December 4/5 at the Hill
More fine and mild weather allowed the Hillers to get a full weekend of Men’s, Women’s and “Older Gentlemen’s Cricket” in on the first weekend in December. Overall we managed three wins and a tie, with The Pres and Worthy continuing their fine form with the bat and the Twos making a mess of another opponent.
WOMEN’S 1s versus COBURG at Hallam Reserve — A TIE FOR THE AGES!
Match report by Izzy and Rex
After a stop-start beginning to the season, Round 4 saw the senior women’s 1st XI playing just our second game of the summer. Losing the toss (again, well done Rex) Coburg sent us in to bat on a fairly green turf wicket that had what could only be described as craters at each crease. Izzy and Rex got off to a strong start, finding the boundary and making the most of byes off Coburg’s quick openers. Unfortunately, it was cut short with Izzy misjudging a ball that cleaned up her stumps.
At 1/23, and with Rach still waiting on the delivery of her cricket shoes, a re-arrangement of the order was required and Ashleigh Murdoch came in at 3. Unfortunately her innings was cut short by the same bowler (who ended up bagging 5 for the day, by the way), finding herself stuck in front of her wicket. With still no sign of The Shoes, Rach soldiered on and joined Rex at the crease. The partnership was not to be, with Rex getting bowled having made a top-scoring 10.
In her debut game for the 1s, Laila Rae joined Rach out in the middle where the two dug in to put the score at 3/35 before Rach fell victim to another good ball from Coburg’s opener. She departed to greet her shoes on the sidelines, ready for the second innings! Unfortunately the loss of another three wickets for just nine runs saw the team staring down the barrel of a lean total.
Enter our two junior superstars, both named this week for their respective ECA representative sides, Emily Costigan (also on debut for the 1s) and Rebecca ‘Junior’ Nolan. The two young guns were determined to steady the ship, seeing out 12 overs together and ticking over the scoreboard with a number of well-run singles and Em finding the boundary. In an effort to keep the runs ticking, unfortunately Em was run out for a hard-earned 6 and partnership involvement in adding 20 runs to the total.
With only 10 players on our list for the day our injured trooper, Trouper, joined Junior at the crease. The two made sure the tail continued to wag, seeing off another 5 overs and adding a very important 12 runs to the final tally. The innings came to a close in the 28th over with Trouper dismissed LBW by Coburg’s opener. Junior finding herself unbeaten on a very patient and measured 9 not out.
After posting a total of 72, the team was feeling down but not out. Drawing on last season’s bowling efforts for inspiration, our enthusiastic captain reminded the group that our bowling and fielding is good enough to defend the score. With Izzy donning child-sized gloves and batting pads behind the stumps (her keeping debut!), Hannah ‘Handsy’ Watson took the new ball and resumed her regular programming of immaculate line and length. With only 10 players, our field was tested, but with Hannah Gray at mid-wicket and Em running the boundary, we did our best to plug the gaps. Despite this, Coburg’s openers got off to a flying start with their openers finding the boundary and their way to 41 without loss after 8 overs.
After a change of ends, Ash struck the batter’s pads to snare Coburg’s opener LBW, claiming her first wicket for the club! With our energy up, the entire bowling unit found another gear to put the pressure back on Coburg. In the following over, Emily built pressure with the dots, breaking through with a wicket-maiden to dismiss Coburg’s other opener. With two new batters at the crease, Ash and Em continued to dominate, with Em knocking over the stumps to take her second wicket of the day.
As each wicket fell, the message remained the same and belief grew: we were still in this game. After a change of ends, Handsy joined the wicket-taking party, clean bowling a potentially damaging batter and leaving Coburg 4/52. Next over Rex joined the party, claiming two wickets for just one run. Coburg 6/54.
Having taken six wickets for 13 runs, The Hill were up and about. A clever run out by Emily capped off her day, before Ash claimed her second wicket with a great catch taken by Laila, her first for the club. Coburg 8/69.
Noting that less wickets than runs were required, Izzy was getting excited behind the stumps. Giving the bails barely a minute to settle, Handsy knocked them out of place once more with another stunning delivery. Coburg 9/70. At the start of the 24th over, Coburg were 9/72 equalling Clifton Hill’s total. Rex gave herself the ball, and you could cut the tension with a knife. None of us could quite comprehend what happened, but with the first ball of the over, Rex beat the batter and found the top of middle stump. Coburg all out for 72. Result: a tie for the ages. Up the Hill!
