Round 3 vs. Kangaroo Flat

Match Results

03/11/07 & 10/11/07

Round 3 Vs Kangaroo Flat November 3^rd & 10^th

1st XI @ Atkins Street North Bendigo

Sandhurst went into the 2nd match of the year looking to replicate the form that saw them score a stunning win over the Roos in the corresponding round last year but were unfortunately sent in on a lively wicket. Sandhurst were caught in a quandary as to whether attack and score runs before the pitch got you, or be patient and hopefully survive through to when batting would be more comfortable. Sandhurst ground out to 5/71 at Tea with none of the top five able to get going.

Sandhurst' position received a timely boost from Joel Schneider (36) and Anthony West who continued his impressive start to the season with a well compiled 60 to push Sandhurst to a reasonable position of 8/171 in 67 Over at Stumps on Day 1 when rain stopped play.

Despite again been written off in the media as a chance of winning the game, Sandhurst entered day 2 with a clear game plan to occupy the crease and leave Kangaroo Flat a run chase that would force them to take chances and therefore give us the opportunity to take wickets. The plan never really got going on Day 2 as in favourable batting conditions Sandhurst innings was dismissed early on day 2 for 179.

In the field wickets proved impossible to come by, as Kecky explored every possible option with the ball excluding wicket keeper Nick Scullie. The Dragons just needed 1 or 2 things to go their way, but a combination of dropped catches in the field and stubborn umpires unwilling to give an LBW it took until our total had been passed and the match decided before Mark Holland (1/39) proved successful in the 60th over of the innings. Tim Williams also toiled hard and was rewarded with 2 wickets in 1 over to finish with 2/43 as Kangaroo Flat finished up 3/276 in 77 overs.

Man of the Match wasn't a difficult decision as Anthony West's classy 60 a clear stand out performance.

2nd XI @ Dower Park

Following a 1st up defeat to Strathdale, Sandhurst looked to bounce back and looked to notch the club 1st win of the season. The side was bolstered by the return of Travis Crouch from 1st XI and new recruit and opening bowler Craig "Chooka" Burn from Dunolly. Craig was given the responsibility of taking the new ball and made the perfect start when he had Kangaroo Flat opener caught at slip by Dylan Gibson off the 1st ball of the day. Sandhurst continued to keep things tight without reward until Nick Cook collected his 1st wicket as a Dragon and breaking a stubborn 50 run 2nd wicket stand by the Roos. Matt Hall was then introduced into the attack with immediate success picking up two valuable wickets in 3 Overs prior to tea to leave Kangaroo Flat 4/92 at tea off 41 Overs.

Matt Hall got straight back to work after the tea break picking up a wicket in the 3rd over after tea to claim a 3rd wicket and when Chooka picked up a 2nd wicket Kangaroo Flat were 6 for 130 in 50 Overs. Trumpy again pulled the right move bringing Brock Gibson into the attack picking up 2/12 in 5 Overs. Leaving Kangaroo Flat 9/158 in 61 Overs when weather took a turn for the worse and the game was abandoned for the day.

Sandhurst took little time wrapping up the innings early on day 2, with Matt Hall claiming a deserved 5th wicket to finish with a very impressive 5/34 off 17 Overs as Kangaroo Flat were dismissed for 173 in 68 Overs. Craig Burn's 2/50 could easily have included more scalps, had chances been taken, one such example was so aptly described by coach Scullie as Dylan Gibson dropping an absolute bag of $h!*! early on Day 1 at slip.

In more favorable batting conditions and with the required run rate of no consequence Sandhurst need only value their wickets and victory was well within reach. Sandhurst got off to a steady start adding 23 for the 1st wicket before Trav Crouch was LBW for 14. What followed from then on was beyond comprehension. Sandhurst continued to lose wickets at regular intervals to what can only be described as impatient “and irresponsible batting. Following a procession of wickets that saw Sandhurst 7 down in just the 22nd over Sandhurst stopped the rot slightly to limp to 7/72 in 30 Overs.

