2nd XI @ Harry Trot Oval
The 2nds faced an equally desperate BUCC's side which needed a win to keep them alive in the finals race. Selection was hampered when the side lost Pasky (to 1st XI), Bayliss (inj), Burn (unavailable) and Division leading wicket taker Matt Hall to injury. This provided opportunities for Leigh McDonald to make his 2nd XI debut, Leigh Draper to double up, the returning Trav Russell fresh from his 4 wicket haul in the 3rds and Ben Leed who was called in after a spate of last minute injuries to the side.
The boys faced a tough task, missing key players whilst BUCC's side had also been strengthened across the board allowing the previously winless side to field their strongest 2nd XI side for the season. After losing the toss, Sandhurst were asked to field in batsman friendly conditions, and made a nervous and wayward start with the new ball allowing BUCC's openers to get settled in as well as enabling them to score at a reasonable rate. It was skipper Alex Trump who provided the initial breakthrough bowling opener Mark Di Fede with the score on 24 in the 9th over. This appeared to settle the side as Travy Russell found his range knocking over Curtis Tuohey with the total on 41. Alex Trump again struck in the next over with the addition of 1 run as all of a sudden Sandhurst had a sniff of running through the BUCC's batting line up.
The momentum continued to swing back and forth throughout the day in an entertaining afternoon's cricket, back to back breakthroughs would give the fielding side hope only for a steadying partnership to get BUCC's back in the contest. Another dangerous partnership was ended when spinner Dylan Gibson won a test of wills with Jake Donegan to have him well caught on the mid wicket fence by Gavin James with the score on 87. Two balls later with the batsmen having crossed during Donegan's dismissal, BUCC's opener Tom Linehan who had batted patiently until then, danced Dylan and was deceived by flight as Keeper Leigh Kinniburgh whipped off the bails for a smart stumping as again Sandhurst looked capable of limiting BUCC to a below par score. Sam Mildren and Skipper Mark Smith survived some nervous moments and poor catching from the Dragons slip cordon to see BUCC's through to tea 5 down. Trav Russell was re-introduced after tea, and bowled brilliantly to remove Mildren and Smith within 2 Overs to reduce BUCC's to 7 for 166 in the 52nd over.
BUCC's aggressive batting had kept them in the contest to date, and despite the fall of wickets, they continued to go at over 3 an over and a valuable 8th wicket partnership eventuated. Trump was forced to chop and change the bowlers around in search of the final 3 wickets. It was Trav Crouch who finally provided the break through, and when Gav James and Ben Leed also chimed in with a wicket a piece BUCC's had been dismissed for 223 in 73 Overs. Best of the bowlers were Trav Russell (3/42), Alex Trump 2/60 and Dylan Gibson 2/42.
A dangerous period of 9 Overs was left to negotiate and Trumpy entrusted the task to the pair of Crouch & Kinniburgh who had provided solid starts on numerous occasions in the season to date. The pair barely looked troubled in the period leading up to stumps; both batted sensibly and trusted their natural instincts to get through. Kinners looked solid up one end whilst Trav Crouch took advantage of anything lose to collect 23no by the close of play as Sandhurst finished 0/37 at stumps on day 1 aided by 6 front foot no balls and a wide in the 9 over period. With the game so tantalizingly poised, it was a terrible shame that rain ruined the chance of any play on the 2nd day as the match ended in a draw with the sides splitting the 6 points - not the result either team was looking for.
Following a pre-Christmas man of the match in the 3rd XI Traviss Russell collected the 2nd XI Man of the match as the standout bowler for the Dragons with 3/42 in 18 Overs.
