Match Results
Giraffe Report Round 8 Vs Huntly North Bendigo
Sat 9th & 16th February
1st XI @ Strauch Reserve Huntly
After the disappointment of the loss to Golden Square last round Sandhurst needed to rejoin the winners list and if at all possible attempt to emulate last seasons outright victory over Huntly North Bendigo. In the knowledge that 20 wickets is the most essential aspect of an outright Sandhurst won the toss and sent Huntly North Bendigo in perfect batting conditions. Brock Fletcher was unavailable meaning Brad Fawcett gained another opportunity in the 1st XI.
Huntly North Bendigo's openers dug in and moved the score along to 30 after 16 overs before skipper Mark Keck bowling first change collected both openers in the one over claiming a bowled and LBW. Nathan O'Neill made it 3 wickets in just 8 balls when Nick Scullie collected a caught behind to have Huntly 3 for 31. From there another partnership developed pushing the score to 70, before Geoff Mclean chimed in drawing the edge through to Nick Scullie who gloved his second catch for the innings.
Tim Robertson was introduced for a second spell just prior to the tea break and picked up the vital wicket of Nick Arthur who was stunningly caught at short leg off a full blooded on side stroke at short leg by Anthony West. Tim Robertson then collected a second wicket when he claimed Huntly North skipper Matt Rule bowled for 1 as the Power limped to 6 for 99 at tea.
Sandhurst looked for a quick kill in an effort to claim 1st innings points on day 1 but were met with stubborn resistence from Huntly leading run scorer Ryan Gundry who batted un perturbed by the steady flow of wickets at the other end. Tim Williams grabbed the break through catching the edge to hand Scullie a 3rd catch for the innings ro have Huntly 7 for 119. A couple of nagging partnerships pushed Huntly's score towards 150 before Geoff Mcleans secured a breakthrough to have Huntly 8 for 143. Mark Keck claimed the 9th wicket of the innings when he bowled Huntly's Number 10 batsmen to have Huntly 9/165 with 20 overs remaining. Huntly continued to prove hard to dismiss and a brisk partnership fuelled mainly by Grundy pushed the total beyond 200 and just bwhen it looked as if Huntly may bat out the day Mark Keck claimed his 4th unassisted wicket for the innings to remove the Huntly number 11 with the total on 206 in 75 overs leaving Ryan Grundy stranded on 83 not out. Mark Keck 4/39 from 17 overs, Tim Robertson 2/33 from 18 and Geoff Mclean 2/37 the multiple wicket takers.
With a dangerous 7 over period to negotiate, Sandhurst again went on the offensive sending in Mark Holland and Mark Keck to take the shine off the new ball. Mission accomplished as they wiped an astonishing 75 runs off the target required for victory in just 7 overs to close out the day.
Day two begun with Sandhurst needing to wipe off the runs required as quickly as possible in order to give themsel;ves enough time at the end of the day to attempt an outright result. sandhurst progressed to 91, before Kecky was dismissed fo 44 from just 33 balls. Nick Scullie came in at number 3 and along with Holland continued the momentum and added 29 in a partnership of 73 with Dutchy to move the score to 2/164 in just the 23rd over of the innings. Anthony West (6) fell in the pursuit of quick runs to have Sandhurst 3 for 184 before Mark Holland bought up a century to match his century in the corresponding match against Huntly last season at the QEO but then fell in the same over to have Sandhurst 4 for 195 requiring just another 12 for first innings points. It was left to Mastt Pask 19no and Joel Schneider 2no to claim the victory in just 29 overs and give the Dragons the opportunity to send Huntly back in.
If Sandhurst were any chance they requires some early inroads into the Huntly top order and Tim Robertson and Tim Williams were happy to oblige having Huntly in early trouble at 2 for 15 in the sixth over. Unfortunately that was basically the last look in Sandhurst got as Sandhurst were again denied progress by Ryan Grundy (28) and Brannon Stanford (71) combined for a 96 run partnership which ate up 28 valuable overs. All was not lost for Sandhurst as Tim Robertson and Nathan O'Neill removed both established batsmen in consecutive overs to give Sandhurst a slight stiff with around 20 overs remaining in the day. Tim Robertson claimed a third wicket for the innings and when Tim Williams picked up wickets in consecutive balls Huntly North were 7 for 119. Huntly again settled with a valuable 42 run stand for the 9th wicket seeing off any renmaining danger for Huntly before Mark Keck and geoff mclean claimed two late wickets to leave Huntly 9 for 166, however with time and overs nearly out it was decided to end the game with no further chance of a result.