With a chance to regroup, No.3 batsman Dylan Gibson and Matt Hall showed more of the application required in a run chase as their partnership of 21 lasted nearly half the total innings before Hally was bowled for 10, and when the 2 final wickets fell soon after including the final dismissal of Dylan Gibson for a gritty 27 Sandhurst had been dismissed for a total of just 87. A stat highlighting the lack of patience shown by Sandhurst's batsmen was the fact that only Trav Crouch 31 balls, Dylan Gibson 91 balls and Matt Hall 47 survived more than 20 balls in their innings.

Sandhurst were left to salvage some percentage by bowling for a 2nd time and Craig Burn again impressed picking up 3/28 in 9 Overs and along with Trumpy's 1/23 had Kangaroo Flat 4/53 in the 2nd innings off 19 Overs.

There was 3 standout performers for the match, Craig Burn's 5 wickets for the match, Dylan Gibson's fighting 27 and Man of the Match matt Hall for 5/34 in 17 Overs and a patient innings batting down the order showing application to the cause.

3rd XI @ Atkins Street North Bendigo

Following on from the disappointment of a loss in the 1st game of the season, Sandhurst 3rds was bolstered by Simon Turnbull who after 2 weeks on the sidelines got itchy feet and pulled on the whites again. Whilst rain late in the week was welcome by most in the region, there were 11 Sandhurst batsmen not overly impressed the toss of the coin had not fallen our way and we had just been sent in on a damp menacing looking wicket which was too start 45 minutes late due to wet and dangerous run ups.

Things went about as well as could be expected for the Dragon top order starting with opener Keith Cloke caught behind off the 1st ball of the day, with Kangaroo Flat's Blair Hinds taking the first 7 wickets of the match to finish with a stunning 7 for 20 in 9 Overs. The conditions dried out as the morning wore on and as conditions dried out and the shine was taken off the new ball, Traviss Russell (28) and Josh Ennis (8no) provided the only partnership of substance for the morning adding 26 for the 8th wicket, before Sandhurst again collapsed to lose their last 3 wickets without adding to the 68 runs on the board in just 26 Overs.

Being dismissed so early did give Sandhurst the opportunity to put the shoe on the other foot and see how the Kangaroo Flat batsmen handled the tough batting conditions. The conditions proved indeed that neither his pen or his sword packs much punch as Advertiser "Journo" Luke West was caught and bowled for a duck with the final ball of the 1st over of the innings bowled by Dave Hunter. Dave Hunter continued his spell of Dangerous bowling picking up 4 for 10 in just 7 Overs and when Josh Ennis joined the party picking up a 5th wicket Sandhurst were back in the game and had the game been completed on a level playing field may even have pinched a low scoring match.

Unfortunately, Kangaroo Flat survived until stumps and faced far more batsmen friendly conditions on Day 2, after seeing off Dave Hunter's spell, Sandhurst picked up only 1 wicket to Tipper before Kangaroo Flat secured victory by 4 wickets. Trewy chopped and changed his bowlers around and it was the skipper himself who proved the destroyer picking up 3 handy wickets for 28 in 8 Overs. Kangaroo Flat were finally dismissed for 209 in 53 Overs.

With time left at the end of the day, Sandhurst had the opportunity of a 2nd innings, with Bryden McFarlane's 25 not out the highlight of 3/50 in 13 Overs.

Although a disappointing loss, there were positive's to be taken including Trav Russell's 28, Trewy's 3 wickets and Josh Ennis' all-round performance but for 4/18 off 10 Overs and giving the side a chance of victory Dave Hunter was awarded Man of The Match.

After 2 rounds, the club still remains winless in all 3 grades and the task gets no easier as our 1sts and 3rds venture out to Eaglehawk whilst our 2nds are at home at Weeroona Oval keen to get back in the winners circle.

Back to Match Results