Magoo’s go down in a Thriller - R12023/24

OXCC 167 def by Footscray 7/168

Round 1 of the new season started on a wet and dreary Sunday in Melbourne’s west. Magoos skipper Matt Perrett started the season well with a won toss and elected to bat first. Returning players Andrew Seal (4) and Bhargav Khadala (18) saw off the openers before both departing. Nick Harries (1) came and went before Matt Perrett (68) and Will Vergano (29) struck together a damaging partnership in the middle. With boundaries flowing, the xavs looked right on top in their season opener. Vergano soon departed before a classic old xavs collapse saw us lose 6/40 to be all out 167 in the 30th over.

With rain coming sideways the lads took the field and Khandala (0/28 from 6) opened up with Pat Nunan (0/15 from 7.3) and kept the bowling tight. About 20 runs short of par the magoos knew they needed a strong bowling performance if they were going to challenge. Tom Wornsop (0/33 from 8) joined the attack and was difficult to get away in difficult conditions for both bat and ball. It was the injection of spin that brought about the wickets. Skipper Perrett (1/28 from 7) and Vergano (4/21 from 7) once again joined forces in the middle to bowl in great partnership and wrestle the momentum back in the xavs favour. It came down to the final over, with 3 required by Footscray to win and unfortunately they got the runs with 3 balls remaining.

Another game that should have been won from OXCC, which was disappointing, however some great individual performances from Pez and Vergano showed great promise for the year to come.