Round 5 Vs Bendigo United
14/11/2009
Round # 5 Giraffe Report Vs Bendigo United November 14th
First XI @ Weeroona Oval
An abbreviated Round 5 in which the 3rd XI were deemed not worthy to compete in, saw Sandhurst needing to rebound after the loss in a high scoring affair to White Hills in Round 4. BUCC’s were also looking to rebound after a humbling defeat at the hands of Bendigo. Selection saw Tom Wilson promoted to A Grade for his debut First Xi game for the club as well as Mark Keck who filled spots vacated by Dylan Gibson and Mark Holland.
Sandhurst won the toss and chose to bat first on the Harry Trott deck and found themselves in early trouble with Simon Turnbull dismissed for 5 in the 4th over. Anthony West who was enjoying a solid start to the season also found himself back in the pavilion early on dismissed for 4 with the total on 20 in the 11th over. Batting conditions were proving difficult and with a disciplined BUCC’s attack giving little away Tim Robertson joined Nick Scullie at the crease and took until the 27th over to bring up the team 50 before Tim Robertson fell for 15 to leave Sandhurst well behind the eight ball.
Sandhurst still had wickets in hand and with some aggressive batsmen in the sheds, the run rate would surely pick up. Pasky joined Scullie at the crease and the pair added 48 for the 4th wicket before Nick was dismissed just short of a deserved half century for 46 leaving Sandhurst 4 for 90 in the 37th over.
This bought Mark Keck to the crease and it was a shot a ball from the Dragons batsmen desperate to post a defendable total for the bowlers to bowl at. Pasky contributed a valuable 34 from 41 deliveries before he fell to the spin of Crawford in the 40th over with the total on 113. It was then Mark Keck who controlled proceedings for the Dragons scoring a stylish 27 from just 23 deliveries with Trav Crouch the support act in a 25 run stand before Kecky became Crawford’s 2nd victim in the 43rd over with 138 on the board. Sandhurst then scrambled their way to 8 for 153 from 45 overs.
Sandhurst would need to take early wickets to apply some pressure to the BUCC’s line-up just as BUCC’s had been able to do in their bowling effort. Whilst Sandhurst had been tied down early on, Sandhurst were unable to restrict the run rate in the same way as BUCC’s ticked along comfortably at close to 4 an over for the opening 10 overs before Quinton Bentley claimed the key wicket of Chris Pinniger caught by Travis Crouch with the total on 38.
First XI debutant Tom Wilson was thrown the ball in the 14th over and what a start to the young red head’s spell claiming one of the BDCA’s premier batsmen caught at mid-on by Simon Turnbull for just 4 to spark jubilant celebrations amongst the Dragons. BUCC’s had suffered a horrific batting collapse in the previous match against Bendigo and one or two more quick wickets may have found Sandhurst right back in the contest.
It wasn’t to be, as opener Wayne Fidler blunted the Dragons attack whilst Matt Pinniger pushed things along at the other end. Matt Pask chimed in with a wicket in his first over bowling Matt Pinniger with the total on 101. That was the last look in Sandhurst had as Nick Crawford and Fidler guided BUCC’s to a 7 wicket win in the 40th over. Quinton Bentley 1/22 off 8, Matt Pask 1/31 from 9 and the debutant Tom Wilson 1/22 the successful bowlers and pick of the Dragons attack.
Match Summary: Sandhurst 8/153 (Scullie 46, Pask 34) Lost To Bendigo United 3/154 (Wilson 1/22, Bentley 1/24) in 39.2 Overs.
The Key: The Bowling – As was highlighted after the match, BUCC’s bowlers were more disciplined than their Dragon counterparts, bowling line and length and to their field and keeping extras to a minimum. This set up BUCC’s to restrict the target required to a modest 154 to win.
Man of The Match: Matt Pask’s 34 and 1/31 saw him claim man of the match.
Second XI @ Weeroona Oval
Coming off their best team performance for the season, Sandhurst faced the undefeated Bendigo United side at Weeroona Oval with some new found confidence. In team news, Sandhurst’s batting line up was bolstered by recruit Matt Giri and Dylan Gibson, but it’s bowling options were reduced with Tom Wilson’s promotion to the firsts and the unavailability of Elias Bowe and Justin Hancock. BUCC’s too appeared to be down slightly on man power with reigning joint league best and fairest Rick Mannix, and Jake Donegan both not included in the line-up.
BUCC’s won the toss and batted in what appeared to be perfect batting conditions. Sandhurst’s bowlers were exemplary, as Traviss Russell claimed the early breakthrough having Curtis Tuohey caught behind for 3 in the 4th over. Clint Prime and skipper David Bicknell then rode their luck with a number of quick singles and near miss run outs in an aim to break up the tight line and length bowling from the Dragons.
The pair of Bicknell and Prime’s luck finally ran out when they chose the wrong fielder to take on when Matt Giri pounced in the covers and ran Clint Prime out for 21 with the total on 61 in Craig Burn’s second over. “Chooka” made it two wickets in three balls picking up a big wicket of Harry Donegan who was bowled without score to reduce BUCC’s to 3 for 62 in the 18th over.
