Sandhurst Cricket Club Match Reports Season 2006/07
by
Lain Pocock
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Sunday, 3 December 2006
Round 2 Vs Strath Maristians
1st XI @ QEO
After the start of the season was delayed by two weeks to allow more time for the pitches to be prepared, the 1sts opened the season against Strath Maristians by winning the toss and batting, from there just about everything went wrong.
Plenty of batsmen managed starts but in a disappointing start to the season we were bowled out for 116 in just 56 overs, with Ben Leed (20) Kecky (19) and new recruit Paul Robins (18) the top scorers.
No doubt still reeling from the earlier batting performance, our bowlers faced a determined Strathdale batting line-up which had little difficulty in surpassing the total and finished with 6/267 declared leaving themselves approximately 3 hours to claim outright points. Best of the bowlers for the Dragons was Kecky with 4/58.
In our second dig, the batsmen showed an improved application and comfortably staved off the possibility of an outright defeat eventually finishing 2/122 in 58 overs. Nick Scullie showed great patience in being unbeaten on 41 and was ably supported by Kecky with 54 and recruit Brock Fletcher 23.
Man of the Match was Captain Mark Keck for 4 wickets and a 50.
2nd XI @ Bell Oval Strathdale
In contrast the 2nds couldn’t have made a better start, after losing the toss and being asked to field, Matt Felini bowled a gentle loosener which was brilliantly caught by Travy Russell at square leg to dismiss Geoff Findlay off the first ball of the season. From there, the bowlers remained on top all afternoon to dismiss Strathdale for just 85 in 40 overs. Matt Felini 4/35, Trav Mitchell making his 2nd XI debut picked up 4/19 in 4 and a half overs in a fantastic team effort.
Knowing the job was only half done, the boys faced a few shaky moments but Brad Fawcett remained the mainstay of the innings as his superb 53 ensured the start to the season would be a winning one. Tapper and Drape’s (12) were the only batsmen to pass double figures for the innings. The boys had the six points wrapped up by stumps on day 1 and were bowled out early on day 2 for 123 and a lead of 38 runs.
This left the game interestingly poised, with Maristians sensing they were still an opportunity to get something from the game.
In the 2nd Innings the Dragon bowling attack again went feasting on Maristian batsmen rolling them a 2nd time for just 87. Felini (4/28) Russell (3/33) & Craigy (2/4) doing the damage.
The boys had little trouble knocking off the 50 runs required with Dylan Gibson (21no) showing his class & Craigy (12no) confirming the outright win that captain Simon Turnbull said you could have got 100/1 odds about at the start of the game and set us as the pacesetters of the league from the start of the season.
Man of the Match was Matt Felini who finished with match figures of 8/63.
3rd XI @ QEO
Strathdale won the toss and batted. After tight bowling early that restricted the Strath batsmen, what looked like being an average score for our batsmen to have to chase down, somehow got away as Strathdale finished with a more than competitive 8/185 off 50 overs. Best of the bowlers were Stinger (3/25) off 10, Matt Hall 2/32 & James Rickard 2/32.
Unfortunately the weather conditions left the pitch far less batsman friendly for our innings on day 2, and after a poor start of 4/36 in 20 overs, only a 71 run partnership between Leigh Kinniburgh (50) & Derek Robertson (25) ever gave Sandhurst a sniff of victory. The tail fell away quickly and Sandhurst was bowled out for 129 in the 44th over.
Leigh Kinniburgh’s 50 earned him Man of the Match.
Round 3 Vs Kangaroo Flat
1st XI @ Dower Park Kangaroo Flat
Desperate to atone for the previous round’s performance, an unchanged Sandhurst side lost the toss and was asked to field. A flat track and some good Kangaroo Flat batting meant Sandhurst were never able to get on top of the Roo’s batting line-up and with wickets in hand were able to pick up the scoring rate after tea to finish with a daunting 6/341 off their 85 overs. While all bowlers worked hard and the side acquitted themselves well in the field Tim Williams 2/57 was the only multiple wicket taker.
In the past chasing 300 plus at Kangaroo Flat was near on impossible, but sensing an opportunity of a pulling off a famous run chase, the Dragons seemed to have the situation in hand from the beginning. A fantastic 159 run opening partnership between Brock Fletcher (88) & Nick Scullie set the scene for an onslaught after tea. Scullie continued on and added another 126 3rd wicket partnership with Tim Robertson before being dismissed for 107 with just 50 runs required with wickets and overs to spare. Tim Robertson (105no) scored a magnificent century of his own & along with Paul Robins (25no) clinched a memorable victory in front of a huge crowd and batted out the remainder of the day to finish 4/359 and put the icing on a very, very sweet cake.
Tim Robertson was awarded Man of the Match for his 105 not out.
2nd XI @ Weeroona Oval
In perfect batting conditions, Tipper did the right thing won the toss, batted and along with Dutchy Holland playing his 1st game for the season set the foundations for a big total with an opening 112 run partnership. Batting the 85 overs was the aim of the afternoon and despite slipping to 6/211 at one stage with 30 overs remaining in the day, the side nearly accomplished their goal being bowled out in the 2nd last over for 319. In an even team effort Jason O’Neill returning to the club top scored with 55, and was well supported by Dutchy (54) Crouch (54) & Tipper (48).
