By Garry Nicholls
The Lusatia 1st XI hosted Templeton this week, the visitors sending us them to bat and they didn’t get off to a great start steadily losing wickets to be 4/63 after 19 overs with Chris Reynolds the only one to put a score of 30 to the total. Not-out batsman coach Tim was joined at the crease by Adam Dunn needing to steady the ship but also trying to build a good total to defend. Both batsmen batted absolutely brilliantly and at the end of the 40 overs finishing at 5/220, Tim making a superb 100 and Adam with great support making 50 no. Templeton took to the crease after the break, the game evenly poised after 17 overs. Young Jordan Birnie came into the attack and with his very first ball struck with keeper Matt Robinson taking a magnificent one-handed catch at full stretch in mid-air. Jordy struck again with his fifth ball and Templeton were 4/81 needing 140 still with 22 overs The next two wickets put on a partnership of 103 and with the game in the balance unfortunately, Lusatia Park couldn’t mop up the tail and they won finishing up at 7/221, their best batter Gill with 53 and the best of Lusatia Park’s bowlers Jordy taking 3/41.
The 2nd XI played Lilydale away and decided to bat first. They lost their 1st wicket at 45 and then Mick Dwyer and Sumant Gupta put on a partnership of 66. Sumant fell for 35, the next wicket falling only 2 runs later when Tyson joined Mick at the crease putting on another 61 for the 4th wicket until Tyson fell for a fine 48. Mick was holding up his end until he finally fell in the 31st over for another great innings of 59. With 9 overs still to bat, Lusatia Park put on another 66 runs finishing at 8/267, Kieran making 20 and PB 35* setting the opposition a healthy target. Lusatia Park were taking wickets at steady intervals with the target ending up beyond Lilydale’s reach finishing up at 7/163, best of their batters Boyce making 61 and Lusatia Park’s best bowler Jacko with 4/28 in his first game back, great win guys.
The 3rd XI played Healesville at Coldstream Primary School with them batting first and setting a competitive target on a small ground of 5/274 with three of their batters making 50s retired, A.Keith 52, M.Harding 53 and R.Morcombe 50, the best of Lusatia Park’s bowlers Tayte Hubbard taking 3/29. Lusatia Park unfortunately lost their first wicket without scoring and the second at 13, the remaining batters tried their hardest but ultimately fell short of the target finishing at 7/237. Lusatia Park had three great efforts from Andrew Cousins who returned to the crease and finished on 62 no, Lee Philpot 50 retired and captain Dan Marsden 51 retired, sterling effort team.
The newly formed 4th XI started this week, playing in the new 10-week comp being made up of some father/son and father/daughter combos. Their first game against Healesville at Wesburn’s second ground. Healesville batted first and made 214, top scorer for Healesville was S.Ellis 53 no. Best of the bowlers Bill Ahmad with 3/27 and young Joel Pritchard with 2/12. It was then Lusatia Park’s turn to bat and they put up a great effort, only losing by one run. Some fantastic batting performances by Flynn Prichard making 23, Caitlyn Parker 66* and her father Stuart 47* who tried to bring the win home together but unfortunately fell short. What a great performance for their first game together.
This week the ladies hosted Canterbury, lost the toss and were put into bat.
Unfortunately, Lusatia Park lost a couple of early wickets , leaving them in a position of 2/9. A steady 40-run partnership developed between Sam Reynolds and Michaela Healey, before Michaela was bowled out.
The runs were gradually coming in with some beautiful shots from Sam including a great 6 over square leg. Sam was dismissed on 48 with the team being 5/102. Some good bowling and fielding from the opposition saw Lusatia Park all dismissed for 127.
Canterbury got off to a flying start with 12 runs being scored off of the first over but it wasn’t long after when opening bowler Megan Schelfhout got the first wicket taking the catch off her own bowling. Canterbury were 1/16 at this point. In comes their captain G.McLeod scoring 52 and R. Priest 30* assisting them to a convincing win.
This Tuesday sees the T20 team take on Yarra Junction at Wickhams Road, looking for a second win after defeating Seville in Round One.
