Lucky we’ve got Amy!

Only one week of the home-and-away season remains for the men, and for the women, home-and-away season has ended. But it’s definitely not the end for the Women’s 1s!

Before we get into the match reports from the weekend just gone, a late-breaking report from Rex takes us the Women’s 1s’ Round 8 win the previous weekend.

Senior WOMEN’S’s 1st XI vs Holy Trinity
Match report by Rex

Away versus Holy Trinity, second versus third, rivals of old! Skipper Rachael ‘Razzle’ Jones lost the toss and Hannah ‘Handsy’ Watson took the new ball, starting proceedings from the ‘Clifton Hill’ end of Hayes Park. Handsy and Amy ‘Wolfie’ Howell quickly settled into their line and length, ably supported by an energetic and sharp start in the field.

Whilst the Holy Trinity openers looked to settle in, runs weren’t easy to come by. After a change of ends and another couple of overs, Razzle gave the ball to Ashleigh ‘Steam Train’ Murdoch – who started with an exceptional maiden – and Maya ‘Like fire, not Mayer like John’ Harrington. It the was spell’s 4th over that saw Maya snare the breakthrough; one of Holy Trinity’s dangerous openers skyed one to the reliable hands of Isobel ‘Izzy’ Fenner.

Steam Train continued her dangerous bowling from the other end, drawing a low and flat false shot from HTCC’s number 3, which was superbly caught by young gun Annika Filips at short square leg, just millimetres from the ground. After one of a few convincing shouts for caught behind went begging, Holy Trinity’s new batter and the remaining opener dug in to add 30 runs to their total before Wolfie cleaned bowled their number 2 bat for a patient 20 runs.

Ten runs later and it was Captain Razzle with the VERY satisfying caught behind that saw the umpire’s finger up and the batter on her way. With ten overs left in the innings, we had Holy Trinity 5/91 and our bowlers and fielders looked as good as ever. Rachel ‘Greyhound’ Gray was working hard at fine leg and backward of square, while last minute call-up Kate Murphy was busy at mid-on.

Next to add to the wickets was Maya, clean bowling another dangerous batter to get her second wicket for the day. A couple of overs later, Izzy joined the bowling line up. With dot ball pressure building, Holy Trinity risked running two on Steam Train’s arm at third, who combined with some VERY tidy glovework from Hannah ‘HG’ Gray to complete a slick run out. Two runs later, Handsy joined the wicket takers with a catch taken by Lauren ‘Rex’ Chester at short mid-wicket.

With only five overs left, Handsy and Wolfie maintained the pressure with tight bowling that was again supported by alert and energetic fielding. Desperate for runs, Holy Trinity elected to run on a shot played directly to Maya at cover who had no trouble returning the ball straight to HG to complete another run out. The next over proved to be the last, with Handsy rounding out the innings with another wicket bowled as well as tenth (though some would argue the twelfth…) wicket caught by Steam Train’s safe hands at mid-on. HTCC all out for 125 in the 35th over.

Our chase didn’t start too well, but without DRS to prove the gap between bat and ball, Handsy departed early bringing Razzle to join Maya at the crease. The pair put on a solid 29 run partnership, before Maya scooped one to mid-off for a handy 12 runs. Izzy joined the skipper at the crease, hungry for runs and boy, did she feast. Razzle and Izzy built a steady and balanced partnership, with consistent rotation of the strike and powerful hitting around the ground to keep the run rate ticking over. At the halfway mark, we were almost exactly halfway to the target – 3/64.

Following drinks, the pair settled in and the score continued to climb. It wasn’t long until Izzy raised her bat, thanks to a T20-esque performance – it was pretty quick! A combination of technical batting and brute force saw Izzy and Razzle put on a total partnership of 65 runs before the captain was bowled for 21. Having joined our chase just 6 runs in, Razzle’s innings took us through to 3/100, in a composed and confident display of batting.

Steam Train joined Izzy in the middle, immediately working to rotate the strike and allow Izzy to continue to pick up runs all around the ground. In the 27th over, Izzy hit a lovely four to complete our chase, finishing with a new high score of 67*. The win also saw our Women’s 1st XI secure a top four finish, with just one more regular season game to be played.

