What a difference a day makes!

There’s a song, an old standard, written way back in the 1930s (and covered by Jeff Burstin’s very own Black Sorrows on their debut album Sonola in 1984) called, ‘What a Difference a Day Makes’.

Well that song sums out perfectly what happened at the Hill on the weekend. A day of losses on Saturday was followed the next day by a pair of brilliant wins, including one that will live long in the memories of those lucky enough to witness it.

Saturday

It was a case of three men’s games and three losses on Saturday, with the 1s, 2s and 3s all striking out.

Strike 1

The 1s headed out to Southern Reserve and things did indeed go south as soon as we got there. We were skittled for 76, with Hugh (12), Cottsy (15) and Lou ‘Son of Jeff’ Burstin (13) the only batters to make double figures. (Extras did too, with 10.)

St Pauls passed us 2 down with Cottsy and Stinga each snaring one wicket.

CHICKEN: By order of Captain Caplikas, NO CHICKEN.

Strike 2

The 2s stayed home and also went nowhere in terms of getting a win. Chasing 9/165 we made 112. Like the 1s, only three batters – Lachie Muraca (31), Harro (17) and Joel Clark (14) and extras made it to double figures.

Bowling-wise, stand-in skipper Nails was the pick, with 3/35 off 8, well supported by Daisy (0/13 off 8), Auley Brown (1/12 off 4) and Zaj (1/21 off 6).

CHICKEN: An excellent mature innings from Lachie Muraca earns him the chicken.

Strike 3

The 3s home game became an away game (again) and Trinity Willison put our bowlers to the sword, piling on 8/288 in 40 overs despite the best efforts of Action Man (2/32 off 7) and Naj (1/25 off 8).

Our chase yielded only 106, but we did last the 40 overs, thanks to Ian Nolan (33), Suvra ‘Man of the World’ Mondal (23), Sonny (17) and Skobs (10).

CHICKEN: Ian Nolan’s 33 and two good overs (0/11) was worthy of a chicken.

Three strikes and out of luck for all three sides on Saturday, so let’s move straight on to…

Sunday

CHCC 2nd XI vs Toorak-Prahran at Rammo

The 2s stayed home on Sunday but got a very different result. We blasted TPCC out for 57 and passed them none down, with the Ho brothers, Jesse HOdge (32no) and WortHO (22no), doing the job.

Their job was made easy by the bowling brilliance of Daisy (4/10 off 8), A Lanno Junior (2/20 off 8), Nails (1/4 off 6). Auley Brown (1/3 off 3), Lachie Smith (1/5 off 0.4) and Joel Clark (0/11 off 4).

CHICKEN: It’s gotta be Daisy.

CHCC 1st XI vs Toorak-Prahran at Orrong Park

It could have turned out very Orrong but it turned out oh so right for the 1s on Sunday. We bowled first and and TPCC started off with a flourish, making it to 73 without losing a wicket. But they fell regularly after that, thanks to Finlay Ward (3/22 off 7), Stinga Barrett (3/39 off 8) and Cottsy (2/24 off 8), and TPCC’s final total was a gettable 9/179.

Gettable it was, but despite the efforts of Malty (30), Finn Peake (17) and Lou B (14), we found ourselves 9/134 and on the edge of defeat.

That’s when Wardi joined Cottsy at the crease. And the pair of them knuckled down and set about turning the game around. And they did, in the most magnificent way possible. Wardi? He made 2 not out, proving that batting is all about PARTNERSHIPS. Wardi stuck fast in his support of the man at the other end, Stephen J Cotter.

While Wardi held up an end, Cottsy — 62 NOT OUT — reeled off the runs. On the last bowl of the match, with scores level, Cottsy creamed one for four to give the Hillers one of the ALL-TIME GREAT WINS at the club.

Ex-pres Scott Morgan said, “Cotzy's innings was pure class. I felt privileged being able to see it.”

Nobody would disagree with that assessment.

The last-wicket pair’s efforts with ball and bat earn Wardi the CHICKEN and the

TOM BELLIS AWARD

…goes to Cottsy!!!!

Well done Hillers!