Round 1 at the Hill
Well what an off-season and pre-season we’ve had! No one could have predicted what we’d all go through when the 2019-20 season came to a close. But we’ve made it through and thanks to the work of many fine people the 2020-21 season has begun at last. The opening round gave us a mixed bag of results but there are plenty of positive signs for a fine summer of cricket at the Hill!
Women’s 1st XI
The women’s 1st XI have moved up a level to a higher division (WCCC North West A) this summer and Bek Drake reports that we was kicked off the new era with a strong win. The Hillers started in the field- and were very consistent, having the oppositon at 2/39 after 10 overs, before they finished on 3/80 at the end of the 20. Hannah Watson was pick of the bowlers, finishing with 2/7 off 4, including a wicket maiden in her last over. Junior (Bec Nolan) also bowled well, taking 0/14 off 4 and also a superb catch.
Amy Howell, Trouper (Claire Williamson) and Lauren Chester did well bowling into a strong wind and the Catters sisters were fantastic in the field, in Sarah’s first game in the 1st XI and Bec’s first game for the Hillers. After bowling well, Izzy Fenner (34) and Lauren Chester (22) started well with the bat. Special congratulations on Lauren for her debut for the Hillers! At the 10-over mark, we were cruising at 1/62. Trouper (13*) and Charlotte (6*) finished it well for the Hillers, especially after Charlotte had kept well in her first game in the 1st XI. After playing smart cricket, we finished it with a 4 off Charlotte in the 15th over to finish at 2/82.
Thanks for that report, Bek, and well done Hillers!
Women’s 2nds XI - aka The Hillsters
Not to be outdone the Hillsters also began the season with a win! St Anthony’s won the toss and elected to bat first, finishing on 2/99 off their 20 overs. Mum took a spectacular one-handed catch to give Jessica Aldridge (Nanna) her first wicket! Special mention to Violet Peake (Jnr) playing her first game for the Senior Women, who went for just 10 runs off her 4 overs. Clifton Hill (2) clocked up the 101 needed to win the 19th over with Bec Troon carrying her bat for a 43 not out.
Well done Hillsters!
Men’s 1st XI
The men’s 1s went out to Hislop Park to face Deepdene Uniting and were sent into bat after losing the toss. Before our innings began someone said out loud, “How good would it be if we started the innings off with 4, 4, 4…!” Unfortunately our batters misinterpreted this and before long we were 4 for 4!
Fortunately Matty Lynas and Dan O’Connor righted the ship and carried us through to a respectable score of 125 off our 40 overs. Malty made a magnificent 55 while DOC chipped in with 37.
Our bowlers did a pretty good job with the ball but 120, while respectable, was bot enough, and Deepdene ran down the target in the 34th over. Eamonn Scott did a great job, taking 2/24 off his eight overs, while Nick Zajac (1/14 off 2.3), Matt Lynas (2/21 off 8) were also excellent.
Bad luck boys, better times are not far away!
Men’s 2nd XI
Things might be different this summer but that did not prevent a familiar story being told for the Men’s 2nd XI. Monty won the toss and bowled, something Paul ‘Chuck’ Connors would have counselled strongly against. In fact the only thing that stops Chuck from turning in his grave every time Monty wins the toss and bowls is the fact that he is still very much alive.
As it turned out, Monty was able to back up his call with some great bowling. He took 3/21 off his eight overs as we restricted Malvern Valley to just 90. Finley Ward (2/14 off 6.3), Matthew Sale (2/15 off 6) and Matty “Mister” Tulk (1/11 off 4) all backed up Monty beautifully with the ball.
Chasing just 91 to win we were cruising at 2/73 but got into a spot of bother before reaching the target seven down. Worthy (Micah Worthington) made 44 and Millsy (Stan Mills) made 22 to set the win up. Matthew Sale did not bat, but he will no doubt make 100 when he does, allowing me to run the headline, “SALE OF THE CENTURY!”
Men’s 4th XI
With regular skipper Garry Nelson unavailable for the first couple of weeks, Scotty ‘Dog’ Morgan took on the captaincy and handled his role and his team with aplomb. Winning the toss, Dog chose to bat first and Geoff Smith and Ian Roadnight got us off to a solid start. Geoff fell for 4 but then ‘Roadie’ and Luke Ryan took the score to 48 before ‘Rhino’ decided to pay tribute to COVID by going out for 19.
Fab Cardin emulated Geoff by making 4 before he was dodgily given out LBW by Ralph. Roadie was then joined by Jarrod Tough, a late inclusion, and the pair ramped up the run rate. Roadie sacrificed his wicket chasing runs, finishing with a fine 36 while Toughie was at his belligirent best, cracking 44 not out to take us to 7/136.
Andrew ‘Tangles’ Gigacz (0/29) somehow defied crippled knees to get through eight overs, while young (by 4th XI standards) Lachie Elmore bowled beautifully at the other end, taking 1/17 off his eight overs to set the game up for Roadie, Toughie and Andrew ‘Empty’ Lanning to ram home the advantage. Toughie took 2/23 off 8 and Roadie 1/19 off 6 but old man Empty was the superstar, taking 3/6 off 8!
Great win by the 4s and if Dog can lead us to victory again next week, Gaz Nelson might not ever get the captaincy back.
Men’s 3rd XI
Not such a good start for the 3s at Fairlea West against Boroondara. Brett ‘Harro’ Harrison lost the toss and Boroondara batted first, making 9/172 in their 40 overs. Jesse ‘Nails’ Parlane (3/20 off 8) and Joel Clark (2/21 off 8) were the pick of the bowlers, along with Declan Niere (0/17 off 8).
While 172 was a gettable score our batters did not fire at all and we were rolled for 106. Liam O’Connor (42) and Adrian ‘Action Man’ Bielenberg (26) batted well, but had no other support. A disappointing loss, but we will get better!
Men’s 5th XI
The Fives batted first after skipper Simon Skoblar (try saying that fast five times in a row) won the toss, and Mark ‘Jonesy’* Jones led the way with a magnificent 57, backed up well by Pat Malone (26), Simon Jackson (18) and Hugo Northrop (14) as we put together a competitive total of 7/123.
It wasn’t quite enough, and Glen Iris passed us 7 down with several overs to spare, but there were some great bowling performances from Gilly Northrop (2/6 off 1.3), Simon Jackson (2/21 off 5) and Stanton Kroetner (1/10 off 7).
No win but we’re not far away!
*How do we keep coming up with these great nicknames!?
Round 2
Hopefully we’ll get all six men’s sides up this week. Track down a friend and bring them down (or should that be up?) to the Hill!
Cheers
Gigs (Andrew Gigacz)