By Damian Ford
Happy New Year to all the Montrose Cricket Club families, let’s hope 2023 can be a prosperous one. The club had three teams play on the weekend all with importance as the Wolves’ charge for finals qualification.
The First XI home to Wantirna South, won the toss and elected to bowl. After 17 overs and Wantirna South were 0/85 it was looking like they were going to post 220+. The wolves really pegged it back getting 4 wickets in the space of 6 overs to have the visitors 4/100. Wantirna South put on a partnership of 70 through the middle but lost some wickets at the end which slowed their momentum, and they finished their 40 overs 8/196.
The run chase started strong with 8 runs off the first 2 balls but then Montrose lost in form opening batter, Shane Findlay in the first over to start 1/9. Liam Storm who has also been in form this season started well but was caught behind the wicket for 20 and the Wolves found themselves 2/36 after 6 overs.
That brought together Alfie Cooper and Michael Edwards who put on 68 for the 3rd wicket and after 18 overs Michael Edwards was dismissed for 43 and they were 3/104.
Alfie Cooper was the main stay in the innings, being in the first over he was able to hold it together after losing Kieran Perkins (10) and Andrew Keane (0) in the same over as Montrose found themselves 5/132. Justin Perkins and Alfie Cooper dug in and put on 59 run partnership before they were both dismissed within 3 balls of each other Alfie Cooper run out for 75 and Justin Perkins bowled 25. The First XI passed Wantirna South in the 37th over 7/199. A great win as the team sits 3rd on the ladder with 4 rounds remaining.
The Second XI away to Wantirna South dominated from ball one. Starting well having Wantirna South 4/39 after 20 overs. They ended up bowling Wantirna South out for 122. Pick of the bowlers was Cameron Storm 3/21 off 8 and Blake Podesta 3/17 off 6 overs.
The run chase started slow, losing Hayden Daniell in the second over and found themselves 1/4. The team had some smaller partnerships with the mainstay Sam Gebert 58 not out and passed them 3/123 in 22 overs. Josh McCallum’s 31 off 27 balls helped set up the win and the second XI stayed top of the ladder.
The Third XI played Mount Evelyn away. Batting first, Montrose took it to them from ball one. Making an impressive 8/292 off 40 overs. Nathan Rees 54 off 59 balls set the innings off on the right foot; he was complemented by Javier Mastronardi 50 off 59 balls and Mitch O’Neil 44 off 38 balls. as complete a batting display as you’ll see.
Mount Evelyn in reply were never in it, being bowled out for 93 in 25 overs. Max Cron was the pick of the bowlers getting his second 5 wicket haul of the season, 5/14 off 7 overs with 2 wickets to both Daniel Crowe and Jacob Crowe. The Thirds are pushing hard for finals and play 3 of the top 4 in the last few rounds so have their work cut out for them.
Montrose was lucky enough to have six of its master blaster kids attend the boxing day test and play on the MCG at the lunch break as they watched the Aussies dominate South Africa. What a great experience for all involved and well done to those kids who were lucky enough to attend. The blaster program starts back 3 February at Montrose Reserve, if your child is considering trying cricket, please contact Nick Vallance on 0412 188 542.
