When the going gets Tough…
The Men’s and Women’s 1s both got the W this week, and in the 4s, when the going got tough, Toughie got going — first with the ball and then with the bat.
MEN’S 1ST XI versus BOROONDARA at Victoria Road Reserve: T-ROB AND STINGA BEAT THE CLUB RUN BY BINGA
We took a trip out to Victoria Rd Reserve to take on Boroondara, who had given us a bit of a lesson at Rammo in Round 4. BenCap won the toss and batted and Clifton Hill’s most reliable top-order batter — no, NOT Steve Cotter (you’ve been usurped, Cottsy) — Stinga Barrett did what he has become renowned for doing, which is make a score of around 50. This time it was 48, and with back-up from T-Rob (53), the skipper (34) and Hugh (25) we compiled an excellent 8/207.
Then our most reliable bowler — this time it’s you Cottsy (although Finley Ward says hello) — Steve Cotter took 4/24 to tear the heart out of the Boroondara innings. Kieren (2/9 off 5.5) and Wardi (1/19 off 8) also bowled beautifully. BCC all out 127 for the win!
CHICKEN T-ROB CLEAN WITH GLOVE
CHICKEN: Even though he dug our batting out of a huge (I said huge, not Hugh) hole, Ingham gets no chicken. T-Rob gets it for his 560 and fine glove work.
KILLER HILLER ANAGRAM: No Killer Hiller Moment for the 1s, especially not Malty’s golden duck. Instead, I’ll just point out that even though he likes LBWs when he’s bowling, when MATTHEW LYNAS BATS it’s the opposite, and MATT HATES ANY LBWS.
MEN’S 6TH XI versus MANNINGHAM at Rieschiecks Reserve: EIGHT IS ENOUGH
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Billy and his boys but he continues to lead with aplomb, even as he regales others with stories of his inappropriate behaviour in the ‘80s.
With only 8 players on board at the start of the match, we made a good fist of our batting, led by Suvra, who made his first 50 for the club, and backed up by Raghu (39) and Hugo (23) to finish on 6/150.
We had 10 on the field when it was our turn to bowl, and Manningham passed us 2 down. Well bowled Max Sundram (1/33 off 7) and Dax Isaac (1/35 off 7).
A pretty good effort in trying circumstances.
CHICKEN: Suvra! Well batted mate.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: A classic catch by Daylon Seakin, after a full stretch slide and dive. Degree of difficulty: 9.5
MEN’S 2ND XI versus MONASH at Rammo: SQUEAKY BUM TIME
After our first loss of the season last week, the 2s made a pretty good effort of making it 2 from 2 but we got there in the end. Normal transmission resumed and we bowled first, restricting Manningam to 8/148, although we got whacked all over the park early doors. The spinners (Jonesy 2/15 off 6, Pablo 1/23 off 8) turned it all around and then Joel Clark chipped in with 3/19. James Allen kept magificently, claiming three stumpings including one of Joel who was clocked at bowling 136km/h*.
Wortho (21) and Lenny Dean (36) got the chase off to a good start and then Jake Castelow (53) took the bull by the horns (not a bad effort when you’re holding a bat) to set up the win, along with Jonesy (10no) who kept his head as the wickets began to tumble.
We got home with three wickets and an over to spare.
*I might have just made that up, but he’s not slow
LANNO TWO PROPER SHOTS 2 2S WON THE GVAME
CHICKEN: With the initials JC, he was our batting saviour. Chicken to Jake Castelow.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: He got carved up when bowling, unusually, but Az Lanning did the business with the bat, playing two classical batters shots for two runs each to seal the win.
MEN’S 5TH XI versus MAZENOD at Fairlea West: YOU CAN’T GO HOME AGAIN
Having already played Mazenod three times this season — all three times away and all three times wins to us — we played them again. This time it was at home but we would have preferred it to be away because we lost.
They batted first and made 8/217 in spite of great bowling by Stan (3/31), Lachie Muraca (3/26) and Geoff Smith (2/21). It was a good score but still gettable. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of Jonesy (60no), Stan (54), Jacko (38) and a quickfire 17no from Lachie, we fell eight runs short
CHICKEN: Jonesy’s 60 not out earned him the nod.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: The Killer Hiller Moment was us actually taking the field against Mazenod on real grass (or perhaps more accurately for Fairlea, hay). Can we go back to playing them on their synthetic ground please!
WOMEN’S 2ND XI versus HOPPERS CROSSING at Fairlea West: SILVER MEDAL
It was back to Fairlea on Sunday for the Twos, as we hosted Hoppers Crossing at this salubrious venue. Captain Razzle won the toss and we were batting first. We had a team of 10 players which was a vast improvement on the previous week's 8! Although the weather was warm, there were some lovely clouds keeping the temperature down. Our opening partnership of Razzle and B2 got off to a great start until B2 was just run out for 4 (a lesson in grounding the bat was learned by all) and the score was 14.
