Magoos Fail with the Bat Again as Melbourne University Take the Chocolates
Overcast conditions and a strong Melbourne University XI met the Old Xaverians 2nd XI on the Plunkett on the 21st of February, but the Old Xavs were hungry to redeem themselves after being bonus pointed last round. After his weekly stalk of MyCricket, skipper Matt Perrett noticed that a few of Uni’s players were doing the classic “double-up” of district cricket into MCC on a Sunday, so when the boys were thrown the ball there was a huge focus on staying focused for the full 40 overs.
It was an ideal start for the lads. Despite bowling short and wide for three consecutive overs to start the game, Callum “Cummins” Abrahams (1/36 off 8) struck early, and Harry Morton (1/22 off 4) backed him up at the other end. After 7 overs the Uni Boys were sitting at 2/19, and the Magoos had their tails right up. What followed can only be described as very good batting. A run a ball 150 between the number 3 and 4 speaks for itself. To be perfectly honest, apart from a few sloppy errors in the field, the bowling was actually quite good. When you have a batsman lap sweeping your off-spinner you simply have to just respect that he is a good batsman. Hayden Ellis (1/29 off 8) was the pick of the bowlers, who after a stint out with injury did not miss a beat on his return. Melbourne Uni finished with an impressive 6/199, and the Magoos were going to have to produce their best effort with the bat all season to pull of this victory.
In saying that there was plenty of faith amongst the top five that they could produce a few match winning innings. Andrew Seal (13) striking two boundaries off the first over gave the Magoos the quick start they needed. At the other end, however, after weeks of begging and pleading to be given a chance with his new imported bat, Pat Nunan (0) did not trouble the scorers. From that moment onwards it was another page out of the OXCC batting collapse compendium, with the lads falling to 6/39 after a mere 16 overs. With a bonus point looking all but secured from Melbourne University, ring in James Skene (23) and Callum Abrahams (14) managed to claw back some of the Magoos’ dignity with a handy 31 run 7th wicket partnership. When Glenno fell, Jimmy S and Tom Worsnop (5) put on another 23. This partnership, albeit just 23 runs, embodied what the Magoos have lacked for almost all of the season – grit. The two simply stuck around, taking 1s and 2s and hitting the odd bad ball for four, and it eventuated in the team scraping to all out for 106, salvaging the bonus point.
However, saving a bonus point is not what they Magoos are here for. They are here to win games and are disappointed with two big losses on the trot. With the second fixture of the season against Carey coming up, this is the chance for redemption against a side who stole victory from the Magoos’ mitts on the final delivery of the game.
