1’s Fail to Defend Total Against Melbourne High
After a disappointing result last week against Scotch, the Old Xavs 1st XI was looking for a bounce back against fellow top 4 team Melbourne High. After winning the toss captain Angus Sheedy elected to bat on a rock hard wicket. The Old Xavs didn’t start strongly due to some tight opening bowling by Melbourne High, and when Andrew Seal departed for 21, it was 2/40 off 13 overs. However Jim Forrest and Sheeds rebounded for a handy 62 run 3rd wicket partnership, before both perished in the 40s. Fill in Pat Smith kept the runs ticking over, and Matt Perrett, called up after the 2’s game was washed out, maintained his batting form from the previous few weeks. Both Smithy and Pez made 30s. Some excellent acceleration from the Old Xavs in the last 10 overs, including a beautiful cover drive for 4 from Jack Fagan (6*), set a total of 196 for the hosts to chase.
The first two overs with the ball cost the match for the Xavs, with Melbourne High getting out to a blistering start, and from there always being in a strong position to reel back the total they had been set. Callum Todaro (1/26 off 7) finally got the break through 13th over. Todars and Ed MacIsaac (0/24 off 5) combined for a good bowling partnership that put some pressure on Melbourne High, which led directly to the Melbourne High number 3 batsman hitting it directly to Dom Baker and taking off for a run. He was always going to be out, but Bakes threw back what must be the slowest lollipop in cricket history to take a run out to wicketkeeper Jesse Livermore, who finally knocked the bails over. Old Xavs fought back well during the middle section of the innings, with a George Stewart catch off Bailey Whelan (1/42) bringing Melbourne High to 3/124. With 10 overs to go and Melbourne High needing 5 an over, anything could still happen, but a strong early platform and wickets in the shed allowed the chasers to mow down the Old Xavs total comfortably with 4 overs to spare and win by 6 wickets.
It wasn’t our best showing, and Melbourne High are a good team that you have to take it to, but it was promising to see the Xavs show some strong resilience. The Old Xavs 1’s still sit at 3rd on the ladder with 4 matches remaining in the regular season. A strong end the season will guarantee finals for the Xavs, and we know that when we play our best we can take revenge on both Scotch and Melbourne High.
Next week is another important game for the 1’s, away to OMs who just leapfrogged Haileybury to claim 4th spot on the ladder. The 2’s will be playing Scotch on the Plunkett.