Best of the bowlers were Tim Robertson (3/25) and Tim Williams (3/34). Mark Holland narrowly pipped Mark Keck for Man of the Match with DDutchy's entertaining 102 from 74 balls to regain the initiative giving him the nod. So all in all a very complete team effort from Sandhurst however as so often can be the case when relying on other results, things can conspire aginst you and now means Sandhurst would require an outright victory against Strathfieldsaye to snatch a finals spot.
2nd XI @ Weeroona Oval.
After coming agonisingly close to an outrright result against the same opposition last year on their way to a spot in the grand final only one win for the season to date left Sandhurst 8th facing Huntly North bendigo who were 9th in what could well have turned out to be a battle for the wooden spoon. The side's bowling was bolstered by one of the divisions leading wicket taker Matt Hall returning from a nasty arm injury and Bryden McFarlane but lost middle order batsman Brad Fawcett to the 1st XI.
Unfortunately Trumpy lost the toss, and Huntly gained first use of a flat looking batting track. If Sandhurst were to make in-roads it would have to be with the new ball but try as they might, A combination of solid batting and the ball missing the edge of the bat on countless occassions Sandhjurst just couldnt get a look in. Huntly's openers progressed undisturbed beyonfd drinks and were heading towards tea when Matt Hall final;ly claimed the breaktthrough with an LBW to leave Huntly 1 for 79. As the shine wore off the ball so the ruun rate began to pick up as Huntly North ticked past 100 before Matt Hall drew a top edge from a well directed short ball to claim Huntly's skipper and most dangerous batsman for 15. When Dylan Gibson picked up a third caught at gully by Gav James Huntly went to tea at 3 for 110 at tea.
Huntly were belying their spot on the ladder given their performance with the bat to date, but Sandhurst still sensed that if they could claim some wickets after the tea break they may create panic in the Huntly North camp and roll Huntly cheaply. A mix up between the batsman gifted Sandhurst a bonus run out to Brock Gibson to remove Ben Smith who had opened the innings and compiled a solid 56. Alex Trump collected a wicket trapping Keenan Lucas LBW not offering a shot to have Huntly 5 for 137 in the 54th over.
Although they had bowled reasonably well on a track offering little assitance, wickets in hand spelled danger for the Dragons as the run rate began to rise late in the day as Gavin James (the 9th bowler used for the day) picked up a wicket bowling Jason Maher to have Huntly 5/201 in the 78th over. Poor disciplined bowling and lusty hitting from Huntly's middle order particularly Daniel Stanford who had proved a stumbling block in the chaseof outright victory last season pushed the score beyond 250 as Matt Halls 3rd wicket in the final over of the innings was the last claimed by Sandhurst as Huntly finished with a challenging 7/256 from their 85 overs.
Given Sandhurst's inconsitent batting efforts this season, and a particularly poor record when batting second meant Sandhurst would have to dig in and really apply themselves to gain victory. A similar looking batsman friendly pitch was dished up on day 2 giving Sandhurst cofidence that if they batted their 85 overs they would reel in the 257 required for victory. Huntly were disciplined in their bowling and backed up their bowlers in the field placing their bodies on the line on an outfield that was still patchy. The new opening partnership of Travis Crouch and Dylan Gibson moved to 42 at a solid rate before Travis was caught in the covers for 42. The loss of Crouch so early came at a time just as SDandhurst appeared to be getting on top in confidence and on the scoreboard. Clinton Bothams application with the bat in the season to date earned him a promotion to number 3 and bought up a crucial 50 run 2nd wicket partnership as the pair pushed the score along to 92 before "Beefy" Botham was caught acrobatically at slip. Dylan began to grow in confidence and pushed beyond 50 sensing an opportunity to surpass his previous best of 75 in last season's semi final.
Unfortunately approaching the tea, and in stiffling heat one break in concentration proved his undoing as he was bowled for 72 leaving Sandhurst 3 for 117 and a tough 15 minute time to negotiate leading up to the half way mark of the innings. Gavin James and Trump negotiated the chhallenge and saw us through to tea at 3 for 126 off 42 overs. The tea break had proved Sandhurst's undoing on numerous occassions this season but James and Trump were determined to take advantage of a lifeless batsman's paradise out in the middle. The pair added 67 for the 4th wicket and the runs required below 100 before Gavin James was caught behind for 37. Bryden McFarlane joined Trump at the crease and the pair saw the Dragons through to the finals drinks break at 4/211 with just 46 runs required ifrom 20 overs.
The break in play proved Bryden's undoing as he was bowled for 15 off the first ball following the resumption as the game tightened just a little more. The experienced Trav Russell and Alex Trump showed great control to resist the ttemptation to bash their way to victory and looking to be regaining control before Trump inexplicably attempted to loft the ball over the infield and was dismissed for 41. Leigh McDonald playing just his second 2nd XI game was thrown into the pressure cooker atmosphere of a tight run chase and showed great composure to wait for the loose deliveries and along with Trav Russell saw Sandhurst through to victory without further loss to reach the 257 runs required in the 77th over for the loss o 6 wickets.
