Match Results
Round 6 Match Report Vs White Hills
24/12/2007
1st XI @ Scott Street White Hills
Sandhurst 1's looked to continue on their improving form from the final over victory over Bendigo in Round 5 against White Hills at White Hills who were knocking on the door of the top 4 with 3 wins and a loss from 4 games. Brad Fawcett replaced the unavailable Brock Fletcher in the only change to the side. The region was experiencing some rare patches of inclement weather but with a such a good set of covers play was able to get underway and after winning the toss Kecky had no hesitation in sending White Hills into bat.
White Hills were hampered but the unavailability of a couple of key players, and the brittleness of their batting line-up in batting conditions that required application were shown up. Tim Williams made the most of the new ball claiming a wicket in his 4th over caught Nathan O'Neill to remove Darren Gregory with the score on 17. Not to be outdone, Tim Robertson claimed two wickets in his 4th over claiming opposition captain Gavin Bowles and then White Hills recruit Tyron Downie to reduce White Hills to 3 for 22. Tim Williams made it 4 wickets inside 3 overs when he had Kyle Patten LBW for 2. The demolition of White Hills top order was complete when Tim Rob knocked over James Hunter to have White Hills 5 for 31 in a dozen overs.
The score and Overs bowled had doubled before Skipper Mark Keck got past ex-dragon Daniel Larke's bat to bowl him for 11. Kecky got the double break-through when he removed innings top scorer Adam Hargreaves caught Nick Scullie for 32 to have The Hillies 7 for 75. Geoff Mclean had an immediate impact with the ball picking up Justin Hargreaves thanks to a sharp catch by Tim Rob close in on the Leg side. Kecky took just 4 balls to wrap up the innings claiming White Hills final two wickets without further addition to leave The Hillies 104 all out in the 38th over.
Sandhurst went on the offensive with the aim of wrapping up the 6 points on day 1 to prevent weather interfereing on week 2 and elevated Mark Holland to open the innings. Despite the early setback of losing Nick Scullie (6) with the score on 11 the Dragons pressed on and moved to 43 before Ben Leed was bowled for 9. Mark Holland's valuable innings of 43 from 51 balls ended with the score on 73 and when Kecky fell without further addition to the score Sandhurst needed to regroup. Tim Rob led the way and compiled an unbeaten 24 as Sandhurst secured 1st innings points 5 wickets down for 108 in just 33 overs. with 71 overs bowled for the day, Sandhurst took the opportunity to send White Hills in for a dangerous 11 Over period prior to stumps on day 1 with a 4 run lead on the 1st innings.
The decision paid dividends for the Dragons claiming two valuable wickets, Tim Williams continuing his streak of achieving the 1st wicket of the innings to have Gregory caught behind and when Geoff Mclean chimed in from just the 2nd ball of his spell White Hills were left relling at 2/32 just 28 ahead at stumps on Day 1. Despite the heaviest rainfall seen in years falling in the 48 hours prior to play on day 2, the game started on time and Tim Williams made sure the Dragons continued the momentum claiming Justin Hargreaves LBW for 8 in the 2nd over of the day. White Hills dug in and proved more difficult to dismiss 2nd time around. Persistent pressure in the form of some tight bowling and solid fielding the wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Tim Rob claimed Downie caught behind, Joel Schneider took a sharp catch at slip off Kecky to remove Hunter and then in his next over claimed Gavin Bowles LBW for 0 to have White Hills 6 for 74.
Adam Hargreaves and Daniel Larke had provided the stearnest resistance first time around and this again provied the case as the pair added 68 for the 7th wicket before the pressure finally told on Larke as he was caught Mark Holland off the bowling of Tim Williams and when Kecky claimed Adam Hargreaves LBW with the score on 146 the end was near. The White Hills tail toughed it out as best they could but 2 wickets in 2 overs to Tim Rob meant White Hills were all out for 178 in 72 overs.
