by
Lain Pocock
--
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
ROUND 12 MATCH REPORT VS STRATHFIELDSAYE FEB 24 & 25TH
1st XI @ STRATHFIELDSAYE
Sandhurst entered the crucial match with Strathfieldsaye buoyed by the clubs First 1st XI outright victory in 20 years knowing a win was essential to keep the hopes of a finals birth alive against one of our fiercest rivals.
Having won a final over thriller earlier in the season the team was boosted by the return of Brock Fletcher. Having been sent in on a wicket that was doing a bit with the new ball Kecky and Nick Scullie saw us through to 25 before Kecky was dismissed for 14. This proved to be the unlucky number for the innings, as shortly after Westy and Timmy Rob also fell for 14 a piece.
Brock Fletcher (23) looked good before he and then Nick (30) were dismissed just prior to tea leaving us 5/105 at the interval.
From there anything over 200 looked to be a good score with the wicket still offering assistance, Paul Robins and Trav Crouch came together at the fall of the 6th wicket. Trav Crouch took very little time to get going and with Paul Robins doing a superb anchoring job the pair pushed the score past 200 before Paul Robins was adjudged run out for 39. Crouchy pushed on supported by 2nd gamer Dylan Gibson and was heading towards a century nearing the end of the innings when he was caught at mid off for a masterful 89 off 93 balls. Dylan (10no) and Macca (14no) then topped things off pushing the score to 8 for 287 from 85 Overs.
The Strathfieldsaye doctor worked overtime on Saturday night and delivered a pitch substantially different to the green monster produced on Saturday. Still with 287 the game was still ours to win. The openers bowled aggressively and with some success as Timmy Rob picked up 2 crucial wickets and when Kecky had the dangerous Greg Lyon caught in the covers with the total on 57, the boys looked in control. From there the bowlers just couldn’t strike the balance between keeping it tight and taking wickets and a front foot no ball epidemic, it became increasingly obvious with Strathfieldsaye’s aggressive batting and quick outfield we would need to bowl them out to win the game.
At 5/218 with Overs in hand Sandhurst needed wickets quickly and as has so often been the case Kecky delivered with wickets in successive deliveries the match had turned back in our favour with Strath still 70 short and only 3 wickets in hand. Tim Robertson picked up the 8th wicket of the innings with over 50 still required, but on a flat track and recognized batsmen still at the crease the total was reduced to 14 when Tim Williams struck with the 1st ball of a new spell the game was again anyone’s. Tragically it just wasn’t to be as the umpire denied numerous strong appeals and eventually Strath coach Dave Rosaia struck the winning runs in the 77th over.
In all our bowlers conceded 19 front no balls and a dozen or so more runs from the resulting 7th ball of the over. It’s often said that it can be the difference in a match and just maybe today highlighted that point.
Trav Crouch received Man of the Match for his 89 from 93 deliveries.
2nd XI @ WEEROONA OVAL
In a battle of 2nd Vs 4th with the opportunity to stitch up a spot in the top 2 on offer, the 2nds made a poor start with Strathfieldsaye batting 1st and adding 101 for the first wicket before Trav Russell got the break through. Ben Leed followed that up with a wicket before a consolidating partnership saw Sandhurst looking down the barrel with Strathfieldsaye 2/200 with Overs in hand.
From there the boys worked their way back into the game, Trumpy picked up century maker Hodson, before Jas O’Neill contributed first with a run out then a valuable break through with the ball. From there wickets fell consistently as Strathfieldsaye finished 291 all out in the 83rd over. Pick of the bowlers were Trumpy (3/57), Ben Leed (3/27) and Trav Russell (1/48 off 21 Overs).
The opening partnership of Tipper and Trumpy were quickly back in the pavilion with just 8 on the board, before an 85 run stand between Joel Schneider (39) and Jason O’Neill got the score to 93 before Schneider and then Pasky were dismissed leaving us 4/125 at tea. From there the innings never really got going after losing Leed and then Jas O’Neill who top scored with 65, only Tapper (23) & Leigh Kinniburgh 30 contributed significantly with the bat, as we were bowled out for 229 and 62 runs short of the target in just 66 overs.
Jason O’Neill won his 2nd Man of the Match for the season with 65, 1/25, a catch and run out.
3RD XI @ STRATHFIELDSAYE
Players arrived at the ground under grey skies and light showers unsure of when play would be possible. When the covers were eventually removed to start play 30mins after the scheduled starting time the pitch was revealed to be a green seaming monster with the game reduced to 41 overs per side. Making the loss of the toss a big blow to the 3rd XI up against undefeated and perennial 3rd XI power house Strathfieldsaye.
With the thrashing dished out earlier in the season still fresh in the memory, Sandhurst couldn’t have got off to a worse start with both openers back in the pavilion in the 2nd over without a run on the board. In difficult conditions most of the top order struggled with the loss of Draper, Bayliss and Wright inside 10 overs, the possibility of surpassing the 64 made in the last meeting was looking more and more unlikely. Tony Lamb in only his 2nd hit of the season fought hard for 16 whilst the tail batted around a terrific unbeaten 35 from Derek Robertson to eventually be bowled out for 105 in the 36th over.
Bright blue skies and a much lighter pitch greeted the teams on the 2nd morning and with the safety of a deep batting line-up to chase a relatively small target Strathfieldsaye were able to attack from the beginning. Dave Hunter (0/13 off 5) kept it tight early on whilst new ball partner Jimmy Rickard (1/44) picked up our only early success. With the game already over Trewy took the opportunity to bowl the full 50 Overs and use almost all of the bowlers at his disposal. Ten in all were used With Tony Lamb (2/29) and Derek Robertson (2/28) the only successful bowlers. Eventually Strathfieldsaye finished 5/293 from 50 overs and winners by 188 runs.
Derek Robertson for his all-round performance of 35no and 2 wickets collected Man of the Match.
THE LADDER
Other results namely BUCC’s outright victory over Huntly North Bendigo meant our finals chances were shot regardless of our result and 5th is the best we can aim for come seasons end.
With a 2nd loss in 3 games the 2s are now unlikely to secure a top 2 spot they have held all year and must rely on weather gods to be kind to them come finals time.
The 3rds defeat leaves them in 6th place with only pride to play for in the final round.
NEXT WEEK
The home and away season concludes with the re-scheduled Round 1 against BUCC’s. The 1sts have 1 final opportunity to prove they are a team on the rise against a side who are now certain to play finals.
The 2nds need to get some form and confidence to take into the finals against the side responsible for knocking our 2nds out of finals contention last season.
The 3rds have a very winnable game against similarly placed side with pride to play for.
Of added significance is the fact this round of senior matches along with junior matches completed earlier in the season combined are for the John Turner Memorial Shield. Junior results may already prevent us from taking the trophy, but a win in the senior grades will show the talent and potential Sandhurst has looking towards next season.