2014 Winter Macgregor Mongrels
Round 1 v Springwood Suns
Saturday 3 May 2014 at Kianawah Park 3
Batting first, the Mongrels slumped to 4/22 early before Matthew Taviani and Manpreet Chhatwal came to the rescue with a 91 run partnership which paved the way for an eventual total of 140 from a full 35 overs. On the way, Taviani brought up his second half-century for Macgregor.
While Jason Donnelly bowled tightly from one end, Tim Levitt zeroed in to take five top order wickets including a hat trick in the tenth over. At 5/33, the Suns were reeling, but the Mongrels were not able to sustain the pressure. The Suns eventually overhauled the target with just under seven overs to spare.
Round 2 v Rochedale South
Saturday 10 May 2014 at D M Henderson Upper
The loss of TWO wickets, in TWO balls, in over TWO, was not the ideal start for the Mongrels, but a 44 run partnership over the next eight overs between Matthew Taviani and Glen Lee steadied the ship. Then, two wickets in ten balls threatened to swamp the boat again. This time, a partnership of 81 from 97 balls between Taviani and Brendon Rawiri came to the rescue. When Rawiri departed in the 28th over, the score was 140 with Taviani on his highest ever score of 86. In Partnership with David Corrigan, Taviani brought up his maiden century for Macgregor; the partnership adding a blistering 64 from 46 balls and guiding the Mongrels to 6/217 from their 35 overs.
Although, Rochedale South lost wickets regularly during their innings, the run rate was always above that of the Mongrels. The loss of 4/33, in the space of six overs, reduced the visitors to 8/133 in the 23rd, but, a 9th wicket partnership of 86 from 71 balls and a monster Sundries total which included 28 wides and TWO no balls sunk the Mongrels. Jason Donnelly was tidy again (3/27) and Dave Corrigan picked up three wickets to go with his 43 with the bat.
The game was played in a tremendous sporting spirit by both teams.
Round 3 v Mater Hill
17 May 2014 at D M Henderson Upper
Mater Hill were in a heap of trouble early and never really recovered in the 3rd round clash at D M Henderson Upper. Jason Donnelly and Dave Corrigan picked up a wicket each, in the space of four balls and two overs later, brilliant fielding by newcomer, Gopi Kumar, resulted in a run-out to reduce MH to 3/9 in the 5th. There was a brief resurgence before Donnelly struck again, twice in the same over, to make it 5/35, then, picked up his 4th from the last ball of the 12th. Mian Waqar chimed in with a wicket from the first ball of the 13th to make it two in two balls then, grabbed another in the 15th to make it 8/54. A couple of 20-run partnerships at the end of the innings were sorely-needed. Even so, Mater Hill could only manage a modest 94.
The Mongrels got off to a flyer with Gopi Kumar smashing 23 from 13. There was a bit of a wobble in the middle when a couple of wickets fell quickly, but a 20 by Donnelly and a swashbuckling 20 from 5 balls from Corrigan steered the Mongrels home in the 17th over.
Once again the match was played in great spirit which has been a hallmark of the year so far for the Mongrels.
Round 4 v Toowong
24 May 2014 at Balmoral High School
Toowong All Out 122; 26.2 overs def by Macgregor Mongrels 7/124; 32.5 overs
Round 5 v Danger Island
31 May 2014 at Meakin Sporting Club
Macgregor Mongrels 6/204; 35 overs def Danger Island All Out 145; 24 overs
Round 6 v Springwood Suns
7 and 14 June 2014 at Homestead Park
Springwood Suns 200 & 1/52 decl. def Macgregor Mongrels 120 and 1/51 (First innings)
Round 7 v Rochedale South
21 and 28 June 2014 at Kianawah Park 5
DAY ONE:
After losing the toss and batting first, the Mongrels struggled. Only three partnerships reached double figures. Matthew Taviani and Paul Swallow added 16 for the 4th wicket, Dave Corrigan and Taviani 28 for the 5th and veterans Paul Jonas and Mian Waqar added 11 for the 9th wicket. A devastating seven over spell of 4/8 by Syed Shah did most of the damage for Rochedale South.
Chasing just 82 for first innings, Rochedale South overhauled the total in the 21st over and added a further 90 in the remaining 15 overs to be 6/171 at stumps. Mian Waqar and Mario Santourtzis picked up two wickets each.
DAY TWO:
Despite being two players down on day two, the Mongrels fought back well to restrict Rochedale South to 4/33 from 11 overs. Jason Donnelly, Paul Jonas and Amara Chitneni all picked up wickets and Matthew Taviani a run-out to bring the innings to a close on 204.
Ever-reliable, Paul Jonas, volunteered to open the innings and combined well with Matt Taviani in a partnership of 76 for the second wicket. More importantly the stand used up almost 22 overs of the day's play. Unfortunately Matt and PJ fell within a couple of overs of each other and a bit of a procession followed. Some good hitting by “Deano/Damo” Lewis in a stubborn 8th wicket partnership with Amara Chitneni added a valuable 29 runs which forced Rochedale South to bat again.
Rochedale South polished off the 21-run deficit in just under four overs for an outright victory. Oh the difference those couple of players would've made!.
