Round #13 Vs Golden Square
20th February 2010
Round # 13 Giraffe Report Vs Golden Square Saturday 20th March
1st XI @ Atkins Street In Poetry Form
Sandhurst may have just claimed the John Turner Trophy,
But for the firsts to make the finals from here, a quadruple outright was required, not impossible just ask eternal optimist, Pat Brophy.
The side was settled, the venue was unexpected. The Zoo at Atkins Street no less.
This number one scorer was glad to get out of there alive, I must confess.
Jonah won the toss and elected to bat first.
A string of early wickets had Anthony West carrying the ‘Hurst.
A second consecutive half century, Westy was in a rich vein of form.
Aside from Trav Crouch’s 37, single figures was the norm.
In fine batting conditions, Sandhurst had lost 6 for 33
157 all out in the 43rd over, was not enough for me.
Westy top scored with Sixty-Six, would it be enough?
Defending less than 4 an over against the top side in the league was always going to be tough.
Scotty Harper was showing late in the year, what a handful he can be,
Now that he was on the park, it was plain for all to see.
He picked up the wicket of Marcus Mckern caught behind,
But the ball to dismiss Golden Square linchpin Phil Hetherington, no one could find.
Square had 100 on the board with 20 overs left.
Unfortunately, Pasky aside, of wicket-takers, Sandhurst was bereft.
Two wickets in the same over to Pasquali, gave the Dragons a sniff.
And when Tim Robertson claimed Connelly, the Dragons were given another lift.
One more wicket, a second to Scotty Harper was all the Dragons would obtain,
Pity Square was past us whilst 5 wickets and two overs still remained.
Match Summary: Sandhurst 157 (West 66, Crouch 37) lost to Golden Square 5/160 (Pask 2/30, Harper 2/39) by 5 wickets.
Key Moment: Phil Hetherington took the game away from the Dragons with 68 from 73 balls in a modest run chase in the unfamiliar surroundings of Atkins Street North Bendigo.
Man of the Match: Anthony West made it back to back man of the match awards with a classy 66 from 99 deliveries to be the stand out Dragons player of the match.
2nd XI @ Weeroona Oval
Sandhurst’s second XI side was decimated at the selection table by the unavailability of first XI players and faced a monumental task against top of the table Golden Square who already held one comprehensive victory over the Dragons earlier in the season. Golden Square won the toss and elected to bat on a glorious looking Weeroona Oval. The new ball combination of Trump and Hancock would need early success to apply the brakes to Golden Square’s explosive top order.
It was Trump and Hancock who combined for the first wicket, with Max Grant who had got the Doggies off to a flyer earlier in the year but falling for just 2 on this occasion when Justin took a catch at point off Trump’s bowling in the 3rd over. Sandhurst’s usually pin point bowling was uncharacteristically wayward, with both new ball bowlers bowling multiple wides. Elias Bowe had an eventful beginning to his spell with the wicket of Will Tonkin LBW and then disappearing over the mid wicket fence two balls later in the same over from the bat of Josh Baird.
Aaron Bentley made the most of an early life and along with the rest of the middle order was able to score freely as the Dragon bowlers struggled to contain the powerful Square batting line up. Elias Bowe was rewarded with a second wicket when Josh Baird picked out Alex Trump at mid on in the final over of his spell to leave Golden Square 3 for 116 from 25 overs.
The sides two leading wicket takers Hancock and Trump had overs up their sleeve and were re-introduced into the attack with 9 overs remaining with immediate success, Trump was the beneficiary of a fine catch from Tim Mcglone, to hand him his 2nd wicket, and Justin Hancock followed up in the following over picking up Matt Christie bowled for a 2nd ball duck.
With only 5 overs remaining Golden Square were going for broke, and it was Aaron Bentley who was bought undone caught on the mid-wicket boundary by “Chooka” Burn for 96 to hand Alex a 3rd wicket of the innings. Justin Hancock again proved his ability to hit the woodwork when he claimed the wicket of Fitzgibbon bowled for 11 and when skipper Craig Blencowe found the safe hands of “Chook- Chook” at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of opposing skipper Trump, Square had been restricted to 8/225 with Alex Trump 4/41, Hancock 2/32 and Bowe 2/41 sharing the wickets. Sandhurst could not afford to gift Golden Square the 22 wides they did with Trump, Hancock and Botham the main offenders.
Nothing in Sandhurst’s efforts with the bat in the season to date indicated that they would challenge the 226 runs at 5 runs per over required. Dylan Gibson and Will Horan opened up, and having seen Sandhurst to a solid start against BUCC’s the previous round were this time unable to repeat the dose with Dyl receiving a questionable LBW decision and Will Horan tickling one through to the keeper to leave Sandhurst 2 for 12 in the 3rd over.
