By Garry Nicholls
It was the second day of the Lusatia Park 1st XI’s game against Lilydale and looking to chase down the target of a very reachable 230 at less than three runs per over. The chase didn’t start well, losing Dean Worlley early with a hasty blow to the head and retiring hurt. With regular rain interruptions not helping and batters unable to get into a rhythm at tea and with less than 30 overs bowled, Lusatia Park were 3/60. With still 50 overs left and the target very reachable thanks to a 4th wicket partnership of 42 and then a 5th wicket partnership of 65 thanks to a very steady 76 from Matt Robinson, the target was still very reachable with 20 overs to go needing 58 to win with 5 wickets in hand. Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan and Lusatia Park lost their last 5 wickets for only 25 runs.
The 2nd XI returned to Wantirna South looking to push for an outright result after their mammoth score of 5/345 and having the home side in trouble at 3/20 overnight. They picked up their 4th wicket with the score on 35. Unfortunately, any hope of an outright was lost when their 5th wicket put on a partnership of 197 with A.Webb scoring a brilliant 115 until he went out with the score at 5/232. After that, things fell apart for the home side thanks to Lusatia Park’s bowlers sticking to the task taking their last 5 wickets for only 24 runs finishing all out for 256, their last wicket to fall J.Riley who stuck around and made 88. Best of Lusatia Park’s bowlers were Adam Dunn 3/39 and Stu Parker 3/31.
The 3rd XI played Mt Evelyn away with the home side batting first and Lusatia Park’s bowlers got off to a great start snapping up their first 2 wickets for only 1 run. With tight bowling and wickets at regular intervals, the home side finished all out for 123 in only 29.5 overs. Great bowling from Matt Francis taking 4/20. Having lost their first wicket at 46 and second at 80, Lusatia Park passed the target in only 21 overs with Matt Holland making a fine 45 n.o. and Ben Hubbard 22 n.o. in a great win for the team.