3rd XI @ QEO
Sandhurst 3rds faced a tough encounter with BUCC's (who held onto 4th and a spot in the finals by just .01 of a percent) going into the match and with a difficult run home. A victory was needed to enter the 4 and hopefully remain there for the remainder of the season. Trewy won the toss and batted, and despite a sluggish outfield got the side off to a safe and solid start before BUCC's bowlers found their range. After getting to 29 without loss in the 13th over, Trewy was caught behind for 13. When fellow opener Keith Cloke fell for 12 two overs later Sandhurst had been pegged back. Simon Turnbull batting at four went about his business in am impressive fashion as partnerships that begun promisingly enough failed to eventuate through a combination of tight bowling and impatient batting. Tipper looked to be nearing a half century when a rash shot was juggled by the fielding side and dismissed him for 46 with the score 7/115 in the 38th over. Terry Scullie again proved he was a frustrated all rounder all along in contributing an invaluable 21 before he was LBW. The highlight of "Scooters" innings was undoubtedly his elegant sweep shot played whilst over balancing and falling to the ground that was timed well enough to find the fence for one of only 3 boundaries for the innings as further evidence of how tough scoring was in the lush expanses.
Sandhurst lower order did their job in seeing out the allotted 50 overs, as Marty McDonnell (8) grew in confidence after scoring his 1st senior run for the club with a delicate glide through the gully region. Jeremy Darmody made it a double celebration when he too made his 1st Sandhurst run late in the innings as Sandhurst was dismissed off the final ball of the innings for a competitive 147.
Playing in the morning and prior to the 1st XI game made any rain hurt the chances of play on the 2nd day, and that ended up a reality as what might have proven to be a battle for a spot in the finals was abandoned at 9.15 with no sign of light or the rain clearing.
Simon Turnbull was a clear standout for man of the match with his 46 off 64 balls a top class innings.
Sandhurst continues their push for a finals berth in all grades with another 1st XI and 3rd XI home fixture against Golden Square. Whilst the 2nds return to the scene of last seasons finals campaign to play the side they defeated in the semi final and who currently sit on top of the table.
Sandhurst 3rds faced a tough encounter with BUCC's (who held onto 4th and a spot in the finals by just .01 of a percent) going into the match and with a difficult run home. A victory was needed to enter the 4 and hopefully remain there for the remainder of the season. Trewy won the toss and batted, and despite a sluggish outfield got the side off to a safe and solid start before BUCC's bowlers found their range. After getting to 29 without loss in the 13th over, Trewy was caught behind for 13. When fellow opener Keith Cloke fell for 12 two overs later Sandhurst had been pegged back. Simon Turnbull batting at four went about his business in am impressive fashion as partnerships that begun promisingly enough failed to eventuate through a combination of tight bowling and impatient batting. Tipper looked to be nearing a half century when a rash shot was juggled by the fielding side and dismissed him for 46 with the score 7/115 in the 38th over. Terry Scullie again proved he was a frustrated all rounder all along in contributing an invaluable 21 before he was LBW. The highlight of "Scooters" innings was undoubtedly his elegant sweep shot played whilst over balancing and falling to the ground that was timed well enough to find the fence for one of only 3 boundaries for the innings as further evidence of how tough scoring was in the lush expanses. Sandhurst lower order did their job in seeing out the allotted 50 overs, as Marty McDonnell (8) grew in confidence after scoring his 1st senior run for the club with a delicate glide through the gully region. Jeremy Darmody made it a double celebration when he too made his 1st Sandhurst run late in the innings as Sandhurst was dismissed off the final ball of the innings for a competitive 147. Playing in the morning and prior to the 1st XI game made any rain hurt the chances of play on the 2nd day, and that ended up a reality as what might have proven to be a battle for a spot in the finals was abandoned at 9.15 with no sign of light or the rain clearing. Simon Turnbull was a clear standout for man of the match with his 46 off 64 balls a top class innings. Sandhurst continues their push for a finals berth in all grades with another 1st XI and 3rd XI home fixture against Golden Square. Whilst the 2nds return to the scene of last seasons finals campaign to play the side they defeated in the semi final and who currently sit on top of the table.