By Bryce Edwards
Wandin 1st XI vs Heathwood 2nd XI – by David Thorne
Wandin’s 1st XI hosted Heathwood’s 2nd XI for the last round of the year.
Wandin won the toss and chose to bat first. Getting off to a slow start with Wandin skipper David Thorne getting out early, the remaining batters for Wandin would have to dig deep and that they did. With many contributing with the bat. Like Falkingham and Ben Galante would both score 33, Tim Thorne with 21, Eden Van Beek with 20 and Hamish Lamont with 26, it would be a great all-round team batting performance with Wandin scoring 184 after 39 overs.
Heathwood would start the batting innings nicely with Wandin struggling to get their first wickets but it would eventually come from Leigh Curwood and then a run out the very next ball from Lachlan Alderman.
Wandin had Heathwood at 4/90 after 20 overs, but after the drinks break Heathwood would bat well going on to win the game chasing down 184 after 36 overs.
Lusatia Park 2nd XI vs Wandin 2nd XI by Rick Painter
Wandin would travel to the Woori Yallock oval, win the toss and elect to bat. The openers got off to a solid start and were 50 before the first wicket fell.
With Edwards once again holding up an end the scoreboard would continue to tick over but key wickets of Galvin and Bruzzese saw Wandin at 4/112. Edwards would finally be dismissed for 77 and Garner quickly followed with the score on 6/160. A 49-run partnership between Painter and Trembath would make sure a competitive score of 213 was reached with the spin of P Broussard 2/21 and S Morgon 2/35 the pick of the bowlers.
Lusatia Park would also start steadily and be on 50 before the loss of D Worelly. With the score on 2/60 K Cantwell (61) would partner up with opener C Reynolds (117) and together would steer Lusatia Park to a comfortable 8 wicket win in the 36th over to stay on top of the ladder.
Wandin 3rd XI vs Lusatia Park – by ‘The Don’
Wandin got sent in to bat and opened up by trying a few different things with M Polido and T Day. They both looked settled playing well and scoring freely before T Day went out for 14 at 1/32. P Laws came in at first drop, joining M Polido before he popped one up and was out for 11. P Laws looked really good opening solidly as Wandin were 2/37 before he exploded with three fours and a six to start moving along nicely with M Rayner. Mr Rayner fell for 8 though he also was solid and M Owens joined P Laws at 3/60 after 11 overs. P Laws mistimed one and was out for a fine 22 and Wandin were 4/64 after 12 overs.
C Foden joined M Owens and got his eye in quick and started playing some lovely shots, looking real good as the pair pushed on. C Foden went out unluckily with a little fine edge to the open hands of the keeper but in doing so making a real handy 24. At 5/97, B Christfield joined M Owens and copped a cracker of a ball which knocked him over and left Wandin 6/97 after 20 overs. A Brown joined M Owens, whacking a couple shots to the boundary before he unfortunately got caught by a diving fingertip catch. J Dowthaite joined M Owens and was looking great but popped one up and was out for 6. G Foden joined M Owens as the pair pushed on for a partnership as G Foden made a handy 11 before going out with an over left as B Warren and M Owens finished the innings, B Warren 4 not out and M Owens 54 not out.
Lusatia Park was chasing 177 and Wandin set a deep defensive field as their top order were big fellas and big hitters. C Foden and J Dowthaite fired away bowling pretty tight and J Dowthwaite picked up first wicket. M Rayner was bowling superbly and picked up the big hitter for 32. M Rayner then sent down a bullet and clean bowled a pretty handy batter for 7 in a great breakthrough. M Rayner finished with bowling efforts of 2/26 off 6 and couldn’t as for anything more from him as he pegged them right back. After drinks, Wandin fired with two spinners as Lusatia Park went defensive and Wandin slowed them right down with a superb spin combo of G Foden bowling very tidily and young C Kneebone bowling the best Wandin have seen him bowl in the situation of a tight game. G Foden 1/33 off of 7 was awesome and C Kneebone 1/27 bowled beautifully. Lusatia Park got to 5/161 off 20 overs and to Wandin’s credit, it wasn’t finished. T Day came on and straight away picked up a wicket before J Dowthaite and B Christfield came back on, B Christfield bowling a treat and Jack couldn’t do anything better as the pair picked up a wicket each. J Dowthwaite’s caught and bowled was unbelievable, diving forward and taking an absolute blinder. It came down to the last over, bowled by B Christfield with the scores level. Lusatia Park got a run on the second last ball to win.
Wandin Womens vs Bayswater Park – by Charlotte Edwards
The Wandin women’s cricket team took on Bayswater Park at Bayswater for the final game before the Christmas break.
It was going to be an exciting game for the women and they were all pumped and ready to go.
Captain Olivia Edwards lost the toss and Wandin was sent into bat.
Wandin padded up and was ready to go out and make some runs. The first wicket fell in the second over, not to stress though. Skipper Olivia Edwards came out to bat, with a quick few fours and some hard running between the wickets it was clear Edwards was in for a big innings.
Olivia consistently worked hard, the strike ticked over and there was great communication between herself and her teammates.
Olivia played her ‘only shot’, as quoted by Bayswater Park, incredibly well all innings. Olivia batted beautifully all day, her shot selection was perfect and Olivia Edwards finished on 101*.
To make it even more special two Edwards girls were out batting together when Olivia tonned up.
Olivia this is an amazing achievement and all of Wandin are so proud of you, you batted amazingly.
Wandin finished their batting innings on an incredible 2/211 as Wandin produced their highest-ever total! It really was a day for achievements.
Wandin kept their heads down and went out to work hard with the ball.
The bowling innings was absolutely amazing, the team collectively worked together to bowl out Bayswater for 67 runs.
Keeli Friend had 1/11 followed by Emma Curwood with 1/14.
Kerry Peet played her first official game for Wandin and showed everyone that she was a natural gun as she finished with a very impressive 2/10 and an amazing catch.
Olivia Edwards doesn’t just provide with the bat, she’s scary with the ball too, finishing the innings on 2/4 and one absolutely incredible direct hit runout.
Wandin got the win and are off for the break on an extreme high and sitting second on the ladder.
