Following on just 7 days from the side’s disappointing loss to Bendigo in the Ron Slattery Memorial Twenty 20 contest, Sandhurst looked to gain some retribution from one of the sides they had dropped points against earlier in the season as a result of a below par batting performance. The side was strengthened by the return of Andrew Sheehan and also by the inclusion of new signing Jason Marr who was making his debut for the club as a middle order batsman.
Kecky lost the toss and Matt Fitt had no hesitation in batting first on a pitch perfect for run scoring. Andrew Sheehan used what little life there was in the wicket to draw the edge of Matt Fitt’s bat only to see the chance spurned at slip with Fitt yet to score, not even John Edward could have foreseen how costly that would prove to be.
Tim Robertson took the new ball and after conceding 4 from the first ball he bowled and 5 from his first over he then found his groove and was near on impossible to score from bowling a superb spell of bowling to finish with 0 for 7 from 5 overs in his opening spell. Andy Sheehan was able to make the breakthrough removing the dangerous Andrew Smith caught behind for 9 with the total on 12 in the 5th over.
From then on it became the Matt Fitt Show, he was devastating on anything loose and proceeded to tear apart the Dragons bowling attack which if anything lacked discipline in bowling the right line and length and variety as no bowler other tan Tim Robertson was spared from the carnage. Just prior to drinks Tim Robertson came on for a second spell with the score 1 for 129 at the start of the 22nd over and again weaved his magic further enhancing his reputation as one of the tightest and stingiest bowlers in the competition to further improve his amazing economy rate for the season. Tim was rewarded with the wicket of Linc Mcrae and bowled a 2nd 4 over spell for the figures of 1 for 4 to finish with the astonishing figures of 1 for 11 from 9 overs.
Matt Fitt wasn’t done with yet and with steady support at the other end went on a rampage that was impossible to believe if you weren’t there to witness it in person or didn’t recall a similar thing happening to the Dragons at Weeroona in a one dayer against the same side about five years earlier. Matt Fitt walked off the ground at the completion of the inning unbeaten on 186 from just 126 deliveries as Eaglehawk had amassed 5 for 338 from their 45 overs at a run rate of 7.51 runs per over. Removing Tim Robertson’s spell the side conceded 327 runs from 36 overs at an economy rate of 9.08 runs per over.
For Sandhurst to be any chance of reeling in the mammoth total they needed a flying start and to retain wickets in hand, unfortunately neither was to occur. Kecky attempting to make use of the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs joined Nick Scullie at the crease and it was Scullie who was first to go when he was caught behind for 8 in the 6th over. Mark Keck followed the next over as Sandhurst had made a shocking start to be 2 for 12 from 7 overs.
Anthony West and Mark Holland two batsmen who had been up and down the batting order this season like yo-yo’s started the rescue mission and putting aside the run rate required batted very well to start building a reasonable reply to Eaglehawks total. Anthony West was the aggressor of the pair blasting his way to 46 from just 38 balls against his old side in an innings that spelt danger for onlookers and nearby buildings dispatching Shane Taylor over the boundary and onto the change room roof. His innings was ended with the total on 76 when Shane Taylor gained a measure of revenge in bowling Westy.
Jason Marr then joined Dutchy at the crease, unfortunately his stay was short lived dismissed in the 25th over to leave Sandhurst 4 for 100. Pasky who had been in solid form after his delayed start to the season started well as Mark Holland picked up the pace at the other end moving towards his first century of the season. The pair added 49 for the 5th wicket before Pask was bowled by the in form Sam Fitt.
The biggest surprise to all in attendance was that it had taken Dutchy to get to 37 before he registered his first 6 of the innings. His second six soon after bought up his half century and a raft of boundaries and sixes enabled Dutchy to bring up 3 figures with another well timed, superbly executed “filthy cross the line slog over cow corner” six off Anthony Dennis onto the hill in the 42nd over. There are unconfirmed reports former Dragon Tim Williams may have actually caught the ball over the line and tried to claim the catch as he is known to have past history of such incidents. Dutchy finished unbeaten on 109 from 130 deliveries and including 11 fours and five sixes in what was well controlled innings having come to the crease at 2 for 12 having aided Sandhurst to post what would normally be considered a reasonable total of 6 for 209.
