by Ben Vallence
Under 14s Wandin v Mt Evelyn at Wandin North Recreation Reserve:
Wandin won the toss and elected to bat. Unfortunately, Wandin were in early trouble with openers Spencer Smith (0) and Jackson Kneebone (1) going early with the score on 2/4. Rory Vallence and Charlotte Edwards combined well to steady the innings, making a 35 run partnership. Rory made 22 and Charlotte made 9, leaving the score at 4/43. Wandin was able to benefit again from another steadying partnership of 32 runs between Tyler Seeger and Jack Dowthwaite, with Tyler making 19 and Jack making 9 with the score at 6/94. Thomas Day showed he was in great form, playing all the shots in his great knock of 22no and batting well with his tail end partners, Thomas Ray (4), Cooper Kneebone (3), Jye Aitken (4), and Emanuel Vallence (1) to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Wandin finished all out for 132.
Wandin couldn’t have asked for a better start with Jackson Kneebone (1/18) getting a wicket in his first over with the score on 1/7. Not to be outdone, Tyler Seeger (2/2) snagged wickets in the second and fourth overs with the score on 3/12. Charlotte Edwards (1/6) then chipped in with another wicket, with the score on 4/13. However, Mt Evelyn steadied and continued to make runs. Rory Vallence (2/19) was able to get much-needed breakthroughs in the eighth and tenth overs leaving the score at 6/49. But Mt Evelyn continued to work hard and compile runs. The match was very tight when Jack Dowthwaite (2/4) took wickets in the sixteenth and eighteenth overs, including a great catch by Jackson at slip, with the score on 8/91. Despite some very good bowling by the younger members of our side, Mt Evelyn was able to chase down the total, finishing on 8/138. The match was very tight all day and all players can be very proud of the effort and commitment they put in.
