Mid-Week Cricket
Mid-week cricket is a competition involving 80 over games on a Wednesday afternoon during the regular MCA season. This is a boon for cricket tragics who simply can't get enough, and also for anyone who feels they need more match time.
Of course, Sacred Heart Cricket Club has all sorts of tragics in abundance, and after the first match forfeit, the first actual game was played Wed 22nd November 2006.
Read on for the Presidents review of the match and the tale of the uncanny X-man Ellis' fortunes...
The Mid-Week inaugural XI
The SHCC Club XI played its first fixture yesterday on Albert Park One and from the get-go the vibe was electric. Choosing to bat with only five players on-hand the Hearters lost early wickets to some tidy swing bowling on a worn and cracking deck. Bobby Ives and Kuma Pieris went early but ex-GUCC Mark Langworthy teamed up with Lorenzo Peake to steady the ship. Langworthy moved comfortably to an unchallenged 50 on debut for the club before trying to push the rate. Solid contributions from left handers SHCC First XI Captain and MCA 04/05 Best and Fairest Stephen Rando (24) with Scott Pickett playing his first game in 15 years (39) had the Hearters in the drivers seat. The late charge got the Clubbers to 185 for 7 at the 40 over CC.
The Southerners had looked more than competent in the field and were shaping nice shots early with the bat. In his first over, however, Xenon Ellis took the number 2 with a hooping in-swinger that the batsman left to crash violently into middle and leg. The other opener took guard for the start of the second Ellis was dismissed by an identical ball that thudded into pad uncontested for the first of the trick. Lucky Pierre was then bowled by another in-ducking corker and as if the batsmen had not learned the lesson from the previous three dismissals (the kid bowls in-swingers, quick ones) the next also shouldered arms to the ball straightening on middle. Kids at the neighbouring Primary School celebrated and St Kilda vagrants were literally on the edge of their benches for the spectacle of bowling that could have indeed been 4 from 4 had the umpire shown a little less generosity to the incoming batsman. A spectacle of bowling from the X-Man demonstrating what he has only threatened in recent seasons.
The Clubbers let the Southerners get back in the swing as 4/6 turned into 4/106 before the long overdue breakthrough came. The lack of a specialist keeper ultimately costing the Hearters as the Southerners played sensible cricket and found the gaps and short fast boundaries. Despite Xenon returning to get his fifth wicket (ultimately claiming the top five on the list) the opposition ran down the score with 3 overs to spare for the loss of 8.
A most enjoyable day was had by all in attendance and the club welcomed Southerners' cast-off Tim Richards who promises much during his short stay in Melbourne. The pattern is set for future Wednesday contests and SHCC will be competitive. Those wishing to play next week should be getting leave approved or booking that doctors appointment now.
Xenon Ellis with the 5-for & Hat-trick ball.
Albert Park 1