CHICKEN: In Bobbie’s words, “Chicken is Emily”! (Not be confused with “Emily is chicken!”
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: The Killer Hiller moment has to be the final wicket by Rex to tie the match!
MEN’S 2nd XI v STC SOUTH CAMBERWELL at RAMMO - WORTHY WINNERS!
The Twos stayed home and bowled first (another toss-win to Monty), and they did what we’ve come to expect, tearing through the opposition batters. STCSCCC were all out for 103, with the LouLou twins (Burstin, 3/26 off 7 and McGlade, 3/17 off 4) dominant. Excellent bowling too from the skipper (1/12 off 8), Joeleh (2/15 off 7.1), Lanno (0/17 off 6) and Stinger 0/15 off 6.
Our batters then battered them. Worthy and Lenny Dean (17) put on 79 and then Lou B (15 no) helped Worthy finish the job off. Worthy creamed 71 not out, to make it 162 runs in three games WITHOUT BEING DISMISSED. His season average is currently infinity — pretty hard to top.
CHICKEN: Lou B for his 3-fa and 15-not.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Wortho’s dad Marshall rode every ball of his innings with him, including coaching him through a few rash shots, all from behind the bowlers arm — and all while doing at least as many squats as Wortho made runs!
WOMEN’S 2nd XI v STC GREENVALE KANGAROOS at FAIRLEA WEST - A MEGA-COMEBACK!
Match Report by Mum
Another beautiful day for playing cricket saw the Women's Two's head to our favourite second home ground - the fairly accessible, fairly playable, fairly interesting - Fairlea West Oval. We were greeted by locked gates and facilities but quickly had that sorted with a few phone calls from our Captain Razzle and some help from the ever-present, ever reliable king of the scorers, Kingy.
I guess our difficulties began before game day and after selection, when some absences in the Ones saw three of our players elevated to their team - and a big congratulations to them!! However, this did leave us two players short and so we were stoked to welcome back, the Dame Nellie Melba or Johnny farnham (depending on your vintage) of the CHCC Women's Teams, Mega and thankfully, another of our original players, Puck (kudos to Puck who even bought the official pants for the game - maybe this means a comeback . . .).
Our Captain Razzle won her second toss in a row and elected to bat - as we had some players running late (and not me for a change!!). B2 and Razzle opened the batting and Razzle was her typical reliable and consistent self, playing patiently and seeing the team to 47 before she was caught behind for 23. Unfortunately in the meantime, we had lost B2 for 2, Catters for 0 and Georgia for 1. Nan took up Razzle's mantle and made 13, seeing the score move to 70. Heather steadied the tail with 6 well made runs, but with Mum, Di, Sim (on debut) and Mega all falling for ducks, we were left with Puck n.o. on 0 and a score of 79 to defend.
If our batting was a highlight last week, our bowling came to the fore this week. The Greenvale Kangaroos (who were our opponents btw!!) sent in their young openers and Razzle and Mum opened the bowling with their 6 overs conceding only 16 runs, we were in it! The next 6 overs bowled beautifully by Heather and Nan again only conceded 16 runs, but to our frustration, we were yet to take a wicket. The opening batters retired - it was hot, and they were a little frustrated by our bowling, and in the next 6 overs we finally managed a breakthrough - see the Killer Hiller moment for a description of mega return by Mega.
At the halfway point Greenvale were 1/48 and had we not bowled so many extras, we may have had a better chance. We did not lose heart however, and Heather and Nan bowled the next spell of 6 overs with Heather taking not only her first ever wicket, but a second too. The first, a blinding catch behind by Catters and the second a delightful close in catch by B2 (sprightly after 18 overs behind the stumps). Unfortunately, Greenvale made the required runs in the 25th over. Special mention to Georgia, Di, Puck and Sim in the field who definitely contributed to the low run-rate stopping so many shots that came their way.
