A great weekend for the club with 6 wins from 6 senior matches. 4 sides advanced to the Grand Final & 2 continued in a knock out finals format.
A few observations:
Tough weather conditions over both days tested both our mental & physical strength.
Some brilliant individual performances with both bat & ball in all grades. There were also some great efforts which don’t make the score book – these are what win big games/finals.
Everyone represented the Brunswick Cricket Club with a great sense of pride & determination.
Our leadership in all teams was “top shelf“ stuff.
Great support around the grounds for the teams.
Well done to all & make sure you get along to training this week & next weekend to support the teams.
Much better conditions are forecast (mid/high 20’s) making it much more comfortable for everyone.
Here are the highlights of each match…
Womens T20 5/165 v Moonee Valley 4/125
I Rodger 92no off 50 balls, R Rodger 37no off 34 balls, A Kline 12 off 15 balls
A Sander 1/20 off 4 overs, A Kline 2/21 off 4 overs
Win & advance to Grand Final
Seconds 4/205 v Taylors Lakes 204
L. Stutter 135no off 121 balls, M Horrocks 34 off 36 balls
M Jackman 3/31 off 13 overs, R Ratwatte 3/54 off 22 overs, O Price 2/22 off 7 overs, H Travers 1/30 off 9 overs, A Halls 1/23 off 5.4 overs
Win & advance to Round 2 of Finals
Thirds 190 v Kew 170
V Sandhu 45, off 50 balls, J McDonald 41no off 87 balls, P Holly 33 off 89 balls
L Giblett 3/44 off 13 overs, E Sivak 1/31 off 11.5 overs, T Burn 2/29 off 17 overs, v Sandhu 2/12 off 5 overs
Win & advance to Grand Final
Fourths 221 v Kew 134
Z. Welsh 66 off 125 balls, B Allan 48 off 97 balls
R. Magar 29 off 61 balls & 5/24 off 17 overs, H MacLaren 2/17 off 13 overs, P Pandya 2/22 off 8.2 overs
Win & advance to Grand Final
Saturday B 5/127 v Indigos 125
J. Anderson 39 off 55 balls, D Booth 34 off 68 balls
H. Harley 3/21 off 7 overs G Senz 2/42 off 9 overs, M Emu 2/27 off 6 overs, A Martin 2/16 off 6 overs & L Tansley-Beckerman 1/18 off 6 overs
Win & advance to Preliminary Final
Sunday D 3/172 v Reds 9/168
R. Powell 70no off 55 balls, M McCarthy 31 off 32 balls, D Anderson 31no off 19 balls
R. Rahman 3/19 off 9 overs, O Bryant 1/31 off 8 overs, L Anderson 3/18 off 8 overs, T Varley 2/8 off 3 overs
Win & advance to Grand Final
Well, it was another warm day for cricket and time for the long-awaited semi-final clash between ourselves (who finished 2nd on the ladder) and the Reds (who finished 3rd), at our home ground away from home; McDonald Reserve, Coburg.
The Reds won the toss and chose to bat, so, we took to the field, ready to finish their season. Super tight bowling poured the pressure on their batters and, soon, wickets began to fall. Bowling honours went to Romi Rahman 3/19 (9), Lachlan Anderson 3/18 (8) (with one of his wickets being a brilliant catch taken by his dad, Dean, at 1st slip - a great father/son combination right there), Tom Varley 2/8 (3) and Osgar Bryant 1/31 (8). Superb catching from Dean Anderson, with 2 (extra cover and 1st slip) and Alastair Saunders (point), Ben Pickering (point), Lachlan A (caught and bowled), Osgar B (fine leg) and Tom V (behind the stumps), each taking 1 and rounding off a great team effort in the field - holding the Reds to 168 runs, at 9 wickets down, from their 45 overs.
Next, it was our turn to bat and we all welcomed the continued fine form, from the previous week, V the Strokers. Mick McCarthy (31) and Zach Chamberlain (22) kicked us off with a terrific 45 run partnership, then Zach C and Ruben Powell (70*) with another excellent 45 run partnership and finally Ruben P and Dean Anderson (31*) took us all the way to victory, with a superb 77 run partnership, and we'd knocked the Reds off, in the 30th over, with 3 wickets down for 172.
What a terrific semi-final win - all the sweeter, as it was versus the Reds, who we'd lost to twice, very narrowly, during the home and away season. A resounding win, delivered through excellent bowling, everyone taking the chances that were presented, and superb batting - well done all, it was a pleasure to be a part of.
Right, here it is, the grand final match, this coming weekend, against Parkville District, at Brens Oval, Parkville - let's keep doing what we're doing, working hard, preparing well, getting some rest too where we can, and let's send Parkville District on their way as well and take out the Sunday D premiership.
C'arn the Wicks!