Humes Round 1 Weekend Wrap
1ST GRADE
1st grade made a strong start to the season, comprehensively beating Melville by 131 runs at Tompkins Park.
Kallen Bond won the toss and elected to bat, with the skipper starting well in a partnership of 42 with Iszak Milentis before chipping to mid on for 25.
Milentis also couldn’t capitalise on a start, skying to mid off for 26, with Shayne Wornes following caught in the leg side for 13 to leave the game delicately poised at 3 for 80.
The exciting Brock Larance took little time to get to work on his club debut, putting together a dynamic 111 run 4th wicket partnership with John Sanders, with five sixes between the pair a highlight.
Larance’s whirlwind knock of 66 from 52 deliveries gave everyone an insight into his abilities, before ending caught at third man on a reverse sweep.
Sanders carried on after the loss of his partner, combining well with fellow youngsters Lachlan Lake (15 from 16 balls) and Luke Holt (16 from 18 balls) before departing in search of another maximum for an excellent 74 from 70 deliveries.
Waheguru Dhillon (5 not out) and Oliver Arkinstall (6 not out) saw the innings through, with the Dragons putting a strong score of 7 for 258 on the board from their 50 overs.
In reply, the Storm’s chase faltered early, with Vidit Vashisht (2/16 from 7 overs) accounting for both openers with 21 runs knocked off the target.
Larance (1/21 from 4 overs) showed his all-round ability, picking up a wicket with his off spin before Dhillon rock and rolled Melville’s middle order, with the back-to-back reigning club champion beginning his campaign with 5 for 34 from his 8.1 overs.
Veteran Matt Hanna (1/14 from 7 overs) chipped in with a late wicket and Milentis continued last season’s outstanding fielding form with a direct hit run out from cover point as the Storm’s innings closed for 127 after 37.1 overs, with a robust bowling performance rounded out by good efforts from Holt (0/24 from 7 overs) and Arkinstall (0/16 from 4 overs).
2ND GRADE
A new look 2nd grade side got over the line in a nail biter against Melville, winning by 18 runs at Burrendah Park.
Returning captain Nic Geisler lost the toss as the Dragons innings started poorly, with young gun Ethan Smith run out without scoring.
His partner Stewart Hepburn followed soon after for 15, with Blair Walsh and Amrit Singh steadying the ship before Walsh fell lbw to spin for 38.
Liam Hindle came and went, caught on sweep for 4, with Singh departing soon after to leave honours even at 5 for 97.
Declan Crowder (37 from 66 deliveries) and David Cameron (28 from 60 deliveries) put in some hard graft to ensure there was a score to bowl at, with late help from Cameron Becker (15 from 13 deliveries) getting the total to 189 from 49.2 overs.
After the break, the Dragons started beautifully with the ball, reducing the Storm to 6 for 49, with wickets for James Andrews (2 for 23 from 6 overs), Hepburn (3 for 31 from 9 overs), and Becker (2/15 from 6.1 overs) to go with a run out from a combination of Singh and wicketkeeper Hindle.
A 94 run 7th wicket partnership created some tension, but the Dragons held their nerve as late wickets for Singh helped to end their innings for 171 with 14 balls to spare.
3RD GRADE
3rd grade couldn’t start their season with a win away from home, losing to Melville by 9 runs.
The hosts batted first and were restricted to 6 for 163 from their 45 overs, with Ellis Cassidy (3/33 from 7 overs) and James Scott (2/16 from 9 overs) in the wickets, and Ajit Pal Singh (0/17 from 9 overs) bowling with good control.
In reply, a batting lineup blending youth and experience found the going tough, being reduced 8 for 103 with Raghav Raj (44 from 81 balls) and Brennan Wilson (21 from 42 balls) the main contributors.
Lower order batters Scott (24 from 26 balls) and Jordan Hodgetts (23* from 29 balls) made the game interesting late, but the hosts held on and bowled the Dragons out for 154.
4TH GRADE
4th grade started their title defence with a loss, with Melville winning by 20 runs at Burrendah Park.
Aaron McCall won the toss and made his trademark call of sending the opposition in, with the Storm’s score of 145 from their 45 overs held back by the captain (2/19 from 8 overs), Jarod Bridge (2/20 from 9 overs), Brad Kent (1/25 from 9 overs) and Dulina Thelikada Gamage (1/19 from 4 overs).
In response, English debutant Harry Hopwood getting off the mark with a six over square leg was a highlight, but the chase started poorly as the Dragons slipped to 4 for 23.
Thelikada Gamage top scored with 35 from 73 deliveries as the Dragons were bowled out for 125, with the innings disappointingly ending after just 32.2 overs.
UNDER 17’S
Under 17’s clash with Melville at Tompkins Park ended without a result, with the match abandoned on Sunday morning after sprinklers were set on the pitch overnight.
The Dragons did get a fielding innings in on Saturday, bowling the Storm out for 155 from 48 overs, with Jagan Singh the standout with 4 for 16 from 7 overs, as Dulina Thelikada Gamage (2/31 from 8 overs), Kai D’Souza (2/20 from 7 overs), and Blake Stephen (1/31 from 9 overs) all contributed strongly.
UNDER 15’S
Under 15’s lost by 37 runs to Melville at Burrendah Park.
Melville batted first and managed 162 from their 50 overs, with openers Mitch Hole (3/37 from 10 overs) and Luca Boden (2/22 from 10 overs) bowling well with support from Tom Dobson (1/15 from 6 overs) and Mitch Kukura (1/10 from 4 overs).
In reply, Kukura (46 from 108 deliveries) and Josh Nathan (44 from 103 deliveries) batted well but lacked support, with the next highest score in single figures as the Dragons were bowled out for 125 after 47 overs.