CHICKEN: BOG was Izzy for her efforts with the bat!

Special mention to Laila who came down to support the team and stood in as square leg for our batting innings.

WOMEN’S 2nd XI vs MELTON CENTRALS at Blackwood Drive Reserve

No official match report yet, so here’s some temporary SMALLER CONTENT, which is an anagram of MELTON CENTRALS:

Melton Centrals made 1/225 and we made 7/174. Sherin Breed 50no, ‘Nan’ Aldridge 45, ‘Mum’ Drake-Bemelmans 1/16.

MEN’S 5th XI vs the SALVOS at Arfur Daley Oval: DÉJÀ VU

The 5s played out a script almost identical to the week before, with a slight change of personnel.

We batted the full 35 overs and made 127 (last week 125) with opener Jim Entwisle making hos traditional 50 (last week it was Jonesy making his traditional 50) with Greg Ellis second-top scoring with 30 (last week it was me with 16 not out, but you know, I would have made 30 too, given time).

The Salvos chased down the target in 12 overs for the loss of one wicket (last week they did in 10 overs for the loss of one wicket.

CHICKEN: Jim Entwisle turns up for the odd game in the 5s each season and makes 50. He did it again this week and he gets the chicken.

MEN’S 3rd XI vs BLACKBURN NORTH UNITED at Fairlea West

The 3s first and last game at Fairlea for 2022-23 has not started well. On day 1 we were knocked over for 84 and BNU closed out the day on 6/210. Not the greatest of days but there were some efforts worth noting, including Benny B’s 36 and Will Crombie’s 23, good bowling from Auley (1/17 off 9) and debutant Patrick Barry (2/21) plus three wickets in three overs (all bowled) from Geoff Smith to close out the day.

MEN’S 2nd XI vs WEST IVANHOE UNITED at Seddon Reserve

The 2s spent the full 80 overs in the field but ended the day in a good position, restricting West Ivanhoe United to 8/177. Our cruel stand-in captain Nails made the oldest man on the field bowl the most overs, but that’s just how Daisy likes it. He took 4/57 off his 23 overs, which included an incredible spell of 18 STRAIGHT OVERS after tea! Lanno took 1/11 off 9, Joel 1/16 off 8, Kieran 1/22 off 10 and the other M Jones 1/29 off 13. No wickets but great bowling nonetheless from Stan K (0/7 off 7) Jesse Parlane (0/16 off 7).

Well done, boys. Back it up with the bat this week!

Senior WOMEN'’s 1st XI vs FRANKSTON
Match report by Rex

Blue skies, Pride celebration, Semi final locked in! It was party time at the Hill. To cap it off, a last minute scratching saw Claire ‘Trouper’ Williamson respond to the call out for an 11th player… it just so happened to be her 50th game. Congratulations on an outstanding time at the Hill, Troups! We are all the better for it.

To mark the occasion, both teams came together before the game and gathered around while Captain Rachael ‘Razzle’ Jones gave a wonderful acknowledgement of Country and welcomed all to our second Pride game for the season.

We won the toss, and once again it was Hannah ‘Handsy’ Watson with the new ball from the City End to commence proceedings with a very tidy maiden. Next, Amy ‘Wolfie’ Howell took the ball and continued in the same vein. After twelve dot balls it was Handsy in the third over with our first breakthrough, clean bowling one of Frankston’s openers in what became a wicket maiden. By the end of the fifth over, and with just two runs on the board for the opposition, Handsy snared batter number 3 with a sharp catch from Isobel ‘Izzy’ Fenner at full stretch over her head. Frankston 2/2.

A change of ends and a couple of overs saw Wolfie dismiss the remaining opener, once again thanks to some quick reflexes from Izzy in close, who was rewarded with an instant bruise for her efforts. Frankston 3/12 and our opening bowlers absolutely on point, with the exception of just the final ball of each of Handsy and Wolfie’s spells, from which one of Frankston’s most damaging batters got the upper hand, stealing a six and a four before we adjusted the field.

