After an inconsistent month of weather, all cricketers took the field for the second last weekend of cricket for 2025, with the Mt Evelyn Cricket Club recording a mixed bag of results.
After a miserable effort against Warranwood last round, the pressure had been heaped upon the Community Bank – Mt Evelyn First XI to make a dramatic turnaround to straighten up their season and fend off relegation. Their first task in redemption is a pair of one-day clashes at home against Vermont and Heatherdale, leading into the Christmas break. Lose both, and relegation is inevitable. Win both, and salvation is possible.
In Round One, the Mounters were desperately close to claiming the win on the road to Vermont, so confidence was high that with a strong showing with both bat and ball that win would be forthcoming. Taking positive action, captain Campbell Mole elected to bat upon winning the toss. Early on, it looked like the Mt Evelyn top order was feeling the effects of some inconsistent form. The top four batters would make useful contributions, but their cautious approach and some disciplined bowling saw the score stalled at 4/103 after 27 overs. A long way off a defendable total. 200 is barely enough at Gary Martin Oval.
Mole, sensing the urgency of the situation, clicked the batting up a few gears. Mole would blister an impressive 79 off 48 with six fours and five sixes, highlighting his innings. His contribution with the middle order ensured the hosts would pass 200 and set a chase of 211 for the Eagles to secure victory. By no means an unattainable total, but one that would take some chasing.
The Mounters would make the ideal start, claiming two early wickets to inject enthusiasm in their fielding efforts, but Vermont would have other ideas. A well-constructed century partnership for the third wicket, and with the run rate rising, the Mounters would do well to hold out the visitors. With the score at 3/162 in the 32nd over, it was Vermont’s game to lose.
Bohdie Jones would take the crucial wicket of Ethan Walker, and the batters would tighten up. Darcy Fraser, in his recall to the First XI, would turn match-winner, taking four late wickets to cut a swathe through Vermont’s tail. The Mounters’ composure would prove critical in a critical win for the team. When the dust settled, the visitors would be bowled out for 191, 20 runs short of victory.
Despite the victory adding some relief to the First XI’s cause, they would be fully aware that the wins need to keep on coming, and victory against Heatherdale becomes a must. This was unfortunately not the case, with Heatherdale finishing the day on 7/181, 40 runs ahead of the Mounters, who were all out for 141.
The Professionals Outer East Second XI travelled to Wandin for a much anticipated top of the table clash against the Bulldogs. Wandin would ask their visitors to bat first, and early on, it looked to be the right call as the Bulldogs would capture vital early wickets. Adam Smith and Alex Brisbane-Flynn, bitten by their demotion from the First XI would rectify the situation and add some much-needed stability to the innings.
Smith would be unrelenting on the Bulldog’s attack with a series of crisp boundaries, highlighting an excellent innings of 72 off just 66 balls. Unfortunately for the visitors, Smith had become the main source of the runs, and his wicket with the score on 103 would have a two-fold effect. Wickets would fall with regularity and the run rate would slow throughout the middle overs. Brad Jones (37 not out) and captain Joey Chamberlin (27 not out) would ensure that Smith’s efforts would not go unrewarded as they would put together a run-a-ball 40-run partnership to push the score to a respectable 7/208.
The visitors would soon find out that the score was somewhat under par as the Bulldogs’ openers would put them to the sword. When the first wicket fell, the game was all but over as the hosts raced to 1/134 inside 17 overs. A total obliteration. The start allowed the host to cruise to the total inside 30 overs with the loss of just three wickets.
The loss is a dent in the Second XI’s progress and a timely reminder that the competition will be a tough one to conquer this season. Yarra Glen will be their final challenge of the year in what now becomes a must-win clash. A win will have them firmly entrenched in the top four, whilst a loss will give those sniffing around the fringes the impetus they will need heading into the new year.
Yarra Glen was just able to outscore the Mounters by a single run to win the last match of 2025. The final score was Yarra Glen 7/198 to Mt Evelyn’s 8/197.
The Rhead Group Third XI had a game they’d rather forget as they were totally outclassed by a slick Warrandyte outfit. Batting first, the Bloods were on the front foot from the outset and took a liking to everything the Mounters could throw at them. The visitors would amass a massive total of 8/289 off their allotted overs at a sprightly eight an over. Captain Graeme Foster would be the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/59, while Alex Whiting was useful with figures of 2/34.
