Season 24/25: Vets big win keeps finals hopes alive.
OXCC Vets vs Canterbury Light Blues,
Sunday 19th January 2025
Maclay Oval (west), Balwyn.
by Bernie “Best Vets Bowler Ever” Heaphy as told to Scotty Palmer.
Vanilla Headline: OXCC Vets keep its Final Hopes Alive after a Crushing Victory over Canterbury
The headline you really wanted to see: Captain not satisfied with highest comp score of the year …. wants more from his Bowlers & Fielders
Or the other headline which may require the involvement of the OXCC Integrity Unit (Not sure we have one): Captain manipulates the bowlers to try and win the Bowling award !!!
Following an indifferent 2024, the Old Xavs Vets remain undefeated for 2025 and remain in the hunt for a maiden finals berth following a comprehensive victory against Canterbury Light Blues in Madras like conditions (Thommo asked me to put that in …)
The batters led the way going at over 7 an over and landing the highest comp score of the season to date, finishing with a remarkable 251, with four retirees and everybody pitching in except Mick (Jerome asked me to put that in …)
Now channelling my inner Bobby Davis on WOS, when reviewing the weekends football games would just commentate on the video highlights, I will rely heavily on the scorecard and not my fading memory, even after one lukewarm mid strength in Madras like conditions (Thommo asked me to put that in again)
Direct from Main Ridge, John McEncroe led the charge with a 15 ball 40 that included 8 x 4s and 1 x 6 (SR: 267), followed by Michael Meehan with a relatively pedestrian 40, with five boundaries and Thommo with an unbeaten 41 off 34 balls with 7 boundaries, and Jerome Whelan also with 41 off 28 balls and 9 boundaries (SR: 146), cameos from Terry O’Brien and John Harden (Rumoured to be our lower order Big Show or Fraser-McGurk … readers’ choice) and our skipper contributing 19 off 12 balls (SR:158) … he asked me to put the SR in, with the others making up the numbers except for Mick (Jerome asked me to put that in again).
Now this is when fun started, in Madras like conditions (Thommo again), the skipper turned to the author and Rob MacIsaac to make a bowling statement in the first spell, so 25 dot balls later and only 14 runs scored off five shots, the die was cast for a massive victory.
Then came the big fix, with Jerome sniffing victory in the bowling awards, we may have finally found the all-rounder we have been looking for. Jerome Whelan took 3-19 off his 4 overs, cruelly denied a chance for a “five for” by an opportunistic captain (Jerome asked me to put that comment in). Mick O’Dea put his batting disappointment behind him with a stellar bowling and fielding exhibition, despite what the skipper said post-match, with 0-12 off 5 overs and one rocket arm from the outfield resulting in a run out.
It’s great to a have a rock star leg spinner, complete with head band to bamboozle the opposition, with Brian Ceresa 0-6 off five overs generating a few tough chances, then tight bowling from John McEncroe and Thommo, who also took three catches, in tough conditions (the late sea breeze suggested Galle like conditions) and a skipper unsuccessfully trying to buy a few wickets with some profligate bowling (Jerome again).
In the heat, Michael Meehan swapped the gloves with Rob MacIsaac and we may have finally found the allrounder we have been looking for (apologies for using that line again).
Then in Madras like post-match conditions, with a lukewarm beer in hand, the captain let rip and advised, nicely, that we would have to do much better than that performance (did I mention we hit the comp high score) to make the finals.
A few of the boys headed to Melbourne’s greatest pub – the Skinny Dog (sponsors plug) - to celebrate, as a hard-earned thirst needs a big cold beer and the best cold beer is…. at the Skinny Dog (sponsors plug again)….. only for the Skipper to arrive and continue to rip his blah-blah “we must be better” message…so we all went home!!
So it simply comes down to this. Beat Burwood on the Motel Oval (it will always be the Motel Oval for me) in a few weeks’ time and we can break out the cold full strength beer before another dressing down from the skipper.
Scores:
OXCC Vets defeated Canterbury Light Blues by 129 runs
OXCC 6-251 (McEncroe 40*, Meehan 40*, Thomas 41*, Whelan 41*, Harden 27, O’Brien 26)
Canterbury 6-122 ( Whelan 3-19, McEncroe 1-6, D MacIsaac 1-29)
https://play.cricket.com.au/match/208b8ea4-403a-4732-8ef3-a40da3b8dcbf
Voting for Rudi Webster Trophy – to be advised at end of season dinner. Arrangements being made for Rudi to present…
