Pirera Stars at 1s Claim First Win of the Season

The 1st XI had a rare game scheduled for the Chapel Oval to restart the season after Christmas break. The boys were ready to go on what looked to be a green and slow wicket.

Skipper Jimmy Forrest won the toss and elected to bat. Kane Pirera (101) and Angus Sheedy (14) opened the batting as per usual, with Sundries (19) making a valued appearance in the first 8 overs. The pair (or trio) got off to an absolute flyer, with the score showing 0-44 after 6 overs. Sheedy was the first to fall, after he tried to relocate the 16-year-old medium pacer six suburbs over.

Jimmy Forrest (51) joined Pirera, replacing his co-captain, and the score continued to climb at an exorbitant rate. The pair put the MCC bowlers to the sword, putting on 128 runs for the second wicket. Drinks arrived, with Pirera stranded on 99. He soon reached the magical century, and decided to retire after copping some mild heatstroke. After Pirera’s departure, the wickets started to flow a little more freely, and the runs dried up. Forrest reached his fifty and was dismissed the next ball, and Nick Harries (3) didn’t hang around. Olly Hicks (16) and Nick Terry (12) offered some middle order resistance, however neither could bat out the innings. Anishka Fernandopule (4), Kye Walford (4) and Bailey Whelan (15) tried to hurry along the strike rate, however were all dismissed going for it. Matt Forrest (10) and Callum Todaro (5) survived long enough to allow Pirera to pad back up, however he join an exclusive club of cricketers who made an unbeaten century AND a golden duck in the same innings. The boys finished on 258; easily the best score of the season.

After some socially distanced lunch, the boys made their way out onto the field. Bailey Whelan (1/39 off 8) and Matt Forrest (2/43 off 8) used the new rock to great effect, collecting a wicket apiece. Callum Todaro (0/35 off 8) was unlucky not to have one himself. Kye Walford (0/50 off 6) and Kane Pirera (0/13 off 2) were the victims of short boundaries and in batsmen. Two run outs, from Kane Pirera and Matt Forrest, got the two set batsmen out and the Xavs back in front. Angus Sheedy (4/55 off 8) came on and cleaned up the tail, securing a bag of wickets; before Forrest and Whelan came back on to seal the victory.

Great start to the year gents, let’s get another couple of wins next week!