After close to 2 days of domination, the game had reached an exciting crescando with Sandhurst receiving some good match practice for the upcoming Ron Slattery Trophy with a target of 175 off 22 overs in order to claim the maximum 10 points. White Hills need early wickets to snuff out the possibility of outrioght defeat and got off to a good start when Kecky was bowled for 6 in the 1st over. Mark Holland who again opened the innings and scored at better than run a ball racing to 27 off 22 befopre being dismissed with the score on 47. Nick Scullie then took control of the chase, smart batting and aggressive running between the wickets kept the target in sight all along in adding 58 for the 3rd wicket with Anthony West (25 off 26). With the field out and gaps everywhere, Sandhurst's positiveness in running between the wickets paid dividends as White Hills aided the Dragons cause by gifting them overthrows on numerous occassions. Joel Schneider add 59 for the 4th wicket before being caught on the fence leaving Sandhurst with 11 to get from 7 balls. Two more to Nick off the final ball of the over off a dropped catch left just 9 to get with 6 wickets in hand from the final over to be bowled by Tyron Downie.
With only 1 other afternoon game of cricket on, the crowd had gathered to see Tim Rob who had not faced a ball in the innings to date, play the over to perfection, getting bat on ball and finding gaps on each of the 1st 4 balls to score 4 consecutive 2s and tie the score with two balls remaining. Tim then secured Sandhurst's 2nd outright 1st XI victory in over 20 years with a single to mid on to spark wild celebrations amongst Dragons players and supporters on and off the field. Sandhurst finished 5 for 175 off 22 overs with Nick Scullie's magnificent 76 no coming off 56 balls in his best innings of the season.
With only 1 other result possible, Sandhurst sit just 2 points outside the top 4 with 4 rounds remaining after the Christmas break. Nick Scullie was named Man of the Match in a very even team performance.
2nd XI @ Weeroona Oval
Following last rounds disappointing loss to Bendigo, Sandhurst faced 2nd placed White Hills at Weeroona Oval. The loss of Brad Fawcett to the 1st XI was offset by the addition of Trav Crouch, Dylan Gibson and Tristan Bayliss making his 2nd XI debut to strengthen the sides batting that had let it down on a couple of occassions in the season to date. Under threatening skies, the decision to bat or bowl was taken out of Trumpy's hands as White Hills won the toss and sent us into bat.
Needing to apply ourselves with the bat and simply occupy the crease, and allow the ball to gather moisture over the outfield throughout the course of the afternoon, Trav Crouch and Kinners opened the innings. The pair made a very solid but effective start and made White Hills pay for dropped chances when Crouch was 19 and Kinners was 26. The pair pushed on past drinks and despite some tight bowling from White Hills made sure they didnt throw away their good start. The pair pressed on and survived unscathed through to tea at 0/94 with Crouchy bringing up his 2nd consecutive half century along the way.
After tea, Crouch marched on towards a deserved century before he was caught behind for 89 with the score on 136. As can so often be the case, 1 wicket bought 2 when Dylan Gibson was LBW for 1 with 141 on the board, and Kinners who had played his role as the support act to Crouch to perfection was adjudged LBW just short of his 50 on 48 from 163 balls. Having lost 3 for 13, and with over 25 overs remaining Sandhurst needed to regroup, and It was Matt Pask along with skipper Alex Trump who got the innings back on track. Pasky was at his best scoring freely at close to a run a ball whilst Alex turned the strike over at the other end. The partnership was ended just short of 100 when Pasky was stumped in search of quick runs in the 84th over for 74 from 78 balls. The innings ended with Sandhurst comfortably achieving their aim of batting the 85 overs to finish with a more than competitive 6 for 248 with Trump dismissed off the final ball of the innings for 23.
Unfortunately, the heavy rain across Bendigo in the 48 hours leading up to the 2nd Saturday of the match and Weeroona Oval's flimsy covers meant that play was abandoned early Saturday morning with both teams deprived of the opportunity to secure an all important pre christmas 6 points.