The bowlers turned the screws on the Flat batting line-up and then watched it self destruct under constant pressure. In stifling heat Matt Felini & Trav Mitchell both bowled marathon spells to finish with 5/57 off 27 and 3/49 off 18 respectively. The Roos showed little resistance and never looked like reeling in the target to eventually be bowled out for 173 and secure a 146 run win and continue the 2nds undefeated start to the season.
In a decision that could have gone to around half a dozen players, Man of the Match was awarded to Jason O’Neill for his 55, a superb catch and run out in the field.
3rd XI @ Dower Park
Trewy won the toss and batted on a flat Kangaroo Flat pitch, and after a slow but steady start, the batting line-up became a procession of wickets to find themselves 8/62 in the 30th over. Only a rescue mission from Derek Robertson (46) & Leigh McDonald (18) & Stinger (8no) got Sandhurst up to a somewhat respectable score of 122 all out in 48 overs.
A 66 run 2nd wicket partnership by Kangaroo Flat’s top order put paid to any chances the boys may have had of winning the match, but a couple of impressive bowling performances by Nilesh Patel 3/31 off 10 & Clokey 2/35 as well as some spirited efforts in the field restricted Kangaroo Flat to 7/205.
Derek Robertson following on from his 25 in Round 2, picked up Man of the Match with 46 in Round 3.
Round 4 Vs Eaglehawk 2006/2007 18th & 25th November 2006
1st XI @ QEO
Following on from an inspiring win over Kangaroo Flat the previous round the firsts met reigning premier Eaglehawk full of confidence at the QEO. After Eaglehawk won the toss and batted, the Borough batted solidly throughout to set an imposing 8/337 with former dragon Matt Ford making 140. A total of 8 bowlers were used by Captain Tim Robertson in an attempt to get the necessary breakthroughs, with all bowlers toiling all day with the pick of the bunch being Crouchy (4/57) from 18 & Tim Williams (3/48) from 13.
In reply Fletch & Nick Scullie got us off to another solid start with 50 & 42 respectively, with support from Ben Leed 60, Westy 32 & a brisk 27 from Dutchy Holland the Dragons were still a chance at one stage reaching 4/234. However the run rate required proved too much as Sandhurst was eventually bowled out for 248.
Ben Leed was awarded Man of the Match for his 60.
2nd XI @ Canterbury Park Eaglehawk
The 2nds entered the match full of confidence following on from big wins over Strath Marisitians & Kangaroo Flat and returning to the scene of a famous 1 wicket victory at the same venue late last season the boys arrived determined to cement their position as ladder leaders.
Again we lost the toss and were asked to field, all the bowlers worked hard and kept the scoring under control but a combination of poor catching and disciplined batting from Eaglehawk saw them finish 8/207 from 85 overs. Dale Oddy bowled superbly for 3/59 off 22, Matt Felini continued his stellar start to the season with 2/60 from 28 overs and Travis Mitchell was the unlucky bowler deserving better than his 1/47 from 19.
Whilst 208 for victory was always attainable, one of the rare true outfields in Bendigo meant it would require a team approach to get the runs. The top order of Turnbull (28), Kinniburgh (14), Gibson (17) & Jason O’Neill (37) got us off to a very good start, but when two quick wickets fell shortly after tea Sandhurst was was left at 6/128 needing another 80 runs for victory. A 55 run 7th wicket partnership between Tapper (28) & Craigy steadied the ship. Craigy & Matt Felini (22) then steered the boys home with 3 wickets in hand & 10 overs to spare. Darren Craig finished 56 not out at the end whilst Travy Mitchell provided an entertaining 13 to ensure the boys finished 9/244 and importantly bat out their full 85 overs.
Darren Craig Was awarded Man of the Match for his superb 56 not out.
3rd XI @ QEO
Trewy won the toss and batted on a batsman friendly wicket but the top order failed to take advantage of a reasonable start with only Tristan Bayliss (23) & Drapes (36) passing 20. The boys were left in a precarious position at 9/113 in the 38th over but some application from Paul Stingel (13no) & Jason Furze (4no) ensured the side batted their allotted overs to finish 9/133 off 50.
In the field the boys failed to get the early breakthroughs required into the strong Eaglehawk top order to give themselves an opportunity in the match. However some tight bowling from Stinger (2/19) off 10, Kinners (2/19) from 8 & support from Oddy (1/27) off 10 & debutant Dave Payne (1/21) off 6 gave the boys a chance of victory late in the game. Eventually Eaglehawk overhauled our total finishing 7/139 off 47.
Paul Stingels 2/19 & 13 with the bat earned him man of the match honours.
This weeks Round 5 action see us play arch rivals & QEO co-tenants Bendigo in a Two Day game at QEO (1sts & 3rds) & Weeroona Oval (2nds & U17s) with all sides more than capable of ensuring we enter the final game prior to Christmas with a Clean Sweep!