Young and old dominate

The 1s, 2s and 3s are haflway through their penultimate home games of the season, so we’ll hold off those match reports until next week but here’s the lowdown from the Men’s 4s and 5s and Women’s 1s and 2s last weekend, including great batting from a man who’s seeing them like a football and a woman whose first name sounds like a football.

I notice the Women’s 1s got done against a team called KIngston Heath. Is this a sign that they should stick to golf?

WOMEN’S 1st XI v KINGSTON HEATH at Southern Road Reserve - Should’ve played golf
Match Report by Rex

Some sensational bowling saw us limit Kingston Heath to 9/78. All of our bowlers were amazing as always, especially Emily “Dominos” Costigan (2/8 off 5) and Maya Harrington (3/7 off 4). Annika Filips also took a stellar catch at square leg!

We did our best with the bat, but were unfortunately outdone in windy conditions, with a swinging ball and some tight bowling and fielding. Dominos was also the standout with the bat, making 17, as we were dismissed for 67.

CHICKEN: Has to be Dominos, with the best all round performance of the day.

MEN’S 4th XI v TOORAK-PRAHRAN at WJ Cox Oval - Maybe they should’ve played golf too

Toorak-Prahran came to WJ Cox Oval with a team loaded with talent - maybe too much talent. Was there a ring-in or two? Well we would never make such an accusation, of course.

That being said, TPCC, despite being outside the four, were a class above us last Saturday, especially their batters, who smashed our bowlers to all parts. There were some highlights for us, though.

Bowling first, Tuffy (1/28 off 7) and Naj (1/32 off 7) did a good job of keeping the run rate down in the early overs before TPCC exploded to make 8/272. Empty took three wickets, but in the interests of his sanity and my safety, I will not mention how many runs they cost him.

We fell short in reply, making 7/173, with Ian ‘Network Free’ Nolan, who is seeing it like a football at the moment, (maybe wearing two pairs of glasses is the answer), hitting his customary first-ball boundary and went on to retire at 50 not out. He got good support from the ever-reliable Jacko (33), Naj (19), Tuffy (12) and Captain Morgan (10 not out).

CHICKEN: The man with two pairs of glasses:

RECONCILIATION ROUND WOMEN’S 2nd XI v WERRIBEE at Rammo

This week we were very proud to participate in the Reconciliation Round and we were very happy to invite Werribee to be a part of our Acknowledgement of Country ceremony before our round 7 match. Thank you all!

Werribee won the toss and chose to send us into bat!

B2 and Alex began our innings, but after an inauspicious beginning, Sherin was soon at the crease with Alex. Sherin's innings began with impressive and confident shot making, and then continued in that vein, for a loooooong time! Sending the ball to all areas, including boundaries through mid-on!

Alex made 8 runs, before Sherin was joined by Tylah, who immediately took up the mantle and began hitting quick singles. Sherin continued to look more and more comfortable, next joined by Laura who made 7, including a boundary!

These partnerships meant that we were 4/70 before Nan strode out to the crease, and with Sherin, began building her own significant innings, full of terrific clean shot making! Together Sherin and Nan batted for almost 10 overs and contributed more that 50 runs, including Sherin's 50 run milestone! Her first!

Nan made 25 runs, before Sherin then continued on with Mum. Finally out after a magnificent 63 runs! Sherin (below) even included a reverse sweep amongst her array of shots! With some key partnerships, today was Sherin's day! 

And at the end of our innings, it was Eloise and Dutchy who remained not out.

Total: 7/137 after 35 overs

After everyone had enjoyed Eloise's now famous scones with jam and cream, we set about defending our total. . . 

Laura and Nan have proved to be a formidable opening bowling pair in recent weeks, and again they had the first spell.

Conditions were gusty all afternoon, and our extras were somewhat a reflection of that. But while it did take a number of overs, our persistence and energy in the field were rewarded with our first breakthrough, a team run out, beautifully finished off by Nan!

Sherin with the gloves, was constantly flicking the ball at the stumps! It'll happen!

We have all been impressed with Eloise's commitment and effort at training, and it was gratifying to see her rewarded this weekend, with her very first senior wicket! Congratulations Eloise! A sharp catch by Tylah at mid-off! A nice reward for Tylah also, who had earlier put her hand in front of a well struck ball, saving certain runs, but also having the bruise to prove it!

Heather was great in gully and also contributed overs. Dutchy and Georgia worked together to cover the on-side, adjusting their positions and reading the play well! Towards the end of the innings Tylah, bowling around the wicket and across the batter, and Mum bowling with the wind made sure we stretched out our innings as long as possible.

Werribee built their innings and by about the 20th over their run rate had accelerated. 

But, our Hillers commitment and support in the field was there until the end!

Werribee: 2/140, after 28 overs

CHICKEN: Sherin! For her magnificent 63 runs, including classic straight drives and a reverse sweep!

Thank you very much to Auley, Eloise, Heather and Burgo for helping with the scoring this week!

MEN’S 5TH XI v MALVERN VALLEY at Basil Reserve

The Men’s 5s travelled over a hill and dale to get to Malvern Valley where Billy won the toss and batted. With Jonesy doing Jonesy things (i.e. making 50 retired not out), Craig Harris continuing his fine form with the bat (36 until some umpire named Gigacz triggered him) and Doug Scott (25) creaming a few boundaries, we made 8/157 in our 35.

Some bloke named Gigacz (2/19 off 7) and Dennis Cleary (0/24 off 7 but deserved a wicket or two), in his second game for the Hillers but bowling for the first time kept Malvern Valley tied down in the early stages, allowing Angus Kitt (3/7 off 7) and Max ‘Thanksamillion’ Sundram (3/16 off 7) to guarantee a big win. Malvern Valley finished on 8/99. The win means the 5s are still a rough chance to sneak into the finals!

CHICKEN: Tough call between Max and Angus, but Angus gets the nod for his magnificent bowling spell.