With the pressure off and still 8 overs remaining, both batsman freed up and showed the full repertoire of their shots as Trav Russell in particular found the boundary with ease. Unfortunately the first time he decided not to hit through the ball he spooned one to square leg for 48 cruelly short of what would have been a well deserved half century. Leigh mcDonald 23no and Matt Hall 11no negotiated the remainder of the day and bought up another milestone for the innings the 300 in the final over of the day eventually finishing 7 for 303 from 85 overs and comfortable 47 run victors.
The beauty of the victory was clearly in the partnerships that been created throughout the innings, with just oner partnership failing to make 30 for the entire innings with three seperate 50+ run partnerships. Man of the match went to Dylan Gibson who bowled superbly for 1/29 from 14 overs and top scoring with a stylish 72.
3rd XI @ Strauch Reserve Huntly
With just two games remaining and a spot in the finals uo for grabs despite their disappointing batting collapse against Golden Square the previous week, Sandhurst faced a must win game against Huntly North Bendigo. A noticable inclusion for the game was Brock Fletcher who was unavailable in the afternoon.
Sandhurst were given an early bonus claiming a wicket in the first over of the day when Dave Hunter had Huntly's opening batsman caught behind for 0. Instead of lifting the Dragons it seemed to lull them into a false sense of security that the wickets were just going to come. Well poor line and length bowling and an equally ordinary performance in the field was punished by Huntly's top order as they raced to 4 for 112 at the drinks break.
A mid innings Rev up from Captain and coach obtained the desired result as brock Fletchers off spin and Couyrtney Cornells medium paced ripped through Huntly's middle and lower order in a collapse to the magnituide of 6 for 12 in 9 overs t reduce Huntly to 9 for 124. Huntly last wicket proved hard to remove as they added a valuable 18 runs fro the final wicket before Brock claimed his 4th for the innings to finish with 4/14 in 9.3 overs to dismiss Huntly North Bendigo for 142 in the 40th over. Courtney Cornell 3/21 from 8 overs and Josh Ennis 2/35 also claimed multiple wickets.
A dangerous 7 over period was then eft for Sandhurst negotiate and unforrtunately Dean Trew was trapped in front LBW for 4 as Brock Fletcher and Simon Turnbull finished not out at the close of play with the game delicately poised, Sandhurst 1/15 requiring another 126 for victory. Sandhurst started Day 2 in positive fashion realising a victory was needed to stay in the hunt for the finals. Unfortunately Sandhurst couldn't see off Huntly's best bowlers as first Turnbull and then Bayliss were both bowled to have Sandhurst 3 for 44.
With less than 100 required and Brock Fletcher at the crease, it still favoured the Dragons as long as batsman could hang around with Brock. Unfortunately indecision cost Brock his wicket as he appeared to have too much time to play his shot and spooned one to gully as he was dismissed for 22 and Sandhurst were 4 for 51. Terry Scullie who had shown some solid form with the bat to date this season looked most uncharacteristically frustrated in his time at the crease failing to take advantage of a couple of lives and eventually fell for 6 as Sandhurst were 5 for 71.
Leigh Draper then became the key wicket, whilst he was scoring at a quick rate the result looked within reach, but just as Huntly's front line bowlers were coming to the end of their spells Leigh Draper was the 7th man out bowled for 49 off just 54 balls with the score on 109. Sandhurst scrapped and fought for every run but in the end too much had been left to the tail as Jeremy Darmody was the final man out LBW with sandhurst bowled out for 123 and 19 runs short of Huntly's total.
With time remaining Huntly went out for a second innings, and buoyed by their first 3rd XI victory in some time used the freedom to disptach Sandhurst bowlers to all corners of the park, Sandhurst's only successful bowlers were Josh Ennis (1/27) and Jerremy Darmody who claimed his maiden Sandhurst wicket with a brilliant spinning delivery deceiving the batsman and Leigh Draper did the rest to remove the bails as Huntly finished 2 for 81 off 12 overs.
There was a few standout performers with Courtney Cornells 3 wickets, leigh Draper's 49 onluy surpassed by Brock Fletchers 4/14 and 22 with the bat. The result is a crushing blow to the 3rds with any chance of finals action this season now gone as they find themselves 12 points out of 4th with just one game remaining.
Sandhurst round out the season with a ghome game against Strathfieldsaye which has been shifted to Atkins Street Niorth bendigo due to the upcoming AFL practice match at the QEO.
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