A change of bowlers saw Emily ‘Dominos’ Costigan and Ashleigh ‘Steam Train’ Murdoch enter the mix, and it wasn’t long until Steam Train knocked over the stumps. Frankston 4/20. The following over Dominoes followed Steam Train’s lead, sending the stumps flying to dismiss the newest batter for duck. Frankston 5/21. Meanwhile, some effective field placements kept the in-form hitter at the non-striker’s end for the majority of their time in the middle, only adding two more singles to their tally in four overs.

Another change of ends and Handsy took the ball once more. Not forgetting the big hitter had carted her for six on the last ball of her previous spell, Handsy sent the stumps flying first ball to dismiss the batter for 12. Frankston 6/22. Handsy another wicket maiden.

With a handful more overs before drinks, Captain Razzle joined Steam Train and Izzy for a few overs, and our fielders continued to work hard, with superb efforts yet again from Annika Filips, Rachel ‘Greyhound’ Gray and Hannah ‘HG’ Gray.

With 18 overs completed, we took drinks with Frankston at 6/38 and then Razzle and Dominos resumed proceedings. The pair gave away just two singles in six overs that included four maidens, with one pesky quick ball from Dominos eluding HG for byes. Another change of ends saw Izzy join Razzle to continue the theme, with just one run given away, and another three maidens bowled. With eight overs left, and the opposition sitting on 6/45, Razzle threw Handsy and Wolfie the ball once more to finish things off. Eight overs later and the pair conceded just four singles, bowling four maidens as well as a lovely wicket maiden from Wolfie in the 35th - cleaned bowled, of course.

After 36 overs: Frankston 7/49. Handsy 3/11 off 9 with 5 maidens including two wicket maidens. Wolfie 2/8 off 9 with 5 maidens including one wicket maiden. Dominoes 1/3 off 5 with 3 maidens. Steam Train 1/6 off 4. Razzle 0/6 off 6 with two maidens. Izzy 0/0 off 3 maidens. CHCC a total of 17 maidens.

After a colourful Pride-inspired afternoon tea (special mention to Steam Train for the rainbow layer cake!), Handsy and Razzle opened the batting for the Hill. Some flighted and off-pace bowling made it challenging for our openers to settle in. Handsy unfortunately came undone first, caught behind before Razzle mishit one square of the wicket in the next over. Five overs into our chase, CHCC 2/9.

Keen to pick up where she left off last week, Izzy took centre and very quickly set about finding the gaps and the boundary to keep our run rate ticking over. With some excellent running and support from Steam Train, who worked steadily to keep Izzy on strike, the pair quickly chased the runs in entertaining fashion. Seven fours and another well rounded wagon wheel of shots later, Izzy and Steam Train made the required 50 runs and both finished not out – Steam Train 4* and Izzy 38*.

Although a semi final berth had been secured before the game, a win confirmed second place on the ladder and therefore a home semi final next Sunday 5th March, 1pm Rammo vs Parkfield. Up the Hill!

CHICKEN: BOG – Tie between Handsy, Wolfie and Izzy in another comprehensive team performance.

MEN’S 1st XI vs DEEPDENE UNITING at Rammo

The 1s were staring down the barrel halfway through Saturday arvo against Deepdene. The ladder leaders were 3/128 with Harf seemingly on his way to a ton. But in an inspired move, Captain Caplikas brought on… himself! And the skipper did not let anyone down, grabbing 3/16 off 10 to turn the game on its head.

With Jim Wright (4/29) also starring, Deepdene collapsed to 167 all out. At stumps we are 1/20 and 148 runs away from a win and the possibility of a home semi if Trinity Willison does the right thing as loses.

MEN’S 4th XI vs MANNINGHAM at Rieschiecks Reserve: WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

Last week we smashed Manningham, this week Manningham smashed us. And so the cosmic ballet continues…

We made 109 and they passed us three down. Highlights were few but well done to Jacko who carried his bat for 32 not out, E,mpty (28 and 0/19 off 7) Speedy (2/19 off 4) and Roadie (0/17 off 7).

CHICKEN: Jacko, for opening the batting and being still there at the end.