Round 9 Vs White Hills

Match Results

11th January 2009

ROUND 9 GIRAFFE REPORT VS WHITE HILLS

1^st XI @ QEO

Following up from the 129 run pasting they suffered at the hands of Eaglehawk just 24 hours earlier Sandhurst returned to the QEO with an opportunity at redemption for their previous performance and to beat another side they had let off the hook earlier in the season. The side remained unchanged from the Saturday and again Kecky was unable to win the toss giving White Hills first use of the QEO wicket.

White Hills made a solid start before Tim Robertson continued on from yesterdays fine performance claiming Aaron Monro caught by Pasky with the total on 21. The same combination then led to the downfall of fellow opener Brodie Mcrae for 19 to reduce White Hills to 2 for 24 from 10 overs with Tim Robertson claiming 2 for 5 from 5 overs.

Seasoned campaigners Gavin Bowles and Adam Hargreaves then combined for a 38 run 3^rd wicket stand but Sandhurst’s persistence paid off having restricted White Hills to just 62 in 20 overs it was Quinton Bentley who provided the spark the Dragons needed to reap some rewards from their hard work. He had Gavin Bowles bowled and then picked up two wickets in his next over to remove James Hunter caught by Kecky and two balls later had Michael Peters caught behind by Nick Scullie to swing the direction of the game firmly in favour of the Dragons. Brenton Jones who was being used as the 5^th bowling option chimed in with the wicket of Brad Wright bowled for five following up in his following over much to the delight of the Dragons and their supporters to a plumb LBW dismissal of Adam Hargreaves.

Between them Bentley and Jones had sparked a collapse of 5 for 13 in six overs. The Dragons faced some resistance from the Hillies lower order who added 35 for the 8^th wicket before Larkey come undone at the hands of Kecky, as the text came through to White Hills that Larkey was on his way. There would be no late innings fight back this time as the innings was complete soon after with Kecky and Brenton Jones sharing the final 2 wickets to leave White Hills with just 121 on the board dismissed in the 38^th over.

The bowlers all did a fine job and the wickets were well shared, special mention goes to Tim Robertson who’s 2 for 8 from 8 overs completed an amazing weekend with the ball with combined figures of 3 for 19 from 17 overs. Brenton Jones 3 for 17, Quinton Bentley 3/24 and Mark Keck 2/30 all chipped in to restrict White Hills to a sub-par total.

Sandhurst’s merry-go-round of opening partnerships again spun up the reliable Simon Turnbull and Nick Scullie. The pair progressed untroubled through the opening 10 overs for 46 runs. Feeling adventurous Simon Turnbull opened up against change bowler and Ex Dragon Daniel Larke dispatching him straight down the ground and over the fence for 6 to bring up the 50 run partnership for the pair in just the 11^th over. It was Larke who would strike back immediately picking up Turnbull the next ball for 26.

Anthony West again batted at 3 but was unable to get going as he fell victim to Glenn Roulston for 4 as Sandhurst fell to 2 for 63 after 18. Mark Holland in red hot form then had no trouble in wiping off the remain runs required contributing 30 from 41 balls in an unbeaten stand of 60 for the 3rd wicket with Nick Scullie (43 no) to secure a comfortable 8 wicket win for the Dragons in just the 30^th over.

The game was set up in the first innings and in an even team display with the ball Tim Robertson pipped several other candidates out for his outstanding performance over the course of the weekend to claim Man of the Match.

2^nd XI @ WHITE HILLS

With both sides still in the running for a finals berth and having the contest earlier in the year abandoned due to wet weather this was a do or die clash for both sides at the Scott Street Reserve with both sides looking to bounce back from defeats at the hands of a top three side the day before. There was only one change to the Dragons side from the day before with Dean Trew replacing Brock Fletcher in the top order.

The signs were good for the Dragons early on as the side arrived ready to play and completed a solid warm up and appeared ready to fight for their season. This was most noticeable to those on the sidelines and was a vast improvement on the last Sunday game the side played. The positive energy carried onto the toss of the coin as Trumpy’s preference for heads was the correct call and gave Sandhurst first use of a perfect batting deck.

