By Chris Handasyde
The weather was finally kind for cricket and all junior and senior teams were able to get on the field and complete a game!
Under 12-9 Healesville 5/80 defeated Mt Evelyn 6/79
An exciting last-ball win for the Healesville U12-9 team this week. Bowling first the boys kept Mt Evelyn to 79 runs, with 2 wickets to Gus Morcombe, and one each to Ahren Wicker, Declan Kruize, James Howden and Louis Keath. The run chase started with a flurry of wickets with us 4/27 after 5 overs, Louis Keath the only one in the top order to pass double figures with 13. Then came the middle-order restoration job led by Manny Winrow top scoring with 15 not out, Arthur Coleman 14, including three successive fours to turn momentum. But it was James Howden (10 runs) on strike with 2 needed off the last ball to win. Some aggressive running from James and Manny saw the boys come home with a very exciting win.
Under 12-4 Healesville 7/97 defeated Yarra Glen 3/58
Another great team effort. During Healesville’s bowling innings, they managed to get 3 wickets with Ben Hunter (1/9), Raff Morcombe (1/0) and Taylor Caldicott (1/4) each taking one wicket. During their batting innings the hard-hitting Raff Morcombe made 29 off 18 balls and Ben Hunter faced 41 balls to make a great 10 not out. Tully Ellis also batted well to make 9 not out from 23 balls.
Under 14 Healesville 6/107 defeated Yarra Glen 7/103
A really good effort from the team bowling with Sam Keath getting 3/7 and Charlie Jarratt getting 1/13. In the run chase, Healesville lost some early wickets but Charlie Jarratt (9*) and Darcy English (16*) steadied the innings before Elijah Prentice (18) got the team closer to the target. Lewis Keath and Gus Morcombe batted well at the end of the innings to get Healesville over the line in the last over.
Under 16 Healesville 9/83 defeated South Croydon 9/77
Healesville won the toss and chose to bowl. Megan Schelfhout opened the bowling and was a standout with her best-ever figures of 3/8 off 3 overs. Riley Cameron (1/9) also took an early wicket and South Croydon was on the backfoot at 4/9 off of the first 6 overs. South Croydon put on a partnership of 43 before losing another wicket and at the end of their 25 overs, South Croydon managed 9/77. Healesville then batted and lost an early wicket before putting on a partnership of 24 before losing the second wicket. Captain Lucas Parker (12*) retired after facing his 25 balls and not long after Sam Drummond (11*) also retired. Ethan Nikcevich made a quick 14 which included his first 6 in cricket. Healesville passed South Croydon’s score in the 21st over and finished at 9/83.
Seniors 1st XI – Healesville 132 lost to Lilydale 9/144
Lilydale won the toss and opted to bat first with the sun out and the Lilydale ground looking fast. Healesville took the upper hand early with a consistent fall of wickets occurring with openers Luke Chandler (2/16) and Liam English (1/34) restricting Lilydale to 4/56 early. All 5 of Healesville’s bowlers bowled a disciplined line and length with Dillon Kerr picking up 3/34, Troy Poynton 2/35 and Josh Handasyde 1/23. Lilydale managed to fight on thanks to a patient innings from Marcus Bree (28 off 54) and some late-order hitting from Jarrod Triantafillou (22 off 28) to get Lilydale to 9/144. Healesville started slowly in the run chase and lost early wickets and continued to lose wickets and regular intervals with leg spinner Daniel Coutts getting 4/34 off 7 overs. Healesville was restricted to 8/89 but a 37-run partnership breathed life back into the game with some great batting by Liam English (27). When Liam English departed Glen Poynton hit 6 off 2 balls and Healesville needed 13 runs from the last 12 balls. The next ball Poynton was run out and Healesville fell short. The Bloods will be versing Eastfield next week at queens park in the first two-day match of the season.
Seniors 2nd XI – Healesville 10/133 defeated Bayswater Park 10/124
Healesville batted first and started well led by new recruit David Roach (58*). A batting collapse occurred until Riley Cameron (28) steadied the innings and helped Healesville reach 133. Healesville’s bowlers maintained a tight line, picking up key wickets when it mattered. Riley Cameron led the way with 3 wickets (and almost a hat-trick), Harry Baxter and Darcy English picked up 2 wickets in an all-round good bowling display.
Seniors 3rd XI – Healesville 9/102 lost to Wonga Park 3/188
Wonga Park batted first and built good partnerships to reach 3/188. Bailey Rutley bowled well taking 1/16 off 7 overs and young Elijah Prentice (1/22 off 7 overs) was fantastic getting his first wicket in senior cricket. Then run chase started well with Sam Dennett (17), Vinnie Plunkett (15) and new recruit Peter Coster (17) all making good starts to their innings before getting out. Gabe Houlihan 7* and Tojo Nolan 11 battled on well to ensure Healesville batted the full 36 overs.
Seniors 4th XI – Healesville 111 lost to Powelltown 9/126
Healesville travelled to Powelltown with 4 father and son combinations (Grant and Tyler Braden, Owen and Raff Morcombe, Adam and Sam Keath, Tom and Leonard Robinson). Powelltown batted first with Brad Norman (23) and Jens Kuth (42) compiling good scores. Healesville shared the ball around with all players getting a bowl. The youngsters took the majority of the wickets with Denzel Parson (3/14) the standout but well supported by Blake Rallis 1/22, Leonard Robinson 1/10, and Raff Morcombe 1/21 who took his first senior wicket. The fathers also bowled well and will be sore this week with Grant Braden 1/9 off 5 overs and Adam Keath 1/12 off 4 overs. Healesville then batted and with Blake Rallis (11) and Denzel Parson (13) putting on a good opening partnership. Grant Braden (20) hit 4 boundries and Adam Keath made 17. Young under-12 Raff Morcombe finished on 9 not out in his first senior innings. A great team effort and lots of fun for this newly developed team.
A special thanks to Jo Drummond, Christine Dash and Matt Harding for their contributions to the first Club function of the season.
