1s go down in tight tussle with MCC - Round 1 match report 23/10
Match Report MCC v Old Xavs Div 1 23rd October
Guest columnist – Missed Feint Edge
Firstly let me congratulate the club for the invitation and attendance at the 2 Premiership reunions both of which I played a small part in. It was great catch up with you all especially club legend Matt Cosgrave who truly deserved more success than he got , but like my team Collingwood, finals were not too kind to him.
Capt Sheeds called incorrectly and Blake Stove MCC Capt choose to have a bat on the Beaumaris road, surrounded by the Sahara desert outfield while the rest of Melbourne and Victoria were paddling down main roads in canoe’s.
Pat Nunan my sub editor opened the bowling into the breeze and immediately had Purba edging to a diving Sheeds at first slip. Some would say the ball dropped short while others would say the skipper didn’t dive forward enough. The jury’s still out!
It didn’t really matter as Sheeds made the strategic call to move Oscar ‘ F Bomb ‘Smart from the on side to the off side where he swallowed a catch to end Purba’s day and Pat brought up the first wicket at 1 for 10.
Not to be out done a Giant recruit from Deepdene Jack Forde tempted Simon Parrott to hook one straight down Pat Nunan’s throat at deep back ward square leg in the very next over, 2 for 10.
Unfortunately the team had to wait another 149 runs for the next dismissal, even with a possible feint edge to the keeper not getting the approval from umpire Fisher despite the Chief’s somewhat confident appeal.
Having denied the 150 partnership at 149 , with Sheeds snapping up a smart catch from a mis timed lap shot, off keeper turn bowler Josh Nelson , more success followed shortly when Jack Kennedy held on to a sharp catch off the bowling of Liam Fitzpatrick score 4 for 177.
Jack Forde took his 2nd wicket when Liam Fitzpatrick held on to a catch with Mellick departing for 23, score 5 for 200.
The last pair put on 11 runs before a suicidal last ball run attempt presented Charlie Knott with an easy direct hit run out.Score 6 for 211 with a winning target of 212 not insurmountable on the fast paced Beaumaris desert.
Jack Forde 2/25, Liam Fitzpatrick 1/21, Josh Nelson 1/21 Pat Nunan 1/39, Smart, Nunan, Sheedy, Kennedy Fitzpatrick all a catch each and Knott a run out.
After a high standard typical MCC arvo tea scoring 8.5 on the Old Xavs Richter scale and included mixed sandwiches, mixed wraps, the famous lemon and red Jam tarts with plenty to go round and still some over, the chase was in front of this group of last minute thrown together cricketers.
Charlie Knott and Matthew Dean came out to take the shine off the ball and the way Knott started you would of thought he had a Sunday wedding to attend as he despatched the ball to various parts of the desert.
Dean wasn’t as lucky as he tickled one to the keeper and departed for 2 with the score at 1 for 2.
The Camberwell Magpies Gun Liam Fitzpatrick joined Knott and displayed the skills of a very good batsman.
Charlie’s swash buckling innings came to an end on 17 off 3 overs when Mellick disturbed his stumps 2 for 17.
Josh Nelson joined Fitzpatrick and the pair were very comfortable in the run chase despite the electric score board going into melt down and we reverted to the Spanish version in manual.
Josh departed the scene when a skied ball fell into the safe hands of Lavender for a well made 22 and the score 3 for 63.
Ned Niall came out hung around played and missed and didn’t trouble scorers in his 3 over stint when Hyslop dis lodged his stumps for a duck.Score 4 for 68.
The Captain Sheeds strode to the wicket looking comfortable at the crease until Webb took a blinder to send him back to the pavilion with 7 runs to his name and the score at 5 for 81.
Collingwood royalty for this Magpie fan was next in, with Fin Macrae who had the team in good position to chase down the score.
Liam Fitzpatrick’s majestic innings came to an end on a team high of 55 when Norsetter took a catch off Webb to send him on his way, score 5 /116, and a valuable 35 run partnership with Fin.
Not long after Liam departed, Fin lobbed one into the hands of Talalla , for a handy 14 and the score at 7/121.
The sub editor Pat Nunan marched to the crease and was looking good until Hugh Hyslop with just one stump to aim at knocked them over from mid on to send Pat on his way for a well made 9 and the score 8/127.
Jack Forde and Oscar Smart who was playing his first game in 6 years since his last with the Yr 9’s showed plenty of ability with bat, ball fielding and mouth until Sheeds instilled a certain level of decorum in him.
Oscar departed on a well made 9 runs when dismissed by a juggling multiple attempt catch that finally landed in Talalla’s hands 9 for 137.
The two sky scrapers Forde and Kennedy more likely ruckmen than cricketers hung around before Parrott got one through Forde’s guard for 3 and the score at 145 and Kennedy not out on 4.
A very enjoyable game with plenty of promise for the rest of the season.
Votes
3. Liam Fitzpatrick 55 runs, 1/21 1 catch.
2. Josh Nelson 22 runs, 1/21 and a good job wicket keeping prior to Knott taking over
1. Jack Forde 3 runs, 2/25.
Arvo Tea 8.5