There was a few standout innings to select a Man of the Match from, but for getting Sandhurst off to such a fantastic start in difficult conditions Trav Crouch's 89 earned him Man of the Match.
3rd XI @White Hills
Under grey skies, play was still able to begin on time in the 3rd XI battle between 5th and 6th on the table, as both sides getting their wish when White Hills won the toss and sent Sandhurst in on a pitch Trewy said he would have happily batted first on anyway. Sandhurst faced an abnormally strong White Hills 3rd XI side with as many as 3 1st XI players in the White Hills line up. Keith Cloke made a positive start before he was caught at slip for 6 and the score 11. Experience and class then shone through as Skipper Trew and Simon Turnbull added 78 in good time before Turnbull miscued a full toss and was caught for 36. Bryden Mcfarlane batting at 4 got a start but was adjudged LBW for 10 to have Sandhurst 3 for 107 in the 28th over.
Dean Trew who had continued his good form with the bat to surpass 50 went for 1 shot too many and was dismissed for 58 sparking a Dragon collapse. The White Hills slow bowlers frustrated The Dragons middle order into getting themselves out as Trewy's dismissal sparked a collapse of 5 for 18 in 7 overs to put Sandhurst's good start in danger and facing the possibility of having to field on day 1. Terry Scullie had other ideas and in his 1st innings of the season controlled the innings and the strike to compile a swashbuckling 40no off 32 balls including 7 boundaries in an unbroken 45 run partnership for the 9th wicket with Courtney Cornell who provided solid support for 4no.
With approximately 50mm of rain falling on the Friday prior to Day 2 of the match, the players were pleasantly surprisded to hear that if the rain stayed away a match would be possible on a rock hard pitch on the 2nd morning. Some indecision from the officials forced an unnecessary delay of 45 minutes to the start of play meaning White Hills need only avoid being bowled out to avoid defeat and secure a draw. Sandhurst were hungry to get going and hungry in the field. The persistence paid off, as Dave Hunter claimed the 1st wicket caught at short cover by Keith Cloke with the score on 28.
Traviss Russell was introduced into the attack at 1st change, and injected himself into the game with a spell of bowling that destroyed White Hills. He picked up the Dangerous Brodie Mcrae LBW with the score on 50, took an outfield catch off Dean Trew and another inside the 30m circle again off Trewy's bowling to remove opposing captain Jeff Kay to have White Hills 4 for 93 off 27 overs. Sandhurst pushed and pushed for victory racing between overs in order to get as many overs as possible at the Hillies. Trav Russell's fine bowling was finally rewarded claiming 3 wickets in his final 3 overs to finish with the outstanding figures of 4 for 13 off 10 overs incluiding 5 maidens.
It appeared only Josh Collinson stood between Sandhurst and victory and when he was caught behind off the bowling of Keith Cloke (1/16) to reduce White Hills to 9 for 134 with time quickly disappearing Sandhurst had one final press for victory but were cruelly denied a deserved 6 points as Numbers 10 and 11 batsmen survived the final couple of overs including a strong LBW appeal of the last ball of the day. White Hills finished 9 for 137 from 46 overs but there was only one side who had controlled play all match played aiming to win the game and was robbed of a victory few could argue they deserved that would have seen them in the four at Christmas.
Trav Russell won Man of the Match for his devastating spell of 4 for 13 off 10 overs.
Overall a very successful pre-christmas round for Sandhurst with a 1st XI outright victory and improved performances from the 2nds and 3rds deserving more than rain affected draws.
Dont Forget Sandhurst's Twenty 20 clash with Bendigo underlights at the QEO, kicking off at 4.30pm on Friday the 28th December with the 17 & Under curtain raiser as part of the Weeroona College - Girton Grammar Cup and the main game for the Ron Slattery Cup kicking off from 7.30pm. BDCA action returns in 3 weeks from January 12th with a home clash for the John Turner Shield against BUCC's @ the QEO.
This is The Giraffe wishing all Sandhurst Players, suupporters,officials and their families a Happy Christmas.
Back to Match Results