It was one of Mark’s best knocks for the club and summing up post game, coach Terry Scullie was quoted as saying he’s a big boy who can hit the ball a long way” to state the absurdly obvious to everyone in Bendigo cricket. Still such a fine innings was enough to earn Man of the Match plaudits and more importantly to the big boy a free feed to boost his strength for his next knock.
2nd XI @ Weeroona Oval
Sandhurst faced a rematch against Eaglehawk the side that claimed outright points against them earlier in the year with a vastly improved side. The side was bolstered with the inclusion of Joel Schneider, Dylan Gibson and Craig Burn. Unfortunately Ash Piercy called correctly and Eaglehawk were given first use of the wicket. The scorers had barely completed the top of the scorecard when Craig Burn drew a false stroke from Sam Walker straight to point and unfortunately for the Dragons the chance was spurned. This would no doubt prove costly as the side that sit’s a top of the table is a certainty to make you pay for errors in the field.
Alex Trump opened up from the other end and was rewarded in his first over trapping former Sandhurst skipper Matt Ford LBW for 0. Burn and Trump continued to apply the pressure to Eaglehawks top order and Sandhurst could possibly have had a 2nd breakthrough when Trump drew the edge of Glen Daly that fell agonisingly close to Brock Fletcher at slip, with the players naturally reacting to the edge the umpire sent the batsman on his way only to be told on 3 separate occasions that Sandhurst had withdrawn the appeal as the ball had not carried, finally things were cleared up and the batsman stayed on.
It was like the release of a pressure valve for Eaglehawk having been restricted to 1 for 25 from 13 overs Eaglehawk begun to cut loose. Adding 64 from the next 9 overs before the introduction of Beefy Botham dismissed Sam Walker for 49 runs. Clinton Botham was proving lethal with the ball as he claimed the dangerous Corey Jacobs who had been so destructive in the Twenty 20 clash between the two sides earlier in the year for just 7 and then picked up Glen Daly caught behind for 44 to leave Eaglehawk 4 for 113 in the 28th over.
With the shine off the ball Eaglehawks dangerous middle order was again in a position to work the side into a strong position. Phil Kerr who clearly has the Sandhurst fixtures highlighted in the calendar each side alongside the notation “field day“ followed up his unbeaten 63 in 30 balls in the earlier contest with an unbeaten 67 from 43 balls to make it a combined 130 from just 73 balls for the season.
The only other highlight of the innings as far as the Dragons were concerned was the desperate and obviously very effective appeal which is now awaiting a patent from Alex Trump to remove opposing skipper Ash Piercy despite the ball appearing to hit the big man in the torso. Eaglehawk were able to add around 6 an over for the final 30 overs of the innings in compiling 7 for 221 from their 45 overs.
The target was still attainable but would require a good start and some help from Eaglehawk’s usually pin point attack. Normal opener Trav Crouch was joined by Dylan Gibson and the pair made a solid and cautious start to the run chase. Travis Crouch felt the need to push things along as the required rate approached 6 runs per over. With Dylan becoming bogged down at the other end, Crouch played a false shot and paid the price as Dave Ford swallowed a high ball to remove Crouchy for 19.
Brock Fletcher had an imposing 2nd XI record this season and he would again be required to come through with a big score. Unfortunately Eaglehawks bowlers just didn’t provide enough loose deliveries for the Dragons to pick off as the rate required escalated the pressure finally told as the Dragons lost Fletcher LBW to Piercy for 23, Gibson who chopped on for 21 and Joel Schneider to a square up for Trumpy’s earlier LBW in a spell of 3 for 1 in 3 overs to reduce Sandhurst to 4 for 81.
With Sandhurst looking at the possibility of another heavy defeat Bryden Mcfaralane and Alex Trump who had shown some solid form recently came together to try and pick up the pieces. The pair pushed the score to 4 for 100 with 10 overs remaining. The pair was then able to hit out against Eaglehawks change bowlers with Alex Trump particularly devastating on anything loose. The pair added a further 79 from the final 10 overs to bolster the Dragons total with Mcfarlane unbeaten on 32 and Trump unbeaten on 62 from 59 balls which included two sixes and 6 fours.