With Turnbull and Burn at the crease, the pair was always likely to keep the scoreboard ticking over if they could establish themselves at the crease. The pair batted sensibly and made use of the fine batting conditions to push the run rate along in excess of 4 an over. It was a return to form for Simon Turnbull, placing value on his wicket and teaming with a more aggressive batting partner to add 77 for the 3rd wicket before he fell victim to a sharp catch in slips off the spin of Fitzgibbon for 34.
The sides leading run scorer for the season Craig Burn was again proving adept with the bat and having gone close on numerous occasions before, finally bought up a maiden half century in his time at the Dragons and with Alex Trump able to turn the strike over at the other end Sandhurst was making a good fist of the run chase. Needing 100 from the final 15 overs, Sandhurst was hanging in there, but could not afford the loss of Burn, who was caught and bowled Josh Baird for 61. Trump and Hancock had previously experienced communication issues whilst batting together, with a history of run outs whilst the pair were at the crease together. This time the pair was able to continue the momentum that had been generated in the innings to date and added a brisk 40 for the 5th wicket which had Sandhurst daring to dream until Hancock chopped on for 22 from 19 balls to burst the Dragons bubble.
The loss of Mcdonald and Trump (41) both with the score on 186 bought about a brisk finish to the Dragons innings, dismissed for 192 in the 44th over and 33 runs short of Golden Square.
Match Summary: Golden Square 8/225 (Trump 4/41, Hancock 2/32, Bowe 2/41) defeated Sandhurst 10/192 (Burn 61, Trump 41) by 33 runs.
The Key: The Dragons just didn’t have the depth of talent that Square possess and were that step behind in all areas, depth of bowlers, a batsman capable of controlling the innings with a big total and in the field.
Man of the Match: Not for the first time this season, it was the captain Alex Trump who led from the front, claiming 4 wickets and a solid 41 from 58 balls earned him man of the match.
3rd XI @ Atkins Street – (Done In the Form of a High School Science Experiment)
Hypothesis: That Sandhurst 3rd XI will break a recent hoo-doo against Golden Square 3rd XI and secure a spot in the final series with victory.
Apparatus: 24 cricketers, a sprinkling of spectators, 2 sets of crooked stumps and an actor impersonating an umpire. Some dry weather after week one was abandoned due to the weather.
Method: Golden Square won the toss and sent Sandhurst into bat.
Sandhurst make a rusty start with the damp outfield and ball fish tailing not assisting the situation. “Trew Squared” back in the pavilion inside 6 overs.
Sandhurst’s trump card Brett Polson gets to work but obtains little support with Draper (16) and Felini (12) the only other batsmen able to make double figures.
After a conservative start, the Dragons innings unravels and looks decidedly paltry. One shudders to think what Sandhurst may have mustered if not for Brett Polson’s unbeaten 43 as Sandhurst finish 7 for 103 from a reduced 23 overs. The umpires clock is obviously running a tad slow, or he was out drinking the night before as judged by the late beginning to the match and the crooked nature of the stumps.
After an in auspicious start Golden Square lose two wickets in quick succession with a run out and wicket to Dave Hunter slowing down the run chase.
Sandhurst prove incapable of restricting Golden Square, keep wickets in hand and construct a 25 over innings the way it should be.
A sharp caught and bowled to Matt Felini and a memorable final over of the contest proved the only remaining highlights with Courtney Cornell disappearing for 4,1,4,6,.,6 for 21 off the over including two enormous sixes after the result was secured.
Golden Square secure victory in 16 overs.
Sandhurst head back to the drawing board to secure a finals appearance in Round 14.
Results: Sandhurst 7/103 (Polson 43no) defeated by Golden Square 4/116 (Felini 2/26, Hunter 1/31).
Conclusion: It was concluded that Brett Polson should be awarded man of the match and as far as the hypothesis that Sandhurst can reverse the recent hoo-doo against Golden Square 3rd XI is shot to pieces. Finally Sandhurst must head into Round 14 outside the top 4 and needing things to fall their way to make the finals.
Goat of The Round: Plenty of nominations as usual at this time of year, from the individuals who thought Leigh Drapers expansive drive was a great shot, until mid on took 3 steps to his right and swallowed a simple catch to the umpire who couldn’t grab a handle on the concept of putting the stumps in straight, but still one goatish effort outshines the rest.
Despite having the scorebook right in front of him, and attempting to relay the first XI scores to those in attendance at the second XI, Pete Schneider was unable to decipher whether Sandhurst had posted 153 or 157 in their innings, and if not for the skill and expertise of the clubs premier scorer, poor Pete may still be there trying to work it out.
The Road Ahead: One round remaining, and the thirds are the only side still in contention for finals action. We require a win over the eighth place Strathdale and also require top of the table Eaglehawk to defeat 4th placed Bendigo United to make finals.
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