*Not to be confused with independent cricket media publication, Cricket et al, Students V Saints et al, tells the story of the weekend, as Uni's various teams, played various opponents.
Women's CV Community Shield 1
"Welcome to the #1 university in Australia.”
That message is plastered all over MU Sport, and the Women’s Shield 1 side proved it to be correct on the weekend, as they totally dismantled La Trobe Uni in Sunday’s double-header.
An even spread of wickets from all bowlers saw the Students roll La Trobe for 30 in the first match, before a clinical chase accounted for the total without the loss of a wicket.
After just enough time to lick their wounds, La Trobe had to head back into the field for the second match of the afternoon, set a whopping 144, courtesy of Jemma Cox’s imposing 80* from just 66 balls.
Easily able to defend the total, Camille Goodman starred with 2/6 from 3.4 overs, as Uni kept La Trobe to just 8/50.
Women's CV Community Shield 2
It was a tale of two contrasting matches for the Shield 2 XI on the weekend, as they conceded the points in the first match of the afternoon, before recording a particularly impressive win at Parker Reserve later in the day.
Set 126 in the first match, only Bentley Butler (34*) was able to pass 20, as Uni were restricted to 78 from their 20 overs.
Things looked to be headed the same way in the afternoon, as Uni managed just one Coburg wicket, thanks to Jahnvi Tandon. Again chasing 123 for victory, Uni brought their best stuff with the bat; Bentley Butler (50*) and Cath Grant (53*) both recording half-centuries to see the Students home.
Men’s First XI
Perhaps due to its proximity to Melbourne’s famed Sandbelt, Harry Trott was fine for play after slightly delayed start on Saturday morning.
Perhaps more remarkably, Tom Mileto discovered an aptitude for umpiring, as he gave opening partner Fergus McKenna his middle stump guard while the umpires deliberated on the placement of mats on wet spots on the square.
Set an imposing 292 for victory, Uni struggled to get going on a slow wicket and heavy outfield conditions. Each of the top four threatened – managing to get themselves in – but a steady enough flow of wickets hamstrung momentum.
Batting at 7 and setting up with a stance not dissimilar from those at the adjacent baseball diamond, Peter Hatzoglou bucked the trend of the innings, blasting the ball to all parts. His 94* came from just 73 balls, as he hauled Uni beyond 200. A knock that included a mammoth 7 sixes, Thumper really lived up to his name and played an innings befitting of the Tim David bat he wielded throughout.
A handy cameo from Yuvi Singh (33) was entertaining, but ultimately too much was left for the lower order to do as the Students were bowled out for 210.
Second XI
Although new waterways had formed on the outfield on Friday afternoon, the Uni Main was right for play as the Ormond clock tower struck 11.
Chasing 286 for victory, the Students made a steady start, as Jezza (who forwent double-bubble cash jobs to open the batting), went about his work in typically disciplined fashion. His 55 came from 133 balls as he lay a foundation (tradie reference, tick!) for the rest of the innings.
James Horn went about building something pretty atop that foundation, as his 77 caffeine-fuelled runs propelled Uni beyond 200. A classy innings, Horny toyed with the spinner, tantilised with straight drives off the quicks and now bears a seam mark bruise on the neck for his troubles.
Evening session cameos from Afridi (30), Young (34) and van der Sluys (24) saw Uni close in on the total, before Elliott Durrant struck 20* from 14 balls to finish the job as the sun set behind the heritage stand. Happy with his work, Kev was more than happy to explain his innings at the pub in the evening:
“I guess you can’t blame the Saints for not expecting the best batsman to come out at number eight,” he quipped.
“Most sides don’t really set up their bowling plans for that. I guess we just caught them off guard.”
As punishment for his hubris, Elliott is currently trying to wrangle students on school camp.
Third XI
Uni’s 204 on a slow and low Ian Johnson wicket came courtesy of Edward (to his mates which is all of us) Schultheis (58) and Private Player HUGO BIENVENU (67).
On Saturday, it was operation defence, as a crew of local high-school ‘bikies’ cruised neighboring Fitzroy St on pimped up pushies.
Although things looked a touch dire with St Kilda passing 100 without having lost a wicket, the innings started to take on a similar complexion to Uni’s a week earlier, as wickets fell for 110, 110 and 125. It was the spinning combo of Brodie O’Donnell (3/66) and Michael Forwood (1/23) who initially opened the door, before Cooch (Angus Harms – 2/20) and Scotty (Hunter Kremer-Slevin – 1/30) started to walk through it.
A steadying partnership for the Saints late in the day was enough to see them home 7 wickets down, but the Students can be proud of their fight and persistence to give themselves a chance late in the day.
Fourth XI
WASHED OUT
MUCC Vets (Stew Harris)
R1 vs Hawthorn Boroondara Cobras
The MUCC Geriatric XIII (yes, we do play with 13) eased into their 2024/25 campaign with a comfortable 109 run victory at the hallowed Princes Park facility.
After being invited to bat first by the Cobras, Paul Percy made good on his promise to cause mayhem with his running between the wickets, promptly torching himself in the first over. Partnerships thereafter saw Michael Hotton (41ret), Tim Grant (40ret), Peter Hamilton (38), skipper Matt Hewat (33no) and the youthful Tom Savill (30 on debut) push MUCC to 4/203cc off the allotted 36.
The Hawks never got going, losing poles regularly against the pink rock as they were bundled out for 94 in the 31st over. Wickets were shared, with best-at-the-level efforts from Luke Duffy, Jesse Draeger, Kev Diggerson and the Rat Percy rounding out solid day’s work from the former students. With the exception of the worst dropped catch in Vets history by the boy Hotton, the standard in the field was typically elite.
A bye awaits; we tackle the newly promoted Port Melbourne on Nov 10.