A big weekend of cricket - four two-day matches completed in the Subbies, plus four MCA one-day matches and the Women's T20s. Seven wins from the nine games is a great return. Let's look at the results with your weekly Brunswick Cricket Club Match Reports.
Firsts 170 v Mt Waverley 157
Losing the toss we were invited to bat first. Coops (5) was first to go with the score 1/10. This saw SoS and Greg getting into a restart. Greg was looking comfortable, however played over the top of one & was bowled (17). Hilly (1) got a good one early and @ 3/52 the door was open for Mt Waverley. Cobba (10) got an inside edge to bat pad & we were in deeper trouble at 4/71. Mossy joined SoS who was continuing to grind & fight his way through some tough batting conditions.
Mossy and SoS had started to get us back into the game before Mossy copped an “unlucky decision”, LBW for 7. Pricey also copped an “unlucky decision”, caught behind for 2 & at 6/102 we were in a very precarious position. Nico took the game on with some excellent defence and controlled aggression in a partnership of 54 with SoS, taking us to 7/156. Dan walked out, took guard and walked back (0) and Hilly was the only person smiling, mighty pleased to be handing over the “Duck Hat”.
SoS who had been nothing short of brilliant in a smart, fighting, spirited, hard fought knock being the glue to our innings with 82 was next to go, trying to get on with the game. Lou (6) and Ameya (2*) finished off our innings @ 170.
With 11 overs to bowl we were looking to put MW on the back foot and grab 2 or 3 early wickets before stumps. However, after Dan got a breakthrough @ 1/13, we were thwarted in our efforts till stumps: 1/28.
Day 2 arrived with the knowledge that this was not going to be an 80 over day – 9 wickets for us or 143 runs for MW. With this in mind our plan was to bang away from one end with the quicks & let Ameya go to work from the other after our initial burst with Dan & Lou. Unfortunately, we could not make the most of opportunities presented and things were looking a bit grim until Ameya was successful with an LB shout. However, @ 2/79 almost half the runs were knocked off. But then it was 3/85, 4/85 & then 5/85 as Ameya, weaving a web of confusion, grabbed another couple and then Dan got the “in batsmen”, well caught by Coops at second slip.
Controlled attack was the counter punch from MW, but when Ameya got an edge through to Nico the game was alive. 6/128 quickly became 7/134 as Ameya slid one past the outside edge to take the off stump. 8/145 as Dan got another well deserved wicket and the game tightened even further. @ 9/154 Dan grabbed the key wicket of their “in bat” for 33; with only 16 runs to play with, the game was still tight. Ameya got another one through the defences to trap No 11 in front with the score on 157 and a big win was recorded, in the context of our season.
In sending down 57.4 overs only 3 bowlers were used. Ameya was sensational with 6/42 off 19.4 overs, Dan was equally sensational in sending down 21 overs 9 maidens 4/49. Lou provided brilliant support & without his contribution in keeping the pressure on whilst Ameya and Dan got the spoils, we would never have got over the line. A great effort from our bowling group.
We have still have work to do in a number of areas, however we now jump to fourth. Finals, whilst cannot be assured, remain firmly in our sights and grasp, with our destiny in our own hands.
Seconds 3/120 v Mt Waverley 118
Alright, folks, strap in as the “Gideon Haigh” of Brunswick spins another yarn for you. The Twos, fresh off away games at PV and Endeavour Hills, hit the road yet again - this time venturing to the glistening fields of Pinewood Reserve for a top-of-the-table clash against Mt Waverley now termed the Jellis Craig Sponsorship Derby.
The boys arrived in good time, and in a now predictable result, Dougie “came second” at the toss, which meant we’d be spending a 38-degree day in the field.
Pottsy and Hallsy took the new rock and made early inroads, removing both openers within the first few overs - Mt Waverley slumping to 2/4. First and second change, Zaine (1/18) and Johnny (1/3 off 6 miserly overs), kept the pressure on, with John’s wicket particularly memorable - he spent a good few seconds appealing a bowled dismissal, just to be sure. At 4/34, things were looking good.
The home side dug in, putting on a stubborn 50-run stand before Hallsy (3/32) returned to break the partnership. Pottsy (3/25) followed up with a double strike, thanks to some sharp catching from Tommy Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker. Gibo (0/13) sent down three wicketless overs (which was definitely not brought up later), while Dave Bon (2/27) cleaned up the tail. From 4/80, Mt Waverley crumbled to be all out for 118 - a fantastic result against the ladder leaders.
With 15 overs to bat before stumps, Doug and Johnny looked composed, steering us to 29 before Doug “got a good one,” sweeping the off spinner to depart for 15. Johnny (24) fell in the final over of the day, attempting to deposit the ball into the suburban houses behind the grandstand. We finished the day 2/44, just 75 runs away from a season-defining win.
The boys turned up in an even more timely fashion (we had two warming up without shoes this time). Hot Rocks (4*) and Shloak (08) resumed, set on finishing the chase. Hot Rocks looked in great touch with some cracking shots to the cover boundary before departing for 33, while Shloak (33*) did what he does best - smashing balls straight to cover. He was joined by Evan (exact runs unknown, as the scorebook remains a work of fiction but probably close to 20), who made his intentions clear by swatting the offie back over his head for six first ball. Fittingly, we passed the target with another Evan bomb, casually plucked one-handed by Mitch in the pavilion.
With time left in the day, Dougie invited Mt Waverley to have another dig, chasing outright points. They batted until tea, losing a couple of cheap ones (keeping Gibo happy) before we called it off, opting instead for some well-earned cooldies while watching the Ones back at Gillon.
A massive effort against the top team, firmly cementing us in home finals contention. Next up, some classic Saturday/Sunday cricket in the Sydney Rd Derby against Coburg.
Until then,‘Wish’ Gideon Haigh, signing off.
Thirds 324 v Plenty Valley 147 & 69
Fourths 204 v Plenty Valley 116
Saturday D 2/173 v Sacred Heart 9/170
Saturday C 4/134 v Youlden Park 132
Sunday B 8/129 v Melbourne City 246
Sunday D 0/86 v Flemington Colts 85
Women's T20 8/62 v Moonee Valley 4/140