“I didn’t read the match previews last week – oh boy.” - The Beatles, A Day In The Life, remastered, Nov 2024 because there were none written last week.
Apologies to John, George, Paul and Ringo (as well as all other regular readers) for missing last week. Hopefully this amalgamation of reports and mid-match updates from across the club can keep The Beatles at bay.
WOMEN’S SHIELD 1
In the same way that Geelong dismantled Richmond and Melbourne in their magical run to the 2007 Premiership, the MUCC Women's Shield 1 team made an emphatic statement on the weekend against La Trobe.
In a T20 double-header at the Main, it was twice the fun for the Students; winning their first match by 118 runs, before saluting for a 92 run victory in the second fixture. Although there were star performers on every line, Jasleen Kaur’s 56* helped Uni to 5/148, before a devastating spell of 6/6 from Aswathi Shankar saw the Students skittle La Trobe for just 30. Shankar’s magical effort was backed up by Lopez’s 2/5 in Uni’s dominant display.
The second match was no less of a procession, as Falak Syeda filled her boots with an unbeaten 70 In Uni’s imposing total of 1/165. Although La Trobe offered a little more resistance the second time around, Goodman and Herman (2 wickets apiece) set the tone, and restricted the opposition to just 6/73 from their 20 overs.
Uni are sitting comfortably on top of the table.
WOMEN’S SHIELD 2
With just one game to play on the weekend for the Shield 2 side, the Students concentrated all their efforts into one 40-over burst to do a number on Melton.
Bowling first, it was the ever-reliable Cath Grant who led the charge with the ball, her stunning figures of 3/1 enough to dismantle the top and middle order, before Jagrithi Udayabhanu (3/7) ensured that no less than 5 Melton batters made ducks.
Never in trouble chasing just 82, Uni passed the total for the loss of two wickets, as Jyotsna Koduru accumulated an unbeaten 47 to get the job done.
MEN’S FIRST XI
In the space of just four rounds, Salman Afridi has progressed from the Third grade to the First XI. A remarkably talented cricketer with a raft of experience including in the First-Class arena in his native Pakistan, Afridi has impressed at every stage since becoming a Student. His lengthy net sessions are becoming famous at the Main, as is his ability to mark middle stump while batting in rubbers. All that to say, Afridi made his First XI debut on the weekend, proudly becomming MUCCer #991 – the race for cap #1000 is on!
As ever, the First XI played at home, and bowled first as the Ormond clock tower struck 11. It wasn't much later that Uni struck for the first few wickets of the day; Stafford (3/16) and TJ (1/28) combining to have the Bombers 4/16. Gee the old pro just makes the ball talk, doesn’t he?
JP also snagged a wicket on his First XI return, while Doug (fresh from a plum chicken eat-off with Ben Manenti at the recent Shield fixture at the Adelaide Oval), bowled beautifully to take 3/30 from his 21 overs. Spin buddy Yuvi Singh also found the time to take a wicket in the second session – which is lucky, because he missed 17 calls from 1:30 – 3:30.
As for the coach? Well, he got a direct hit-run out while sub-fielding. A moment he described as “perfect coaching,” Diesel executed the move he keeps drilling into his players. Great work, D!
Set just 140 for victory, the Skipper blasted 40, while two late wickets saw Uni close the day 3/63.
SECOND XI
After debating which prop from any movie they would like to have in real life, the Second XI – buoyed by the inclusions of Rowan Jesper and Tom Mileto – took to the field at Cross Keys.
Perhaps Hermione’s time-turner would have been the best prop to select, as Essendon plodded along at a painfully slow pace in the first session. That pace, of course, was due to some exceptional bowling from JB and Secret Santa, both of whom passed the outside edge more often than Beef goes to Bali.
Debutant Ro-Jo claimed the first courtesy of a sharp KD catch, before Krish took arguably the best Second XI catch of all time at square-leg.*
* Not including James Horn catches, obviously.
Essendon refused to try and score for much of the day, and all got out to Kev when they tried; the slippery chicken finishing the day with 3/63 while Wizard bowled a remarkable 30 overs 2/81.
By day’s end, their shoes were full of sand and Uni had bowled 98 overs, 8/277.
THIRD XI
At every stage, the Bombers failed to stay out of Harm’s way on Saturday, as Angus Harms went on a demolition mission at Princes Park.
The left-armer was unstoppable, as he claimed the devastating figures of 7/14 from 11 overs. Puffing his chest out, Cooch’s haul included a raft of bumpers, as the Bombers couldn’t handle his heat.
It really was a day for southpaws, as Lefty (that’s Torren Arthur, helped himself to the other three wickets, to finish with 3/12 in his Third XI debut.
A remarkable effort with the ball, Uni dismissed Essendon for just 43. Something to be said for those bowling captains, perhaps? After all, between Fridge and Scotty, there’s some real quickie craft at the helm of this team.
With the bat, Uni made sure of things in the afternoon; finishing the day 5/142 - 100 runs ahead. Handy knocks from Hugo – Private Player – Bienvenu (36) and Eddie Steele (59) were particularly handy in helping Uni set themselves up for a potential outright victory.
FOURTH XI
Sunday at Cross Keys for the Fourth XI and didn’t they make it count. Under the leadership of new skipper, Hayden Lim, Uni bowled first and shared the load over the course of the day.
Oli Greenhill and HT were the only multiple wicket-takers with two each, while singles to Uhr-Henry, Sridev, Luc Bienvenu and Aryan (Titmus from Lideki) Arora on debut, ensured the Bombers never got away.
Ultimately bowling Essendon out for 210, Uni had to face a nervous over at the end of the day; Lucien navigating it without issue and even blasting a boundary, to ensure the Students have the upper hand going into day 2.
VETS (by Kev Diggerson)
The MUCC Veterans XIII continued its fine start to the season with a comfortable five wicket win over Port Melbourne on Sunday.
After losing the toss, MUCC found itself in the field, with its balanced bowling knocking over the visitors for 116. The wickets were shared among seven bowlers, with Tom Savill the pick with 2 for 8 from six overs. Josh Marquet, Greg Kennedy, Luke Duffy, Ben Costello, Tim Grant and skipper Matt Hewat each picked up a pole, while a brace of run outs accounted for Port Melb in another disciplined fielding display.
A successful run chase was never in doubt. Matt Amor was elevated to the opening spot and provided a sound start with 25 neat runs. Vet’s debutant Pat O’Beirne (cap 26) came in at three and added a poised 24 to set up victory, with Peter Hamilton (15no) and the aforementioned Savill (27no) steering MUCC to a comfortable 5 wicket win, with the points secured with six overs to spare.
A spectacular afternoon tea provided by the Savill family, and high integrity from the MUCC squad in the face of hitherto unseen dissent from an opponent were the other highlights of a gloriously sun-filled afternoon.
MUCC sits unbeaten alongside last season’s premiers Dingley. Four rounds remain ahead of the semi-finals.
Next up is a home clash with Hawthorn-Boroondara at Princes Park on Sunday 24 November.