2nd XI Premiers!!

Brighton Beach Oval was the picturesque setting as our 2^nd XI battled the previously undefeated Oakleigh Cricket Club for the 2^nd XI Premiership.

 

With some weather around before the start of play on Saturday, the visitors won the toss and elected to bowl. The wicket played magnificently but scoring was difficult to come by in the first couple of sessions. Andrew Martin (97*) was the rock that held the innings together, enabling others to bat around the platform he set. Having gone to the Tea Break 3/88 off 49 overs, wickets in hand meant we were able to accelerate the scoring rate after the interval. Stu Fairley (69) and Jack Rutter (49) in particular spread the fielders, hitting to all parts of the ground and ultimately enabling us to post a very competitive total of 6/250 off the 80 overs. With a flat pitch and fast outfield, it was by no means an insurmountable target, but runs on the board in a final are always worth plenty!

 

Day 2 saw bright sunshine and a big crowd assembled to watch the drama unfold. Oakleigh got off to a cautious start, with James Harrod and Josh Gates bowling tight lines but without early success. Sean Wilson was brought into the attack with immediate results, picking up a wicket with his first ball and two inside his first over! Harrod then got in on the action to leave the visitors teetering at 3/40, before a recovery partnership would be formed. Darcy Kennelly, Jack Moffitt and Jack Rutter got through some vital overs, as the run-rate began to rise. A direct hit run-out right on the stroke of Tea by Darcy Kennelly would prove critical, breaking the 60 run partnership and reducing Oakleigh to 4/104. Tight bowling was again the order of the day immediately following the break, as the required run-rate grew ever higher. James Harrod then really got into his groove dismissing the next three batsman leaving us on the brink of victory. A run-out in the 70^th over saw the Club gain our first piece of silverware for 5 years and the start of some well-deserved celebrations!

 

Team Photo:

Back Row – Michael Nyary (Club Coach), Tom Hamilton, Andrew Martin, Sean Wilson, Josh Gates, Stewart Kimpton, James Harrod, Bernie Mutimer (Club President)

Front Row – Jackson Moffitt, Darcy Kennelly, James Perkins-Stafford, Stuart Fairley ©, Jack Rutter, Tom Goldsmith