Bowling figures: Razzle 7 overs 0/21, Mum 6 overs 0/18, Nan 6 overs 0/20 and Heather 6 overs 2/22
CHICKEN: Our Chicken is awarded to Heather for a great all round bowling and batting performance.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: On her return from retirement, Mega's direct hit for a runout from straight fine leg to take our first wicket is our Killer Hiller moment. She's still got it!!
love Mum xoxo
MEN’S OVER 40s v MOUNT WAVERLEY UNITING at RAMMO - OVER 40s OVER THE MOON!
The Younger Vets hosted MWU — that’s Mount Waverley Uniting, not the Manufacturing Workers Union — and batted first. Spocky led the charge with a magnificent 40 retired, backed up nicely by Ian Nolan (42 retired), Ben King (27), Benny B (19) and Harro (18). We racked up 9/192 in 36 overs, an excellent score at Rammo.
MWU pushed hard with the bat and made their way up to 8/175 bit the Over the Hillers got the win, thanks to fine bowling from Daniel “If Anybody Can” Millican (2/33), Action Man (1/23 off 6), Peakey (1/16 off 3), Spock (1/19 off 2) and Daisy (0/11 off 4).
CHICKEN: Half a chicken each to the two batting retirees Spocky and Ian!
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: When the post-match snags were ready was a pretty good moment — especially for the match reporter, who had three!
MEN’S OVER 50s versus SURREY HILLS at Surrey Hills
Match report by Ralph Saubern
Vets Over 50s suffered their first defeat in 671 days when they went down to Surrey Hills CC on Sunday by 90 odd runs. Surrey Hills won the toss and batted and came out firing. We had our chances but conceded 141 runs before the drinks break. The second half was better: we held them to 67 runs and dismissed them for 208 with a few balls of the last over remaining. Kev Moore took 4/15 off 6 overs pushing up the hill and into the wind - an outstanding effort in a high scoring innings. Wickets also to G Ellis (1/43), G Grant (1/16) and Saubern (3/31). Our fielding was excellent as usual. Plenty of highlights included three catches to P Ryan and two excellent catches behind the stumps, one to D Scott and a special one to C Harris, low down inside edge. We started well with the bat but fell away under pressure and only managed 110 all out in reply. Grant (18) and Harris (18) shared the batting honours for the day with R Hinkley (14) and A Bell (13 no) solid in the lower order.
CHICKEN: Kev Moore for another fantastic effort with the ball
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: When new recruit Paul Crowe tore a quad going for a quick single, we needed someone to go out as his runner. Up steps Billy "The human greyhound" Tsikiros! Luckily, Paul was out next ball...
MEN’S 4th XI v ST PAULS at Batesford Limestone Quarry* - BEHMER’S BOMBASTIC BURST!
The Men’s Fours headed out to Batesford Limestone Quarry* to take on St Pauls. We bowled first and new opening bowling combo Sonny and Naj (no, not Sonny and Cher) — Nathan Sonnberger (2/28 off 8) and Naj Saluwadana (1/18 off 8) — bowled an opening spell that skipper Gaz Nelson said was as good as he’s seen in years. Well done to the NS twins! Backed up by the ever-reliable Toughy (1/17 off 8) and the sometimes reliable ETAC (1/19 off 4), we held St Pauls to 5/165 in their 40 overs.
What followed next was The Cal Behmer Show. Cal blasted his way to a retired not out 50 in the blink of an eye, while Adam ‘El Presidenté’ Lewis (45) continued his fine form with the bat. Brother (Sandy Hilal, 11), Dog Scott Morgan (16) helped us to victory with heaps of overs to spare, with bowling heroes Naj (13no), and Sonny (7no) were fittingly together at the crease when the winning runs were scored.
CHICKEN: Cal’s fabulous 50 was very chickenworthy!
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Toughy jumped the fence with ease to retrieve a ball that had cleared the boundary but the return trip proved more gruelling. In his attempt to jump the fence back into the field of play, Toughy’s foot caught the fence rail and he took a tumble that would have had a million YouTube views by now if it had been caught on camera.
* Sorry, that should read “Batesford Reserve”. Batesford Limestone Quarry is where I went on a first-year uni Geology field trip in 1983.
