After a tough first week of action, the cricketers of Mt Evelyn were looking to atone with a few more wins in week two.
The Community Bank – Mt Evelyn First XI hosted Heatherdale for the first time in club history in their first home game of the season. The visitors would win the toss and elect to bat on a ground ripe for a big score. Bohdie Jones and Darcy Fraser would keep things tight early, but the wickets would not be forthcoming and it left the Dales in a prime position to push towards a big total.
Alex Maskell was high on the Mounters recruitment list over the off season, and he would show what they missed out on peeling off a second successive unbeaten century from the first two rounds. He would feast on an under strength attack as the home team were clambering for answers. An unbeaten partnership of 137 run partnership between Maskell and Ben Joseph would propel the final total to an imposing 2/244.
Although the chase looked to be a stretch, the Mounters would’ve approached the task with some positivity knowing that with a couple of significant partnerships, the chase wasn’t impossible to achieve.
Unfortunately for the home team, the partnerships would be few and far between. Captain Campbell Mole (40) would keep things together at the top of the order, whilst a rapid fire unbeaten 43 from the recalled Mike Mawson gave the chase some starch, but there was little substance from the rest of the batting line up. When it was all said and done, the Mounters would’ve approached be dismissed for a dismal 144, consigning the home team to their second loss. Although missing a couple of key pegs in their line up, Mt Evelyn would be disappointed with the second round showing.
The Professionals Outer East Second XI would continue their unbeaten start to the season with an impressive victory on the road against a dogged Norwood outfit. Norwood would win the toss and gave the Mounters the opportunity to post a score and they duly accepted. A 96 run opening partnership between Brad Westaway (62) and Luke Jones (48) would establish the foundations of a decent total. The rest of the order had the freedom of chasing quick runs with little risk and when the overs would run out, the Mounters would’ve approached post 7/197, a useful total, but by no means dominant.
Kynan Yates would again lead the bowling attack with a steady hand at the top taking 2/38, whilst he would be ably supported by opening partner Aussie Leonard who would produce figures of 2/23. The pair would ensure that the Norseman would be behind the eight ball throughout the innings. To the home teams credit, they stayed in the contest right through the innings, but an impressive all round bowling performance from the visitors clinched them a vital 18 run victory restricting their opponents to 9/179 when stumps were drawn. Billie Laird (3/37) and Luke Shepherd (2/32) would be responsible for keeping the wicket taking pressure on after their openers had finished their bowling stints.
The Rhead Group Third XI secured them a vital most impressive victory of the weekend with a clinical victory over Mooroolbark. Batting first, the Barkers had little answers to speedsters Alex Whiting (4/14) and Caleb Doyle (3/10) as they reduced their opponents to hosts to 7/71. A rear guard innings of 63 to Mark Blackman would push the total to three figures, but the Mounters would be well pleased with a chase of just 122.
Young gun Cambell Finch would be masterful in the chase as he would show experience beyond his years as he would orchestrate an impressive chase. Finch would plunder an undefeated innings of 70, facing 51 deliveries and smoking 13 fours and one six. He would ensure it was an early finish as the Mounters closed out a strong victory before the drinks break.
The Hop Hen Fourth XI hosted Warrandyte at Gruyere and despite some improvements on last week’s showing, they still couldn’t crack it for their first win of the season.
Batting first, Warrandyte would find themselves in some early bother through some excellent bowling from Ian Hawkey, Campbell Manser and Robbie Wilson, and a couple of wickets to Alastair Churchill. The Mt Evelyn attack would have the visitors teetering at 5/89. The Bloods would respond through an excellent unbeaten 90 run partnership between Bruce Twite and Peter Hanson that would boost the final total to 5/179. A tough chase for the Mounters.
Churchill would give the innings a flourishing start with a run-a-ball 20, but regular top order wickets would heap pressure on the rest of the Mt Evelyn batting line up. Lachie Robertson would be the constant steady hand throughout the innings, and with Cambell Manser (32), the pair would add a useful 63 run 6th wicket partnership to breathe life into a flailing innings. Unfortunately for the hosts, the required run rate had climbed to nearly ten an over. A pretty tough task. That it proved to be as the Mounters lost a glut of wickets at the end chasing victory. Eventually they would be bowled out for 154 in the last over. Although short of victory, a much improved effort with the bat from the first round.
The Lilydale Tyres Fifth XI completed a comprehensive victory against South Croydon on ‘The Postage Stamp’. Bowling first, the Mounters would restrict the Bulldogs to miserly total of 7/137. A remarkable effort considering the size of the ground and the fact that their opponents had batted out their allotted overs. There were no real standouts in an even performance with the ball, but the highlight was young Simi Cook collecting his first senior wicket.
The Mounters made short work of the chase with Craig Kenins (37), young gun Ezra Joyce (35) and Leighton Joyce (35 not out) contributing handy totals to the Mt Evelyn score. The home team would secure victory in the 23rd over with eight wickets still in hand. An impressive victory for the reining champs.
The Flowtec Sixth XI managed to muster a team this week and took the field for the first time for the 2025/26 season as they travelled to Warranwood. The Mounters made a bright start to the game with the bat as Ian Llewellyn and Sam Vanhoogstraten would set the team on course for a handy total. Vanhoogstraten was destructive with the bat peeling off a brisk half century featuring ten 4s and one 6. When Jamie Shawn followed suit and smashed an equally impressive half century of his own, the visitors looked well set.
Unfortunately, the rest of the batting order haven’t had much of a hit over the offseason and it showed as the side slumped from 4/160 to all out for 166. Even Vanhoogstraten and Shawn couldn’t arrest the slide as they were unable to add to their retirement scores.
Although below what they looked like getting, the final total was still a competitive one. Unfortunately, despite a steady bowling display, wickets were hard to come by and Warranwood would pass the total fairly risk free. Vanhoogstraten would complete a good game taking 2/22, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Sharks would pass the total with seven wickets in hand.
