According to Guns and Roses, nothing lasts forever in the cold November rain…except for the rain, it seems. For the second week in a row, and the third in five weeks, our cricketers in the Thirds through to the Sixths were reduced to spectators after late morning showers again affected ground conditions.
After a difficult first week, the Community Bank – Mt Evelyn First XI returned to Quambee Reserve with the task ahead of them to turn the tables on Warranwood, who dominated the first day. After bowling the Mounters out for 125, they reached stumps without losing a wicket and ticking off 36 runs of the target in the process.
Despite some tight bowling, the small target meant the Sharks batsmen had little pressure to ‘up the ante’. Cal Dooley and Malinga De Silva would provide tight spells up front, but the key wickets wouldn’t be forthcoming. Eventually, the hosts would pass the first innings total with the loss of just one wicket.
In the hope of a repeat of Mt Evelyn’s failure with the bat in the first innings, Warranwood would press on for quick runs and a dash at an outright. Extremely optimistic considering the time lost, but with the relegation battle heating up, a handsome reward if they could pull off the unlikely.
Over the next 24 overs, the Sharks would extend the lead beyond 100 and promptly declare. The fact they used so many overs in extending the score would leave the hosts with too many marks in little time to force an outright result. Despite a few wobbles along the way, the First XI would reach the safety of stumps with the score on 3/42.
The spotlight is now well and truly on the First XI in their quest to rise off the bottom of the ladder and avoid relegation. Back-to-back one-day clashes against Vermont and Heatherdale might prove crucial in their survival. They will need to win both if they are to swing the momentum of the season.
After sitting last week out, the Professionals Outer East Second XI would take on Norwood in a one-day fixture at Gary Martin Oval. After a delayed start, the game would be reduced to 33 overs. Upon winning the toss, Mt Evelyn captain Joey Chamberlin elected to try and control the variables and bowled first. The tactic was two-fold restrict the Norsemen’s score and then have the flexibility to control the run chase should the weather reappear as forecasted.
Chamberlin’s bowlers would not let him down with excellent execution with the ball. The experienced Darcy Fraser, stung by his omission from the First XI, gave the opposition no scope to score, taking 1/5 off his seven overs, featuring a remarkable four maidens, whilst Jamie Shaw (2/27), Kynan Yates (1/14) and Austin Leonard (2/11) were equally effective in strangling the life out of the visitors. The Norsemen would fight on valiantly, but the scoring rate would ultimately be their greatest concern, as it would hamper their efforts to score a defendable total. When the bails were tipped at the end of the innings, the score would dawdle to 9/109, not nearly enough.
Playing into Mt Evelyn’s hands, the low total gave the Mounters the scope to ramp up the run rate and chase the score in good time before any impending rain could dent their progress. Jesse Fraser would be at his explosive best, scoring a rapid-fire unbeaten half-century off just 33 balls, featuring five fours and four sixes. It was belligerent. Fraser was at ease with the bowling, smoking 40 runs of his half-century in the first four overs of the innings. Mt Evelyn 0/57, game over. Dan Fraser would do his best to attract some of the limelight as he would finish the innings in a similar style with an unbeaten 37 off 20 balls, featuring six boundaries, and one over the fence. The Mounters would chase the total down in under 12 overs. A remarkable result, and one that continues the good form of the Second XI.
