Old Scotch Cricket – New season….. Same story!
1st XI Match Report
The 1st XI had a bye this week whilst many of our players freshened up in Byron Bay, ready for the long season ahead. From all reports, club stalwarts Nich Hildebrandt and Ben Doherty would have been favorites for the $25 Bridge Voucher!!
2nd XI Match Report
It was a sense of de ja vu for the OSCC last weekend as the boys made their way down to the Bayside area to pick up where they left off last season, tackling Old Brighton on their home track. This time, however it was the 2nd XI given the task of upstaging their more fancied opponents.
The boys were more than happy to welcome first gamer Travis Orr, who thanks to club captain Rob Ashton had some rather big credentials to live up to. School Captain and team bat supplier Daniel Wolfe was also a welcome addition to the team, injecting some youth and enthusiasm in to an otherwise experienced and battle weary 2nd XI. The boys also welcomed back the college educated Simon Dick and the South American explorer John Crozier-Durham from their overseas travels.
Skipper James Simon kicked the new season off with something different and decided to win the toss, sending the Brighton boys in to bat on a wicket the Scotch bowlers knew nothing about. It didn’t take long for Andrew Penman to fall in love with the pitch as he collected the wicket of the opener first ball of the game! After starting on such a high, it must be said Andrew’s name wont be used in a positive manner for the rest of this report as he managed to go on and be belted to all ends of the park for the rest of the day and then return the favour to Brighton by skying a delivery to a fieldsmen for a golden duck when the team really needed him!
The batsmen from then on took control, taking particular liking to Hamish Taylor’s right arm mediums and Penman’s wayward bowling. Taylor at one stage deciding to take a walk down memory lane, conceding 22 runs off his last over, reminding most fans of his spell in Bulleen last year.
Travis Orr was then introduced for his first bowl for the club and with what must be considered a fairly limited cricketing background, many were sceptical about whether he could handle the step up to the MCC Club XI Competition. These fears were laid to rest early, as he broke this dangerous partnership only 3 balls in, and, along with Daniel Wolfe set about not only slowing down the run rate, but also dismantling the Brighton batsmen. Orr eventually finishing with 4 wickets and Wolfe with 2.
Knowing exactly what the crowd wanted, the man himself Plugger decided it was time to end this game and introduced himself, along with fellow club legend Mark ‘the game-breaker” Griffith. Looking tanned, toned and intimidating from a recent trip North, Griffo was desperately unlucky not to pick up a wicket and left the finishing touches to Plugger, who skittled one through the number 5’s gate to end the Brighton innings after 31 overs, for 174 runs.
Scott Haines and Tom “bash and crash” Whitelaw headed out after lunch, eager to kick the year off in style. Things seemed on track early, 7 overs in with Whitelaw picking off a few singles and treating the game like a 5 day test, whilst Haines was keeping the runs flowing, showing his vast array of strokes. Whitelaw’s day came to an end, when he foolishly tried to score, finding the leading edge to a fieldsman.
This brought Simon Dick to the crease, who was eager to impress after missing out on last years Premiership. It didn’t take long as the powerful number three took to the modest bowling attack with vigour and teamed with Haines to just about put the game beyond Brighton’s reach. The boys blasted their way to a partnership of just under a hundred before Haines was caught, not before racking up his half century, falling for 58.
The Orrman was next in and set about demoralising the opposition from ball one. Similar to Will Elliott’s contempt for his opponents last year, Travis was at one stage heard muttering to the bowler, ‘you do realise I have represented Queensland don’t you? This is almost not worth my time!”….. Orr carted his way to 32 off not many, including 3 sixes and as many fours before being cheekily stumped down the leg side.
Andrew Penman came and went before you could blink, reminding everyone why he is considered in the same breath as Jarred Brennan as one of the greatest wastes of talent many have seen. The real star of the show John Crazier was next in and didn’t disappoint! Unselfishly running from end to end, over after over, without facing a ball whilst Dick led the boys home with an unbeaten 60.
In all, it was a cracking way for the 2nd XI to start the season and with players coming back in to the side, big things are expected in the next few weeks.
Old Scotch 2nd XI 4/176 def. Old Brighton 174
The Bridge Hotel Player of the Match & $25 Voucher:
Travis Orr