By Damian Ford
Montrose Wolves Cricket Club had all 13 teams on the park this week for the first time this season. The lower grades missing the first six weeks of the season, the last time our records showed was the 1993/94 season well here the first four weeks were washed out so it was great to be back out there.
Standout performance of the week, Javier Mastronardi 112 (174) lead the 3rd XI for the first time as captain and what a way to lead. After some struggles with the bat in earlier rounds this week couldn’t be more opposite. The team declaring 9/317 off 73 overs. Sending Mt Evelyn in for an comfortable 6 overs we managed to get a wicket in the first over leaving Mt Evelyn 1/24 over night. Lots of work to do week two.
The first XI v Wantirna South away, won the toss and elected to bat. With the change of mentality required and the fundamental differences in the approach to have to bat 80 overs the team showed patience throughout the whole innings applying themselves well. With the opening pair starting strong, losing our first wicket in the 22nd over. With consistent partnerships throughout the team found themselves 4/159 with 15 overs to go. The dynamic partnership of 63 at the end between Kieran Perkins 44*(39) and Andrew Keane 27 (30) had the team finish 6/245 off our 80 overs. Solid contributions Shane Findlay 54 (133) and Sam Gebert 53 (148). This sets up a great day 2 next week.
The Second XI at home to Wantirna Sth lost the toss and were asked to have a bowl. This was a positive for our team with some bowlers out others had the chance to step up. Braden Harvey did exactly that getting 2 wickets in the first few overs and finishing with 3/17 off his 12 overs.
Wantirna Sth on the back foot from the start, lost consistent wickets throughout and ultimately collapsed after the tea break losing 5/15 to be all out for 129. We had 21 over to bay to close the days play, we couldn’t have started worse, losing Cameron Storm second ball and then the night watchman Connor Ratcliffe 3 balls later. 2/0 to start the run chase wasn’t ideal. A nice partnership between J.McCallum and H.Daniell got us to almost the close of play before losing McCallum 5 overs from close of play for 12. They team will resume next week 3/54 with H.Daniell 34* & Lincoln Grigg 6*.
Other grades played all one day games seeing the 4ths lose to East Ringwood. E. Downey 61 & D. Ford 5 only standouts with the bat. 5ths had a tough day losing to Wantirna 1st XI with C. Day 54 only one to contribute. 6ths had a win at home v Lilydale with A.Gibson leading the way with the ball 3/16.
Our womens aide had a tough loss to Yarra Junction with no one really getting going other then Captain Keltie Blake 3/14 off 4. The under 14s have their work cut out for them chasing 242 and the under 16s are right in the game with 191 to get next week.
Montrose Hall of Fame night 3 December. RSVP no later than 22 November.