B-Cat, fresh off a brilliant 47, went from choccies to boiled lollies this week with a rush of blood that saw her bowled for a : 2-15. Vo Vo entered the fray and she and Razzle put on a mere 6 runs before she lobbed a catch and was out for 1: 3-21. Nellie then loped to the middle and along with Razzle put on a 10 run partnership when Razzle again fell victim to a very, very dubious LBW - out for 19 and the score was 4-31. We then lost 2 quick wickets with Nellie falling for 5 and Georgia for a duck. The score was 6-35 in the 11th over.
Mum came to the wicket and along with Heather, decided to treat the innings as batting practice - not focussing on making runs, but trying to bat out as many overs as possible. With the Hoppers' wicket keeper not quite on her game, there were ample opportunities for byes, and Mum and Heather ran some and delightfully accepted some boundaries, even scoring a couple of their own. They managed to move the score to 58 when Heather was bowled for 6 in the 17th over. Di came in and was unfortunately run out without an addition to the score.
This brought Nan to the crease, batting left handed! We think the confusion of having a Mum and a Nan in the middle helped to lift the score, and even though Hoppers brought on their opening bowlers, the matriarchy managed to lift the score by another 19 runs (again many byes) before Nan was bowled for 0 in the 23rd over. Mum remained not out on 6 and our total to defend was 77.
Although it wasn't a huge total, we had the runs on the board and we knew our opening bowlers would set the tone. In the first 6 overs, both Razzle and Nan took a wicket and Hoppers were 2/21. Razzle and Nan continued their spell and another wicket fell to Razzle. Finally the LBW gods were smiling on her as both dismissals were adjudged LBW.
At the end of 12 overs the score was 3/38. Nellie and Mum bowled the next spell but unfortunately the batters were very patient, and didn't offer a chance. At the end of 18 the score was 3/61. Razzle and Nan returned to bowl but in the 20th over, Hoppers overtook our score to be 3/78. Our fielding was excellent with a special mention to B-Cats for many boundary saving slides - putting her soccer defensive tackle skills on display.
Bowling figures: Razzle 2/28 off 7; Nan 1/28 off 7; Mum 0/13 off 3 and Nellie 0/8 off 3.
CHICKEN: The chicken is awarded to Razzle for a great Captain's performance with both bat and ball
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: It has to be Nan's batting - left handed with a fractured finger and managing to stay in for 6 overs and make a partnership of 19 runs.
MEN’S 3RD XI versus TRINITY WILLISON at Willison West Oval: DAISY’S DOOZIES
Speaking of tough afternoons, the Men’s 3s have had a few lately, and last Saturday was another one. After T-W got off to a flyer our bowlers did a great job in restricting them to 165. Daisy Mobilia was a star, taking 4/13 off 6.1, while Chiky (2/27 off 7), Nails (2/31 off 8) and Action Man (1/39 off 8) also bowled well.
The chase started well enough and we reached 1/40 but it was a slippery slope from there as we slipped to 103 all out. Jesse Viney and Jack Speed each got 17, Lachie Smith got 13 and J-Ho made 11.
CHICKEN: Daisy’s stand-out bowling gets him nod.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: A special moment for J-Ho, aka Jesse Hodge, who played his 200th game for the Hillers. Well done, J-Ho, Here’s to at least 200 more!
MEN’S 4TH XI versus AYC HARLEQUINS at Fairle East: TOUGHIE GETS GOING!
Remember that song by Billy Ocean, “When the Going Gets Tough”? I never liked it but the backing vocals as the song fades out have always been a favourite because I swear they are singing “GO AND GET STUFFED” and not “goin’ gets tough”.
What does that have to do with the 4ths playing AYC Harlequins? Nothing, so I’ll stop talking about Billy Ocean and talk about Saturday’s game.
The Harlequin Globetrotters (AYC) batted first and racked up a score of 138. It was a reasonable score that could have been a lot higher if not for one man: JARROD TOUGH. Toughie rounded off AYC’s innings with a HAT-TRICK and finished with 5/24. Other good bowling performances came from Naj (2/16 off 8), Captain Jack (1/25 off 7), Ted Wearn-Jarvis (0/18 off 6) and — maybe not so much — Empty, who took two wickets but got hit for SIX SIXES!
Our batters made a pretty good fist of messing up the chase, slipping to 5/39 but Brother (48no), Empty (24) ands THAT MAN TOUGHIE (30no) saved the day as we passed them six down with eight overs to spare.
Anyone who thought Toughie was past it can GO AND GET STUFFED!
CHICKEN: The skipper, Gaz Nelson, playing his 250th match, gets the poultry for being a great player, skipper, administrator, sign-writer and all-round good bloke!