In the previous contest the Dragons had failed to make full use of batting first and relied on a rearguard action from the tail to post a reasonable 195. This side was different with greater batting depth and a revamped batting line-up which begun with Dean Trew joining Crouch at the top of the order. Sam Mcrae had proved a thorn in the side of Sandhurst earlier in the side with 4 wickets, but Trew and Crouch progressed untroubled at a solid pace attempting to emulate their 100 run partnership from just prior to Christmas.

Travis Crouch provided the early pace building a superb platform whilst Trew took the extra time to settle into his innings as the pair passed 50 in just the 10^th over. It was apparent from early on that Sandhurst may require every run they could score in perfect batting conditions given their inability to bowl sides out this season.

Things progressed along at close to 5 runs per over with Crouchy bringing up 50 in just 62 balls and Trew followed a short time after to the delight of the Dragon onlookers. The partnership wasn’t without it’s nervous moment with Travis Crouch requiring some divine intervention to avoid being stumped twice off the one ball from off spinner David Blume whilst in the late 50’s. One things sides should have learned by now is that you don’t give Travis Crouch a second chance as the pair continued on undefeated at drinks on 0 for 124.

The partnership was an obvious frustration to the Hillies with the normally unflappable Tom Mccullough knocking over the stumps in disgust at going wicket less in his spell of nine overs. There was a change in tact at the drinks break with Dean Trew assessing the situation as an opportunity for Crouchy to bat through and Trewy to push the run rate up at the other end preparing to sacrifice his innings for the good odf the team with plenty of wickets in hand. The pair passed 150 in just the 30^th over and it was Dean Trew who raced from 60 to 80 in just seven balls with five boundaries whilst Crouch remained anchored on 80. All good things must come to an end and unfortunately in the 33^rd over Dean Trew’s brilliant innings came to an end bowled for 81 from just 96 balls.

As is so often the case after a long partnership lightning struck twice as Dylan Gibson was wrapped on the pads first ball and adjudged LBW as White Hills were showing their first signs of life for the afternoon. Joel Schneider then joined Crouchy at the crease and was there at the other end when Crouchy bought up his second century in just three games from just 110 deliveries. Crouchy was determined not to throw it away and well supported by Joel Schneider who played a risk free 37 from just 36 balls to push the total up to 5 for 256 from 45 overs with Crouchy batting the entire innings to again make believers of those in attendance.

White Hills came out aggressively and aided by some wayward bowling pushed the total on at five an over for the first 10 overs before Alex Trump bowling the last over of his opening spell struck removing Tom Mccullough LBW with the total on 58. This drew a unique response from Tom who proceeded to pick up the ball and dispatch it some two thirds of the way to the fence and thus earning himself a spot in the umpires book.

Elias Bowe who was playing his seventh game in nine days bowled one of his best spells for the season, where the change bowlers had released the pressure 24 hours earlier it was the reverse today as Elias and Tamblyn put the clamps on the White Hills side. Sandhurst’s tendency to drop catches was again highlighted when Beefy Botham sitting under a skied delivery failed to get hands on a tricky ball to judge gifting Gav Hicks a life. Elias Bowe had the field perfectly set as the dangerous Gav Hicks flicked one straight to Joel Schneider at backward square leg to give the Dragons a 2^nd breakthrough.

Garth Tamblyn chimed in soon after for a much deserved wicket drawing the edge of Jacobs caught behind with the score 3 for 86 in the 21^st. Just prior to the drinks break the win was just about stitched up when Elias forced danger man Collinson to chop onto his stumps for 12 and reduce White Hills to 4 for 96 from 24 overs. With White Hills needing to rebuild Gibson and Botham maintained the pressure which eventually told in an attempted suicidal single within reach of Crouchy who completed the run out with skipper James Boyle well short.

As if he hadn’t already done enough to secure Man of the Match Crouch left no one in doubt with a stunning one handed catch in covers to dismiss David Blume off Beefy’s bowling. The game then meandered to a predictable finish with Dylan Gibson claiming the final two wickets including an LBW and a stumping to restrict White Hills to 8 for 175 from 45 overs and some 81 runs short of the target.

It was the sides most complete and impressive display of the season to date and it was Man of the moment Travis Crouch who led the side of the field in recognition of his outstanding performance in a clear cut man of the match display. The win again sees the second XI just 3 points and percentage outside with 5 games to go.

All three sides face must win contests against Strathfieldsaye in a one day fixture in the fourth of five scheduled one day games.

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