Magoos Steamroll MCC to Take First Win of the Season

Blue skies and sunshine met the Old Xaverians Cricket Club 2nd XI in Beaumaris for its 2nd match of the season against Melbourne Cricket Club, and after last week’s disappointing performance with the bat the Magoos were happy to be bowling first, so as to give them more of assessing the wicket and outfield before putting the pads on. The MCC innings was very much a tale of two halves. The first 20 overs were commandeered by tidy bowling of Pat Nunan (1/27 off 8), Hayden Ellis (1/21 off 6), Paddy Martin (1/13 off 5) and Will Mackinnon (1/16 off 5). Through a combination of good length, off-side bowling and very few fielding mishaps the Old Xavs had MCC at 2/51 after the first 20, and although the two batsmen at the crease had begun to settle it was an impressive start. The second 20, unfortunately, was not as successful for the Xavs, with a 61 run 3rd wicket partnership sparking the MCC innings into action, and they ended up travelling at over 5 runs an over to finish with a total of 7/166 off the 40 overs. Callum Abrahams (1/43 off 8) worked hard and was unlucky to have edges and slogs go for boundaries, and new skipper Matt Perrett found out the hard way that protecting the boundaries from the 30 over mark onwards is perhaps more important than saving a few singles. Regardless, 166 was definitely chaseable on a hard wicket with a lightening outfield, but it would take a lot of positivity and grit from the top 6 to get there.

In what can only be described as the best overall batting performance the Magoos has seen in the last 3 seasons, our top 3 batsmen simply did not provide a single wicket chance to the MCC bowling attack. Andrew Seal (53*) and Alex Eden-Lachowicz (19* ret. hurt) began the innings well, running hard between wickets and putting away the bad balls. At 0/40, however, a mystery illness overcame Lash after running a hard 3, and he was forced to retire hurt feeling faint. The initial thought was that he must be in serious agony to bring himself off after looking very comfortable on 19*, however before the ambulance could even be called he was eating a KFC go bucket and feeling much better. Michael Clark (90*) certainly capitalised Lash’s ailment, and from the get go was absolutely smoking balls all over the field, and in tandem with the Seal put on an unbeaten 131 run stand in 18 overs to reach MCC’s total after just 27.5 overs. Clarkman and the Seal picked the gaps and ran hard until they were comfortable at the crease, then the 4’s and 6’s followed. The boys on the sidelines couldn’t have been happier, and this win certainly sends a message to the competition that we are a force to be reckoned with this season!