Round 6 Match Report
by
Lain Pocock
--
Tuesday, 2 January 2007
Match Report Round 6 Vs White Hills Dec 16th & 23rd
1st XI @ QEO
Playing their 3rd consecutive game at the QEO, The 1sts faced a crucial game leading into the Christmas break aided by the return of Brock Fletcher & Tim Williams with a win essential to remain in finals contention. The toss of the coin didn’t fall our way and White Hills elected to bat. Our opening bowlers Geoff Mclean (2/57) & Timmy Rob (1/34) did a fantastic job on a lifeless wicket, with great support from Dale Oddy (2/85 from 27 overs) and the rest of the bowlers the game appeared in the balance throughout. White Hills were unable to lift the scoring rate and Sandhurst unable to pick up quick wickets. White Hills eventually finished 9/286 off their 85 overs a score the boys were confident could be chased down.
The Scullie & Fletcher opening partnership again delivered and excluding Scullie being caught off a no ball on 26, rarely looked troubled. The partnership was eventually broken just prior to tea on 131 when Brock was dismissed for 80 leaving us 1/134 at Tea. Two wickets shortly after the resumption of play left Sandhurst 3/153 and White Hills thought they were back in the match. A 60 run partnership between Scullie & Tim Robertson (24) steadied the ship, before an unbeaten 128 run partnership between Scullie and Westy (50no) ensured we cruised to victory with 6 wickets in hand and 8 overs to spare. Nick finished unbeaten on 157 to bat through the entire innings for the 2nd match in a row with his 100 coming up in 182 balls and his 157no off 240 balls.
Nick Scullie’s picked up consecutive Man of the Match awards with 157not out.
The win leaves us with 2 wins, 2 losses and a no result after 5 games and just outside the top 4.
2nd XI @ Scott Street White Hills
Coming into the game undefeated the 2nds were strengthened by the return of Trumpy and Joel Schneider from 1st XI and even with the late withdrawal of Jason O’Neill a formidable looking team took the field. Tipper won the toss, and opened the batting along with Kinners, who between them proceeded to tear apart the Hillies bowling attack. 185 was added for the 1st wicket in the process Kinners (53) saw Simon through to his 1st century as a Dragon in a memorable captain’s knock. Tipper was eventually dismissed for 118, but the party didn’t stop there, Schneider (69), Gibson (35) then added 83 for the 3rd wicket, and a superb finishing act from Pasky (50 off 49 balls) and Felini (56no from 40 balls) saw Sandhurst post 8 for 425 from 85 overs.
In the field dropped catches may have proven costly early on, but a combination of tight bowling and a White Hills side apparently unwilling to chase the target meant the result was never in doubt. Tipper used the opportunity to experiment with his bowling options with 9 bowlers used in total and all of the boys doing a job with Pasky (3/30) Travy Russell (2/34) & Dylan Gibson (2/38) the multiple wicket takers. White Hills finishing 8/305 and 120 runs short of the target.
The boys remain undefeated on top of the ladder with 4 wins including an outright win and a no result.
For his captains knock Simon Turnbull picks up Man of the Match for 118 in 133 balls.
3rd XI @ QEO
Following on from their memorable win the previous week against Bendigo, the 3rds won the toss, batted and continued on with their improved batting efforts, as Captain Dean Trew and Kinners (27) who was involved in the 1st of two 100 run opening stands of the day added 105 for the 1st wicket. Captain Dean Trew batted magnificently until unfortunately being caught behind for 99 chasing his 1st ever Sandhurst century. Leigh Draper then came to the crease and took an immediate liking to the White Hills bowling giving the run rate a massive boost bringing up his 50 in 27 balls and eventually being dismissed in the 49th over for 77 off just 41 balls. The boys finished with their highest total for the season with 7/261 in 50 overs.
Even in favourable batting conditions, with 261 on the board and a strong bowling line up, the boys were always confident of defending the runs, but with White Hills having 3 of the league leading run scorers in the line up the result was not yet secure. Dave Hunter ripped through the vaunted Hillies top order collecting 3/36 in bowling his 10 overs straight. Trav Russell 3/6 from 4 overs and Nilesh Patel (2/29) continued the procession of wickets as White Hills went from 3 for 83 to lose 7 for 45 and were bowled out for 128 in just 35 overs securing a 133 run victory.
The 2nd win of the season for the 3rds puts them back in the race for a finals berth.
For leading from the front with 99 in 120 balls captain Dean Trew won Man of the Match.
After a short break over Christmas the 1sts & Under 17s face Bendigo in the annual Ron Slattery Memorial trophy 20-20 match at the QEO on Friday December 29th at the QEO desperate to avenge past defeats. Early in the new year the boys return for the first of 3 one dayers against Bendigo on January 6th (1sts & 2nds) & 7th (3rds).
To all readers and fellow Sandhurst players, officials and supporters this is the Giraffe wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.
The Giraffe Signing Off!