It was still not enough as Sandhurst’s 4 for 179 was still 42 runs short of the target in a much improved effort against the ladder leaders. Man of the match was a difficult decision but Alex Trumps 62 not out and 2 for 39 and definitely for his inventive style of persuasive appealing narrowly pipped Clinton Botham’s three wicket haul for the award.
3rd XI @ Canterbury Park
Home and away cricket returned after the Christmas break with the table topping Dragons looking to repeat the success they enjoyed against Eaglehawk earlier in the year and stay clear of a congested leader board. Trewy lost the toss and Sandhurst were asked to make first use of perfect pitch and batting conditions. Sandhurst made a cautious beginning with some tight bowling from Eaglehawk with only the occasional boundary being picked off.
In an attempt to increase the pressure on the field and the run rate Trewy attempted an ambitious 2nd run and was found well short of his ground to be run out for 13 and leave Sandhurst 1 for 23 in the 9th over. Keith Cloke who was most definitely enjoying his own “bed shed” products a little too much and didn’t arrive in time enabled Marty McDonnell to be given a long promised opportunity up the order. With Kinners struggling to get going it was Marty who was left to push the run rate and Marty just started to find his feet when he was dismissed for 10 and Sandhurst were left 2 for 38 in the 15th over.
The top order had laid a platform for the hitters within the side to push on and Leigh Draper took full toll once he joined Kinners at the wicket. With the bowlers unable to gain anything from the wicket Draper was Lethal on anything. Whilst Kinners battled on at the other end Leigh Draper was 32 from the first 20 balls he faced and was able to add 66 for the 3rd wicket before Kinners was put out of his misery dismissed lbw for 26 from 73 balls. Matt Felini strode to the crease and was able to add unbeaten 42 from the final 4 overs of the innings, with Felini’s contribution 24 from just 11 balls which included two sixes and one four. Leigh Draper bought up his 50 from just 32 balls and compiled an unbeaten 69 from 45 balls in an innings that included 8 boundaries. In total Sandhurst had amassed 3 for 150 and scored 108 from the final 15 overs of the innings. This had provided Sandhurst a more than defendable total.
Requiring 5 an over from the beginning the signs weren’t great early on for the Dragons when the first 3 balls of the innings and four in total from the first over from Matt Felini all disappeared to the boundary. Fellow opening bowler Dave Hunter didn’t fare much better as both bowlers continually bowled loose deliveries and were dually punished by Eaglehawks opening batsmen. The usually reliable opening pair combination appeared incapable of reigning in the Hawks openers as both bowlers finished opening spells with the unflattering figures of 0 for 38 from 4 overs.
The additional pressure also told on the Dragons change bowlers who begun to stray even further in their line and length conceding numerous wides making Eaglehawks diminishing run chase that little bit easier. Those in the grandstand were in shock, I’d say speechless but you know that’s never the case when Leigh Draper is around as Trewy was lost for answers. The Borough bought up their 100 in just the 10th over and appeared to be cruising to the easiest of 10 wicket victories when opening batsman Jordan Lea picked out Keith Cloke in the outfield for the Dragons 1 and only wicket of the innings from the bowling of Derek Robertson. The spray delivered by Dean Trew at his bowlers was heard for some distance, but the damage had been done and Eaglehawk cruised to a 9 wicket win in just the 16th over.
The bowling performance was the worst dished up by a Sandhurst side for some time and the side could offer no excuses for such a poor display in such a critical game in something that could only be labelled a D-I-S-G-R-A-C-E by a side looking to play finals cricket. In just 16 overs Sandhurst conceded 15 boundaries, four sixes and 24 wides. With nothing to be taken from the 2nd half of the game, Leigh Drapers fine 69 from 45 ball innings was enough to earn him Man of the Match.
The First and Second XI sides will back up against White Hills on Sunday whilst the Third XI have seven days to recover and think about their performance before all three sides face a vastly improved Strathfieldsaye.