us!
*These opinions are my own and may not necessarily reflect those of the club (although I hope they do).
MEN’S 4TH XI versus ST PAUL’S at Fairlea East: NOT GETTING THE GETTABLE
Gazza’s Gutsy** Guys bowled first and restricted St Paul’s to 9/195 off 40 overs, a gettable total on Fairlea East, according to Gaz. Excellent bowling from Action (3/39 off 8), Toughie (1/33 off 8), Naj (1/26 off 5) and Roadie (2/33 off 5).
Excellent batting also from Roadie (47), Action (23) and Empty (23), but we did not in fact get the gettable, dismissed for 172.
CHICKEN: A very special chicken this week. It goes to Andrew “Empty” Lanning, who played his 450TH CLUB MATCH ON SATURDAY. That is an amazing feat of talent, endurance and loyalty.
Well done and thanks, Empty. SOMEBODY REFILL HIS GLASS!
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Empty walking onto the oval for his 450th.
**May or may not refer to the size of their waistlines
THE TOM BELLIS AWARD
Yes, he might have been playing for the enemy (Edinburgh) on Sunday but on Saturday he was one of us, leading the 5s to victory with 91 not out. Well done SIMON JACKSON!