Skipper Dave Bicknell then controlled proceedings, dominating the scoring and surpassing 50 before Tim Mcglone who’s pinpoint spin bowling was finally rewarded having Bicknell caught at extra cover by Trump in the 25th over. Timmy Mc only grew ion confidence and he had his second wicket in two overs ripping one through the gate of Matt Burston for 2 and completing his fine spell with figures of 2/23 from 9 overs.
BUCC’s needed to consolidate and as a result Sandhurst was able to motor through some overs with both Dylan Gibson and “Beefy” Botham continuing the pressure. It was that pair that combined for the 6th wicket when Dylan Gibson took a stunning one handed catch at mid-wicket just inches from the turf off Beefy’s bowling to end a 35 run partnership. If that was special, the very next ball Leigh Mcdonald chased a skied ball behind him out to the edge of the 30 yard circle where at full stretch he hung onto claim a spectacular catch, to really get the Dragons players breathing fire and place “Beefy” on a hat-trick.
The crowd was on edge and whilst the hat-trick ball was ultimately unsuccessful, with overs ticking by and the pressure building on the BUCC’s tail Dylan Gibson drew a false stroke and had Mcdonnell caught right on the boundary by Chooka at deep mid-wicket and when he claimed a caught and bowled the following ball with the final delivery of his spell he would begin his next spell of bowling in his next match on a hat-trick.
Clinton Botham did not take long to claim a third and the final wicket of the innings caught by Sticky at point as BUCC’s lost the final 3 wickets without addition to be all out for 148 in 42.2 overs. Clinton’s 3/11, Mcglone’s 2/21 and Gibson 2/34 the multiple wicket takers.
BUCC’s had a largely inexperienced bowling attack and if Sandhurst could make a solid start would be well on their way to victory. This wasn’t to be after the first ball of the innings from Hayden Mcdonnell cut Patrick Brophy in half BUCC’s sensed the frailty in Sandhurst’s batting line-up and realised this game was up for grabs. It was only the second over when Will Horan played all-around one and was bowled for no score despite complaints that an earlier leg glance that went for 4 leg-byes was off the bat.
Sandhurst progressed cautiously onto 24 before Dylan Gibson flashed at a ball angled across him from the left arm Mcdonnell and was caught sharply by Tuohey in slips for 5. This bought Matt Giri to the crease and he proved to be a man in a hurry, scoring with ease and having little difficulty picking off the bad balls. Giri and Brophy added 38 for the 3rd wicket before Brophy was again undone by spin caught behind off the bowling of Podosky for 10.
This sparked a mid-order collapse as Hayden McDonnell was re-introduced and in just one over picked up both Trump and Burn caught behind in a stretch that saw Sandhurst lose 3 for 1. Sandhurst then received some respite as McDonnell strained a calf and was unable to complete his nine over allotment finishing with 3 for 9 off five overs.
Sandhurst were also receiving assistance from the BUCC’s bowling in the form of wides, gifting Sandhurst free runs and additional deliveries to obtain the runs required. Matt Giri proceeded at over a run a ball and bought up his 50 with a succession of four 4’s and a six before he went for one big stroke too many from the bowling of Podosky and was caught for 57 from 51 balls with the total on 99.
In a perilous position at 6/99 but only needing another 50 runs from 25 remaining overs the target was still achievable. Unfortunately the lower middle order of Saunders, Russell and Botham who had stood up so well the previous round were unable to match their Round 4 efforts as despite additional assistance in the form of wides (25) and extras (33) Sandhurst were dismissed for 133 in just the 33rd over and 16 runs short of victory.
Match Summary: Bendigo United 148 (Botham 3/11, Mcglone 2/23, Gibson 2/34) defeated Sandhurst 130 (M Giri 57)
The Key – Again, it was the batting that let the side down, an inability to protect their wicket, a total of 133 which was aided by 33 extras in pursuit of 148 for victory on a good pitch. A total of 100 runs off the bat with 57 of them coming from 1 batsman and a second top score of 12. Being 8 down in the 24th over and bowled out in the 33rd over isn’t going to win you any games.
Man of The Match – Maybe not the obvious choice, given one batsman scored close to 60% of the teams runs off the bat, but Tim Mcglone’s spell of bowling coming on inside the first fifteen overs helped turn the match in Sandhurst’s favour picking up the valuable wicket of Dave Bicknell in a spell of 2/21 from 9 overs gave him the first of what is sure to be many Man of the Match awards for the Dragons.
Goat Of The Round – The Giraffe believes it to be an unfair advantage that the third XI have less rounds to find themselves nominated so whilst they were playing week 1 of round 6 whilst First and Second XI played Round 5, Keith Cloke stood out for a goatish effort, in taking until 8.15 on the morning of the match to realise he didn’t have his cricket spikes in his bag. So after making some initial enquiries, he hot-footed it to the Weeroona Oval equipment shed and collected his spikes. Lucky for Keith he more than made up for his off-field behaviour with a fine day 1 performance which you can all read about in the Round #6 Giraffe Report.
The Road Ahead: Sandhurst face Strathfieldsaye in Round #6 with a Saturday Sunday game and week #2 of the Saturday - Saturday game at Tannery Lane.
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