By Rob Boxell
3rd XI vs Seville
The threes travelled down the highway to Warburton for their first match back after Christmas. Winning the toss and choosing to bat first in sweltering 38-degree heat, the guys had a rough run of
it, with Aaron Stewart, Daniel Van De Maat, Dale Treller and Glen Peake all crossing into double figure scores but unable to kick on. Posting 75 for the home side to chase, it was always going to be
difficult.
Ernie Clark and Trellar picked up early wickets to have the opposition 3/25. Despite tight bowling efforts, they were unable to make another breakthrough which saw Seville pass the score in the 20th over. A lean run has seen the 3rds slump to sixth on the ladder, however, with returning players into higher grades, the team is confident of a finals berth.
Yarra Junction 10/75 defeated by Seville 3/77
2nd XI vs Coldstream
Skipper Marcel Kocher won the toss and chose to bat first. A strong Coldstream bowling attack proved to be too much for the undermanned Yarra Junction outfit as they slumped to 73, with only Kocher and Toby Hawkins able to reach double figures.
A brief glimpse of hope came when Kocher took a screamer of a catch of Toby Pilton to get the first wicket with the score on 11, but it proved not to be as the home side cruised to victory with the loss of only one more wicket.
The 2nd XI will now regroup with the post-holiday jitters out of the system, as they look to stay in touch of the top 4.
Yarra Junction 10/73 defeated by Coldstream 2/76
1st XI vs South Warrandyte
Losing the toss and being sent out into the field in scorching weather, Yarra Junction’s flagship side toiled for 80 overs in the field. The first breakthrough came as Kevin Bomford managed to bowl Michael Crosbie with the score on 52. Wickets came at regular intervals, but were unable to stem the run rate, as South Warrandyte cruised at 4 an over for most of the day. When Bomford picked up his third wicket, taking the score to 6/290 in the 70th over, a light at the end of the tunnel seemed visible. However, South Warrandyte Captain Andy Solomons went ballistic, hitting 73 off 33 balls, while Dan Wilson knocked it about at the other end to reach 100 not out.
With a total of 417 to chase down, it is going to take some extraordinary efforts from the Yarra Junction batsmen on day two.
Yarra Junction vs South Warrandyte 6/417 (K Bomford 3/127)
