2s Match Reports - R10, R11 and R12
The stage was set for a big final 4 games for the Magoos and it was all on the line. 3 wins from their final 4 games would lock them into finals for the first time in 6 years. First the first time since then, the team had been settled with minimal ring ins each week, allowing the boys to conjure some chemistry and a legible game plan to be installed each week.
Round 10 saw the Magoos travel to Beaumaris to play MCC, another finals hopeful. Batting first OXCC made a competitive(ish) total of 168 from 39 overs on a pitch that was hard to score on. It appears we were about 20 runs short again, with standouts in the batting- debutant Jon Malaxechevarria (aptly nicknamed the scorers nightmare) crafting 54, Nick Harries (28) and Matt Perrett chipping in with 20.
It was arguably the best bowling performance of the year as we were able to keep MCC to 5-152 from their 40 overs. Some extremely tight middle overs bowling from Alex Eden-Lachowicz (0/22 from 8) and Finn Chiodo (0/19 from 8) were standouts as pressure was put on the young MCC side. Wicket takers were Pat Nunan (1/39 from 8) and debutant Jon Malaxechevarria (2/20 from 5), and 2 runouts helping polish the game. Clutch stuff from the lads with 2 more wins required for finals.
Round 11 was back on the Plunkett Fortress against Whitefriars whom we had very recently lost in a close one. It was truly archaic conditions with the merucry predicted to reach 37 degrees in the afternoon. There was plenty of talk of a shortened game which was denied by Whitefriars, so the magoos knew the needed to bring some heat of their own if they were to win this one. Master tossman Pez won once again and the magoos batted first. Alex Eden-Lachowicz (38), Andrew Seal (29) and Nick Harries (19) were the pick of the batsmen as we reached a total of all out 152 in the 38th over. Another batting innings were we ended about 20 or 30 short of par and didnt bat the overs - a common theme for this season and many gone past ….
Alas, it was up to the bowlers to save the day (once again), and that they did. The TBC (Twos Bowling Cartel) was able to dismember the Whitefriars batting lineup for 139. A fantastic start had Friars reeling at 4/27 until some good batting saw them 6/120 and the game seriously in the balance. However some clutch death bowling saw the game over in the 37th over of Friars innings. Multiple wicket takers were Nick Carabine (3/15 from 6), Pat Nunan (2/15 from 7) and Ed MacIsaac (2/9 from 4). A seriously good win in horrendous conditions. Two wins in a row for the first time in what feels like eternity and some serious momentum coming into the final 2 games of the year, with only 1 victory required for a finals berth.
Round 12 was a matchup against 2nd placed Footscray on the mighty Jackson Oval. Another week, another toss won by the Pez and like clockwork the magoos padded up first. There was some early spite in this matchup with lots of complaining coming from the men from the west’s mouths. Openers Andrew Seal (33) and Paddy Frawley (23) quickly shut them up with a great opening stand. Jon Malaxechevarria (now know as match reporter’s nightmare) chipped in with a lovely 30 before Eddie Paul (24*) and Pat Nunan’s (17*) 40 runs from the final 3 overs not only saw the Magoos bat the 40 for the second time this season but set a competitive total of 7/159.
Footscray’s batting innings started with a bang, with their opening batsmen hitting opening bowler Pat Nunan (1/23 from 8) for a 6 and a 4 in his first over before the TBC leader wrapped him on the pads with an inswinging yorker that Mitchell Starc would be proud of. Wickets fell at regular intervals throughout Footscray’s innings however their number 3 bat was consistent throughout and looked to be the lynch pin as the game entered its final stages. Requiring 21 from the final 5 overs it was some fielding brilliance from Finn Chiodo ( 2/18 from 3) that brought his downfall for a well crafted 71- runout from long on. With Footscray requiring 11 from the final 2 overs with 1 wicket in hand, it appeared Win Viz was showing OXCC as likely winners - and that would have been correct. Paddy Frawley (2/40 from 8) with a direct hit from gully to the non-strikers end with 3 balls to go bowling Footscray out for 153. The middle over spin king Alex Eden-Lachowicz (2/27 from 7) was the pick of the bowlers, along with Jon Malaxechevarria (0/4 from 2) who bowled extremely well at the death.
And so for the first time in this author’s memory the Magoos had won 3 on the trot and had locked themselves into finals for the first time in 6 seasons with some serious momentum behind them. A final round matchup against ladder leaders Old Camberwell would be a great warmup for what we hope is a long and fruitful finals campaign.
GO XAVS !