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Need you ask, Toughie’s hat-trick ball with the stumps flying in all directions. (Not sure if they actually did, but it was definitely bowled.)
WOMEN’S 1ST XI versus Melbourne Uni at Rammo: FINALS BOUND!
On another warm day at Rammo, we lost the toss to Melbourne Uni and were again sent in to bat. A shake-up saw Lauren "Rex" Chester and Hannah "Handsy" Watson as our openers. Rex got off the mark with a four, but unfortunately was bowled out not long after for five. Taryn "Fred" Heddo came to the crease and looked confident with Handsy. They were both finding the gaps for singles, before the wind held one up for Fred and she was caught for seven.
Ash "Steam Train" Murdoch came to the crease and with her current form we were feeling confident. Her running with Handsy was sensational, before Handsy was bowled for 10, playing her role as opener perfectly. Isobel "Izzy" Fenner came to the crease and we were all quietly excited from the sidelines to see two of our biggest hitters in the middle. They both lived up to expectation, running the singles well but also hitting some big boundaries.
Izzy was noting pre-match that she was disappointed she had not scored a six for the season. She quickly rectified that, hitting not one, but TWO massive sixes. It was hot in the middle and Izzy decided that was her cue to hit big. It did work for a little while, until she was bowled for 39. The partnership between Izzy and Steam Train was simply sensational, putting on 76 runs together.
Rebecca "Junior" Nolan then came to the crease and was running beautifully, with Steam Train showing no signs of slowing down. Unfortunately, Junior felt a twinge in the hammy and had to retire for a quick fire nine. Rachel "Greyhound" Gray came to the middle with an over to go and did her trademark quick running with Steam Train to finish with a flurry. Greyhound ended up on two not out, with Steam Train finishing on a marvelous (albeit slightly frustrating) 49*. We finished with a total of 4/145.
The wind was blowing in a different direction to usual. We love Handsy opening from the City end, but today it was Handsy from the Hilly end. Melbourne Uni started their batting innings well, knowing they needed to go hard to make the total. Handsy and Emily "Dominos" Costigan did well to limit the batters, but they were swinging hard and managed to find a few boundaries.
Handsy got the breakthrough in her third over, with a catch taken behind the stumps by Rebekah "Bobbie" Drake. Then, in a theme for most of our bowling innings, Melbourne Uni would pair a younger batter with a more experienced big hitter. Our team did well to try and starve the strike from the big hitters, with Rex and Amy "Wolfie" Howell bowling to plan. The frustration got to the batters, with Rex taking a superb caught and bowled for our second wicket in the twelfth over.
Handsy came back on and continued to apply pressure. Steam Train took full advantage, taking a wicket with her first ball, a high catch taken perfectly by Handsy. Melbourne Uni's captain came to the crease and we knew she could go big. Our bowlers stuck to the plans and the field placements by Rex were perfect.
A lot of credit must be given to Greyhound and Trang Nguyen, who was in for her first game of the season. Both players ran hard and managed to limit runs with every ball that came to them. Wolfie then managed the breakthrough, with a perfect ball taking the top of off. Rex got another not long after, teaming up perfectly with a catch taken by Izzy. We won't mention her LBW appeal the next ball though.
Melbourne Uni were 5/80 with 12 overs to go, so we were in a good position. Coach David set us the task to limit them to less than 115. In her first over back after drinks, Handsy took the wicket of the captain, a lovely catch by Dominos. Fred then came on to bowl and boy did she nail it. Her pace was a step up from previous weeks and she continued to place the ball in the right spot. Only one run was scored off her three overs and she finished with a wicket maiden, bowling out the batter.
The bowling continued to be superb, with Wolfie taking another wicket, bowled again. Melbourne Uni finished on 8/104 and we got the win, meaning we had secured a finals position! Special mention must go to Handsy and Wolfie, who both bowled 9 overs in the scorching heat!
Beautiful bowling figures as always: Handsy 2/11 off 9, Dominos 0/22 off 3, Wolfie 2/23 off 9, Rex 2/21 off 7, Steam Train 1/22 off 5, Fred 1/1 off 3
CHICKEN: Steam Train completes a hat trick of Chickens, with her brilliant batting, beautiful bowling and fantastic fielding. Special mention goes to Handsy, who played a near perfect all round match, and Izzy, who batted superbly.
KILLER HILLER MOMENT: With a high catch coming her way, the youngest in our team, Dominos, set her self up perfectly. The ball was swirling in the breeze and the clouds made it difficult to see the white ball. But Dominos was calm and composed, making a difficult catch look easy!
THE TOM BELLIS AWARD
A hat-trick, a five-fa and a match-winning 30 not out. There can be only one Tom Bellis winner and it is JARROD TOUGH!!