The Mounters bats were totally outclassed in their response to the big total. Darren Westaway (37) and Caleb Doyle (15) would be the only batters to reach double figures as they were wiped off the park by a dominant Warrandyte team. 116 was all they could muster as they were bowled out in the 24th over.
The loss is a big indicator to the team as to how far they need to improve to bridge the gap on the top couple of teams if they are to challenge for the title. Their immediate challenge is the third-placed Coldstream next week at Coldstream. Mt Evelyn was able to get the better of Coldstream for the final round of 2025, finishing up the day on 10/197.
The Hop Hen Fourth XI completed an excellent month of cricket as they eclipsed fellow finals aspirants Ainslie Park in a close encounter at Gracedale Park.
Ainslie would open the contest with the bat and the innings would turn out to be an old-fashioned arm wrestle as neither team could gain ascendancy. Most Ainslie bats would make some sort of contribution, ensuring the scoreboard would tick over, but the Mt Evelyn bowlers would keep it tight, and regular wickets would keep things in check. Eventually, the innings would be closed with the score on 8/151. Craig Steele would be the pick of the bowlers, taking 4/5 over the closing overs to reduce the anticipated total.
Mt Evelyn’s innings would start disastrously as star batsman Lachie Robertson and Jarrod Hartman would be back in the sheds before the score had reached double figures. This left Campbell Manser (38) and Steele (25) the task of cautiously advancing their team into the contest. With the required run rate comfortably attainable, they would nurse the team to the drinks break with little fuss or fanfare.
The wickets of Manser and Steele would give the hosts some hope as they would start to strangle their opposition, but the young pairing of Jake Rigg (29 not out) and Chase Missen (25 not out) would calmly steer the Mounters to victory with an excellent partnership where it could’ve gone pear-shaped for the visitors.
The Fourth XI are now within reach of the top rungs of the ladder, and a victory against Montrose in the final round of the year will have them well situated for a crack in the second half of the season. The Mounters got the win 10/193.
The Lilydale Tyres Fifth XI hosted Croydon North, and it was the visiting Knights who would put on a clinic against the hapless Mounters. The contest was all but over after the first innings as the visitors would put together a monstrous total of 3/351 on the board. A brutal attack on the small surroundings of the postage stamp. No bowlers were spared as they raced along at nearly 10 an over.
The chase was always going to be a major task to complete, and when you quickly fall to 7/42, you’re cooked. Experienced pairing of Craig Kenins (85) and Leighton Joyce (42), along with a quick-fire unbeaten 31 from young gun Harry Dunstone, would give the score some respectability as the host would stumble to 9/217.
The Fifths have had a more than respectable start to the season, but the big boys of the competition have bullied them. They will look to finish the year in style as they host Wonga Park in a game that will have a big bearing on finals positions. This final match was abandoned, but Mt Evelyn was looking good, with the score recorded at 8/202 to Wonga Park’s 8/169.
The Flowtec Sixth XI continued their run of unrewarded efforts as they were ‘close, but no cigar’ once again. Travelling to Ainslie Park, the Mounters would bat first and would put together a well-constructed innings. Jacdan Mikaelian and Chris Anderson would be cautious up front against some excellent bowling, but the fact that they kept their wickets intact opened the innings up for the Mt Evelyn middle order.
Father-son duo of Luke James (19) and Shane Cantelmi (22) would increase the run rate with a flurry, with Craig Carstens (40) adding the cream to the top to extend the final total to 6/171, a more than respectable total.
The game would turn into a classic as the Mt Evelyn bowlers would stick to their task diligently, whilst the Ainslie bats would keep the run rate in check. Jamie Lee-Archer would do his best to get the Mounters off to a good start, taking 2/9, but wickets would be hard to come by through the middle overs. With the score at 2/106 at the drinks break, it looked as though the Mounters would fall short again.
Tight spells from Elisha Whitelaw, Anderson, James and Merg Mikaelian would give the Mounters a glimmer of hope and when Whitelaw and Anderson would capture three wickets in their return to the bowling crease, it was suddenly game on. Sensing the game was slipping from their grasp, some urgency was required by the Ainslie bats. With some quick running between wickets, the hosts were able to snatch victory with just three balls to spare. A classic match between two evenly matched teams. Whitelaw would have his best outing with the ball, taking 3/19, while Anderson would support him with 2/16.
That does it for the Sixth XI for 2025. Hopefully, they can turn their good form into wins in the new year.
