Ben Healy clips one off his toes
GCC Black 7/180 (45 overs) Rob Murray 37, Ben Healy 36 and Rob McPherson 25 no, were defeated by
Weston Creek 6/181 (44.2 overs) Josh Kelly 2/18 (4), Mike Lane 2/33 (9), Rob McPherson 1/24 (9) and Hamish Healy 1/27 (7)
GCC Black were hoping for a good start winning the toss and judging it a good day to bat first, however the Creek’s openers soon had Dylan and Mike ducking and weaving the Aranda two-step. Loose deliveries were dealt with until Mike was bowled and Dylan chipped to point with the score at 24. Mick Wenke started to look good early before he went for 6 and the Tigers were 3 for 31. Harry Ridgeway and Rob steadied the scoring, but not without Harry feeling the effects of the variable bounce. Driving and glancing nicely they moved the score along to 77 before Harry was bowled for 10. Ben Healy took over as the chief run-maker and he and Rob kept the scorers busy moving into triple figures. Rob was eventually c&b for 37 bringing Hamish on to join his dad with the score 5/120. Father & son moved the score along nicely, Ben smacking 5 boundaries on his way to 36 before he went for one big hit too many. And like-father-like-son, Hamish went the same way in the same over. John Mammoliti and Robbie Mc took to the bowling with 7 overs remaining – Rob made his own space both straight and square of the wicket and raced to 25. John was also hitting them cleanly including the shot of the day, a maximum over mid wicket from the final ball to give the Tigers a respectable total of 8/180.
The pitch flattened out a bit and Robbie & Pat were unable to break through for some time. After missing out several times for some close LBW appeals Robbie (1/24) finally scatterd the bails for the first wicket. The Creek’s top order then went to town hitting good and bad balls alike and were at 108 before Dylan took a screamer behind the stumps for give Mike his first wicket of the day. A change in pace with Josh’s offies brought about the third wicket to fall as the Creek’s #3 top-edged to Hamish at mid-off. Josh (2/18) got a delivery to skid in his second over for a clean bowled, then Mike (2/33) finally got an LBW to go his way and Western Creek were 5/117. Always bowling straight, Hamish (1/27) was rewarded with a wicket and suddenly the Creek were looking a bit fragile at 6/121, needing 60 off 15 overs. However, with the assistance of the increasingly tough heat and a few sharp chances missed, the Creek scoreline kept rolling on toward the required runs and the total was achieved with 4 ball remaining. Well done fellas and a much improved result from the last two weeks.
