Brunswick has started well in the J G Craig Shield, an U15 representative cricket competition run by the VSDCA. Here are the match reports for the first week…
Away at Preston
The competition started on Sunday 12 January at Preston’s City Oval. It’s a happy hunting ground for us, as Preston hosted the 2022 final that we won against Ormond. With rain forecast and the pitch looking like it might deteriorate, Preston chose to bat first on winning the toss. Our opening bowling pair of Aarav Saxena and Rhys Rodgers got us off to a great start, and regular wickets ensued for the remainder of the innings until the rain arrived with gusto. We exited the field with Preston 7/74 - well on top. But it soon became clear that a resumption would be impossible, and the umpires didn’t waste time in abandoning the match.
Bowling honours were shared around, with all bowlers contributing through wickets or economical bowling, and we snared two run outs to Avyukt Chintala and Jonty Cavalier. Bowling figures for Brunswick: Aarav Saxena 0/13, Rhys Rodgers 1/12, Jude Parsons 1/13, Xavier Stone 0/2, Ben Aldridge 1/14, Jonty Cavalier 1/7, Shivang Kotnala 1/7, Lachlan McKay 0/3. Catches to Luke Irvin, Mitchell Taylor and Hamish Kelly (2).
Home vs St Bernard's
Thanks to the twos for covering the Craig pitch after their Saturday game at Gillon. Unfortunately, Sunday’s rain was heavier than forecast, and quite a lot of water got under the single strip cover. Despite the drier conditions on Monday and Tuesday morning, the thick grass and damp pitch promised to make batting difficult. When St Bernard’s captain won the toss and elected to bat, we were surprised and happy to make first use with the ball.
Aarav got quickly amongst the wickets, snaring 2/6 in his opening 5-over spell. He was ably supported by his opening partner Rhys, and they were backed up by all the other bowlers. Wickets continued to fall regularly, and we were able to dismiss St Bernards for 84, underpinned by an excellent 41 by their captain Connor Portelli. St B’s final wicket followed an inspired bowling change with Mitchell Taylor (one of our keepers) bowling St B’s number 10 with his first ball in Craig Shield. In addition to Aarav and Mitchell, our wicket takers were Xavier Stone (1/13), Ben Aldridge (1/11), Shivang Kotnala (1/5), and Lachlan McKay with a bag (4/7). Catches were taken by Ben, Shivang, Xavier (2) and Hamish (2).
With lots of movement off the deck, the run chase was not necessarily going to be easy. Both openers, Luke and Avyukt, were adjudged lbw after some good bowling that exploited the conditions, leaving us 2/7. Lachlan and Ali Saleemi consolidated the innings for a time and were looking good until Ali smashed a ball to mid wicket and was caught for a 20-run partnership. Shivang battled hard with Lachie but was caught when he looked to accelerate the score, but the 15-run partnership was handy in a low-scoring match. Xavier looked to score quickly and we seemed to be heading to a comfortable win, but his dismissal with 26 still needed gave St B’s a sniff. Mitchell, however, didn’t give them a chance, and he combined with Lachie to get the runs with 5 wickets down. Lachie matched the St B’s skipper with 41 (not out), a highlight given extras was our only other double digit score. It was a solid win on a very difficult pitch to open our account.
Away at Strathmore
Thanks to Strathmore for using their initiative to cover their wicket overnight, we were able to get a 38-over game started after a delay caused by lightning and rain. With conditions looking to favour bowling we elected to bowl after Lachlan won his first toss. We again took regular wickets, with three of our bowlers being on hat tricks during the innings. Strathmore made a total of 61 runs with our wicket takers being Shivang (1/15), Ali (2/1), Lachie (2/4), Jonty (1/3), and Xavier getting a bag (4/4). Catches went to Jude, Mitchell and Jonty (2).
Would it be a tricky small chase with a little rain threatening to arrive later? Luke and Avy started solidly, but when Luke went to a great catch with our score on 9, Strathmore were a little buoyed. Lachie and Avy consolidated with a 23-run partnership before a mix up led to Lachie’s run out. Ali and Avy had another handy small partnership before Ali was bowled behind his legs while pulling. Avy and Shivang followed soon after. Jude and Rhys then got us home with plenty of overs remaining, and they batted on for 5 more overs building an undefeated 31-run partnership before we finished the match with more rain soon to arrive. It was good to get our second win.
Away at Plenty Valley
We arrived at Plenty Valley to a very wet pitch having learned that it had remained uncovered during the recent rains. The Plenty Valley curator put in a big effort to get the pitch ready for play, and with the eventual help of some sun and wind, we were able to start at 12:30 in a 32-over-a-side game.
The Brunswick coach suggested that the away team should be awarded the toss given that the pitch hadn’t been covered, but after some guffaws and references to the quality of Brunswick’s number two ground and pitch, that suggestion was not accepted. Plenty Valley promptly won the toss and invited us to bat.
PV’s bowling didn't really exploit much of any early assistance, but a nice catch at slip to dismiss Luke gave PV an opening at 1/18. Lachie and Avy then batted with control, scoring at a decent rate without taking undue risks. At drinks we were 1/55 off 16 overs. Avy and Lachie then looked to accelerate, with Lachie (40) being stumped when aiming to take on the spinner (2/97). Ali went soon after (3/103), but Shivang (17) accelerated the scoring until a run out mix up had us 4/130. Xav was unlucky to get a short ball that bounced just enough to ping his middle stump, before Avy (63*) and Hamish Kelly (1*) got us to the finish of our innings at 5/141.
Our opening bowling pair of Xav and Ben strangled the PV bats with no runs off the first 5 overs; the dot ball pressure had caused a run out in the fourth over. PV’s first run was a leg bye in the sixth over, and after 10 overs they were 1/10. Needing 132 to win off 22 overs (run-a-ball), the task for PV looked difficult, and so it proved to be.
A steady string of wickets (2-18, 3-25, 4-47, 5-59, 6-59) led to 7-69 until the eighth wicket pair batted well with the heat out of the game taking them to 7/95 (32 overs). Wickets were taken by Aarav (1/18), Rhys (2/16), Shivang (1/12), and Ali (1/2), with two run outs (Ben and Jude) and catches to Mitch and Jonty.
We finish the week as the only undefeated team in the North Group (and one of only 5 undefeated teams in the competition). The second week of the round robin stage begins with a classic rivalry match against Coburg next Tuesday at Gillon, then we’re away at Ivanhoe before hosting Kew back at Gillon.
It has been a great start by the lads after the first week. Thanks to all members of the club who have helped, and to the parents for their assistance.