By Garry Nicholls
The 1st XI played Eastfield away and after winning the toss sent them into bat. They got off to a good start reaching 38 for the first wicket until our new member of the team Jai took his first wicket for the club from a good catch by Andy V. Two quick wickets, one to Potty returning to the side after shoulder surgery last year and another to Jai to have them in trouble at 3 for 43 in 14 overs. They steadied the ship with a 4th wicket partnership of 52 when Lachie broke the partnership with a great catch taken by coach Tim in slips. The Lusatia Park bowlers did a great job restricting them to 5/119 after 32 overs they were looking to finish their innings with quick runs to set us a target, with 8 overs to go Terry and Jordy having returned to the club after a few years away bowled brilliantly to restrict them to 7/150 with Jordy taking his first wicket and Terry taking two. Honourable mention to Mick N for taking a great catch in the covers. Great bowling from everyone with Terry 2/35, Jai 2/24, Potty 1/31, Lachie 1/25 and Jordy 1/32 all from their allotted.
After the break, it was Lusatia Park’s turn to bat we got off to a shaky start losing both Mick N and Andy V for ducks Chriso and Robbo put on a 57 partnership to get us to 76 until Robbo was the third wicket to fall to be 3/76 after 17 overs leaving us in a good position to chase the target down. Coach Tim joined Chriso at the crease and batted brilliantly to get us to 132 when Chriso fell for a magnificent 69. With only 19 required and still 15 overs left Tim steered us home to finish the game on 5/151 with himself making 33 n.o. in the 29th over, great win guys and a good start to the season.
The 2nd XI hosted Eastfield at home and sent the visitors in and having them in trouble early, taking a wicket in his 1st and 4th over to be 2/24 after 6 overs. The visitors then rallied somewhat to put on 46 for the third wicket when P.B. chimed in to have Boote caught by Marty for 37 to have them at 3/70 after 16. Wickets were falling steadily thanks to everyone in the field doing their bit and holding their catches when needed. The visitors’ 4th and 5th wickets fell in quick succession with Bhavin taking both, one bowled and the other caught by Stuey. Eastfield were now 6/113 after 26 when Stuey got involved in running out their top scorer Dehoon for 38. Their remaining four wickets fell for only 31 runs all catches with one each to Deon, Viren and Choof. Fantastic effort in the field, bowlers doing a great job also with Viren 2/36 from 8, a very economical 1/19 off 8 from young Luke Parker, a magnificent 3/20 for the ever-reliable P.B. and Bhavin taking 3/21 from 6.4 overs, great job everyone. After the break, it was Lusatia Park’s turn to chase down 145 to get the win. They started well with Deano and Mick Dwyer combining for a first wicket stand of 48 until Mick was unfortunately run out in the 11th over. Lusatia Park then lost two more quick wickets to be 3/62 until a steady partnership of 20 between Deano and P.B. when P.B. lost his wicket at 82. Deano continued to keep the score moving along until he fell in the 22nd over for a very well-compiled 62. With 38 runs still needed but plenty of overs in hand the opposition would have been hoping to wrap up the tail, but Lusatia Park had other ideas, with the next wicket not falling until 132 leaving Stuey and Dutchy to get the 2nd XI over the line winning by 4 wickets and with 11 overs to spare, Stuey n.o.13 and Dutchy n.o.10 in a great team effort.
With our 1st & 2nd XI sides being unable to play their home games at Woori Yallock due to an unsafe surface, the 3rd XI are playing some games at Wesburn’s second oval. Lusatia Park hosted Mooroolbark, won the toss and sent them in. They lost their first wicket at 13, caught behind by wicketkeeper Brendan Sharman off the bowling of Lee Philpot. Lusatia Park then picked up two more wickets at 43 and 47 both going to Vanhorick in successive overs 2 and 3, one bowled and the other again caught behind. The Mooroolbark batters then staged a big comeback putting on a fourth wicket partnership of 106 until the wily old veteran Colin Voigt came on and in his third over picked up the wicket of Gray for 44 caught by Simon Amore. Not to be satisfied with just one wicket, in his very next over with just 10 added to the score got his second wicket clean. Unfortunately, even though Lusatia Park’s bowlers tried their hardest and captain Dan praised their efforts and never-say-die attitude in the field, they were unable to pick up any more wickets with their opening bat McDonald on a very good innings of 53 retired. Mooroolbark’s last two batters took them through to the end of their 36 overs with a very defendable score of 5/209. The bowlers never gave up with Lee Philpot 1/33 from 7, Terry Vanhorick 2/22 from 6 and Colin Voigt 2/35 from 5. With a big target to chase, Lusatia Park reached 26 in the 4th when they lost their 1st wicket. Sharman continued to push the score along until retiring on 53 with a lusty 10 4s and one 6. The second wicket fell at 97 after only 17 overs but sadly things started to go downhill from there losing the next three wickets for only 9 runs. The batters staged a mini comeback moving the score along to 140 when they lost their sixth wicket but by that stage, the task had become too much and they ran out of overs. It was great effort to finish only 37 runs short and only be 7 down, fantastic effort guys and a special congrats goes to Bill Ahmad for a grinding 32 n.o. and young Tayte for making his first runs in the 3rd XI.
