Weather puts pressure on

PERSISTENT overnight rain had varying effects on the chances of Upwey-Tecoma’s junior cricket teams on day two of round three last Saturday.
Although never really in danger, the Under 15/1 team easily defended their mammoth total of 321 against UFTG.
The damp outfield slowed good shots but it was more the line and length bowling that saw UFTG finish on 6/160 in reply.
Brandon Clark completed a great match with 2/8 from his five overs with Cory Woolcock also picking up 2/8.
An early wicket for the Under 15/2A team reduced JPCC/Mountain Gate to 3/25, chasing 98 for victory. The visitors settled after that and went on to post 147 and take the six points. Callum Craig (3/20) and Taylor Jones (2/11) returned the best figures.
Chasing Ferntree Gully’s 202, Steve Atherton (13) and Matt Chambers (27) got the Under 15/2B team away to a solid start in the damp conditions but this was to prove insufficient as the side was dismissed for 118. Jackson Barnard (52), Jordan Tailby (31), Jackson Waters (26) and Tom Somervaille (13) led the Under 13/1 team to a total of 160, chasing Eildon Park’s 226.
The slow outfield dampened values for shots which cost a much closer finish.
Ryley Hannagan (55) and James Dobbie-Hayward (39) performed best in the Under 17/1’s total of 135 – well short of Mulgrave’s 275.
Finally, the Under 11 side made their first appearance of the season against Mulgrave Reds. The boys had a great start to their season with Ben Raru (13), Gus Milner (9), Dylan Rickard (6 & 1/10) and Haydn Stanley (7 & 1/14) leading the way in a great contest on The Dome.