Round 8 v Mater Hill
5 and 12 July at D M Henderson Upper
DAY ONE:
Mater Hill won the toss and elected to field on D M Henderson Upper. After an early loss, Matthew Taviani partnered with Troy Burns for 40 in 9 overs, Jason Donnelly for 58 in 13 overs and Brendon Rawiri for 126 in 31 overs, before he was out in the 56th over for his second century of the season, with the score on 228. Dave Corrigan and Eric Walsh played run-a-ball cameos to propel the Mongrels to 7/306 at stumps; Rawiri 66 not out.
DAY TWO:
Batting on from 7/306, the Mongrels added 36 runs from 39 balls to set Mater Hill a target of 343; Rawiri remained not out 80.
A 152 run 2nd wicket partnership in just 20 overs, followed by 68 in 10 overs, driven by a spectacular century by Dave Callick, took the score to 238 with about 15 overs of play remaining. On DM Henderson Upper, 105 off 15 overs is not a big ask with wickets in hand.
With Callick now out courtesy of Mario Santourtzis, Mater Hill slowed down a little. The fall of the next wicket triggered a blitzkrieg by Rick Anzolin. 43 came from the next 16 balls taking MH to 299; 43 behind, with about eight overs left. Then, three wickets in two maiden overs by newcomer, Josh Lampard, set the cat amongst the pigeons. MH were now 7fa with only 2wickets left. Lampard was in the action again in the next over taking a catch off the wily Troy Burns and Mater Hill were now “all but”.
Unfortunately, it was not to be for the Mongrels. Both teams could feel hard-done-by. MH reduced to ten and Mongrels having to field with just nine for the last hour and a half.
Round 9 v Toowong
19 and 26 July 2014 at Kianawah Park 6
DAY ONE:
After losing the toss and being sent in, the Mongrels had a shaky start losing 3/1 from 7 balls in overs 5 and 6. The rescue mission fell to the evergreen Troy Burns (65) and Dave Corrigan (35) who put on 78 from 126 balls for the 5th wicket. But, when Corrigan was out with the score on 100, there was another collapse and the Mongrels managed just 126 in total; the last four wickets falling in the space of nine balls for just 2 runs.
Toowong got their innings off to a rollicking start cracking 60 from the first 11 overs, before Charlie Shastri enticed an edge to Matthew Taviani to break the opening stand. Inspired, Dave Corrigan scattered the stumps four balls later and again in his next over to make it 3/64. Another quick fire knock took the score to 91 and the 4th wicket; Amara Chitneni holding onto a good catch off Josh Lampard. Jason Donnelly emulated Dave Corrigan late in the day crashing through two more batsmen in quick succession to leave Toowong 6fa, but one run in front of the Mongrels first innings.
Cricket is a game of surprises. The right attitude next week and anything can happen.
DAY TWO:
Resuming on 6/127, Toowong struggled to add just 41 in 18 overs thanks to some tight bowling by Charlie Shastri and Jason Donnelly and very good fielding by the Mongrels (Amara Chitneni 2 catches). With a deficit of 42, the Mongrels attacked, cracking 154 in just 29 overs in the second dig. Brendan Rawiri top scored with 45, Minul Tennakoon made a fine run-a-ball 23 and Troy Burns’ 37* took his match tally to over 100. An undefeated partnership of 46 from 37 balls between Burns and Chitneni for the 9th wicket laying the platform for a declaration 112 in front with 18 overs to bowl.
Bowling and fielding were once again very good. Dave Corrigan took his 100th wicket for MacGregor, finishing with 2/19. Charlie took a great catch on the boundary to dismiss the Toowong danger man.
Toowong were able to hold on till the close at 4/74.
Round 10 v Danger Island
2 and 8 August 2014 at D M Henderson Upper
DAY ONE:
The Mongrels got off to a great start taking wickets regularly to have Danger Island 5/71 in the 23rd over. Then, someone flicked a switch! Mairi Katoa and Ruarau Vailoa smashed 132 from just 71 balls in a magnificent hitting display. Kaitoa continued to a memorable 114 from 98 balls. Danger island were eventually out for 252; 181 coming from the last 19 overs! Amara Chitneni picked up three wickets, including the prize scalp of Kaitoa, Jason Donnelly also picked up three at the top of the order and Dave Corrigan picked up the first and last. Eric Walsh pouched three catches.
Big job next week...😳
DAY TWO:
A remarkable day at D M Henderson for the Mongrels.
From 7/98, partnerships of 40 (Eric and Jake), then 95 (Eric and Amara) dragged the Mongrels back to a position where first innings points were within reach. Then, a suspect LBW (two noises) saw Amara dismissed for 32 (his highest score for MacGregor). Eric batted on to 95 not out, before the last wicket fell just 11 runs short of a first innings victory... So close!
Then, the Jason Donnelly story, taking wickets in his 1st (2), 2nd, 5th, 6th (2), 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th overs to finish with 10 for 93 from 12.1 overs. Good catches to Matthew Taviani, Dave Corrigan and Amara assisted, but the rest were bowled and a couple of LBWs.
A big thanks to the Boys from the Macgregor Mavericks who came up and formed a cheer squad... Here’s. Scorecard to frame, Jason Donnelly!