MEN’S 1st XI v TRINITY WILLISON - A HOLLOW EXPERIENCE AT FROG HOLLOW
Ours 1s went out to Fred Ogley Hollow to take on Trinity Willison. They batted first and made 9/234, with the wicket takers Jamie Holton (2/28 off 8), Kieren Schulz (2/60 off 8), Benny Levens (1/26 off 4), Cottsy (1/37 off 4) and Malty (1/40 off 8).
234 is a big-sounding score but Frog Hollow is a small ground and it’s a gettable total. And it was looking very gettable when we reached 67 without loss in good time. Unfortunately at that point T-Rob (25) copped a second successive run-out and, after Cottsy followed for 13 at 2/84, it was collapso cricket from then on. Kyle Dundas made 19 but all other players made single figures except Ben Cap(tain)likas, who made a great 56. All out 134 to makes us 0-3 after three rounds.
We’ll turn it around in Round 4!
CHICKEN: Benny Cap’s 50 earns him a chicken. (An uncooked chicken, but Anne and/or Rob Caplikas will no doubt turn it into a sumptuous meal.)
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Malty had a bit of trouble judging a skied ball in thew swirling wind, but kept his eye on it until the end, making a superb goalkeeper-like leap to take a specky!
MEN’S 3rd XI v BURWOOD UNITING CANTEBURY at Lynden Park (Lower East) - HARD TIMES ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE
A trip to Lynden Park was in order for the Threes, and the day started well with Harro winning the toss and Tulky and Daisy putting on 16 for the opening wicket. Daisy (25) and Gaurav (9) took us to 1/41 but wickets fell too regularly after that and despite good knocks from Michael Jones (27 in his first game for 2021/22), LOC (26) and Hobbsy (27) we were all out for 146.
The better Jonesy (1/19 off 7), Daisy (1/19 off 5), AJ (1/31 off 8) and Boggle (0/10 off 5) bowled tidily but 146 proved to be too small a total to defend and BUCCCCCC passed us in the 35th over.
We’ll turn it around in Round 4! (Copied and pasted from the 1s report.)
CHICKEN: Michael Jones’s work with bat and ball gets him a chicken first-up.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: To be confirmed when Harro responds to my text.
MEN’S 5th XI v NORTHCOTE at Fairlea West — A Fairlea disappointing loss
An unexpected home loss for the Men’s 5s this week. We hosted Northcote United and Skip Skob won the toss and batted. He and Jacko opened up and put on 29 before Skobs fell for 18. Jacko went on to make 29 and Jonesy (41) continued his fine form. Daylon Seakins chimed in with a cracking 30 not out and we put together 8/148 in 35 overs at a reasonable 4.2 an over.
Despite all six of our bowlers getting amongst the wickets (Lachie Muraca 2/7 off 3, Ted Smith 1/13 off 4, Jonesy 1/15 off 6.3, Daylon 1/27, Stan 1/34, Geoff Smith 1/42) got the runs with a couple of overs to spare, inflicting the 5s first defeat of the season.
CHICKEN: Daylon Seakins did the business with bat and ball. He gets the chicken!
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: To be confirmed when Skobs responds to my text.
MEN’S 6th XI v NORTHCOTE at Fairlea East — Billy’s boys beaten
Over on the other side of the Fairlea car park, our Men’s 6s took on “Glen Waverley (Sunday)” even though it was a Saturday. We batted first and made a good 6/162 in our 35 overs. Stars of the show were Timothy Neal, who made a cracking 50 not out (retired) and Jack Speed, who clubbed 37 not out. It won’t be long before the higher grade captains will claiming a “need for Speed”.
We made a good fist of defending the total but GWS got the runs late in the piece, despite great efforts with the ball from Jack Speed (2/22 off 7) and Tim Neal (3/37 off 7) to back up their excellent batting.
A very good effort and another one for Billy’s Boys is not far away despite Saturday being a case of Glen Waverley Sunday Too Far Away. (It’s a great 1975 Aussie film — look it up!)
CHICKEN: Billy has split the chicken in half for the second week in a row. A wing and a drumstick each for Jack and Tim.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: To be confirmed when Billy ABC responds to my text.
THE TOM BELLIS AWARD: The TBA goes to Mr Infinity, MICAH WORTHINGTON, who smashed another 70 and is still yet be dismissed this season. Anyone who said he can’t hit the ball well needs to say his anagram out loud: “CAN’T HIT? OH, I’M WRONG.”