Matthew Flinders Anglican College v Wanderers
16 October 2024 at Forrester Field
There was rain all around, but somehow play was uninterrupted at the beautiful Forrester Field at Matthew Flinders Anglican College.
Wanderers batted first and were in trouble early. Fletcher McKenzie took the first two wickets via catches to keeper, Ethan Kahts and Ben Gannon, on the boundary at long off. Prince Lucky had contributed half the runs before getting a top edge and skying one to Lachlan Boss off Will Dodunski in the 9th over; 3/48. Ben Thallon and Jackson McDonald looked good in a partnership of 31 off 20, but Kahts’ second catch - Dodunski’s second wicket - removed McDonald (32) in the 13th. Thallon then combined with Mitch Rowing in a fine recovery, adding 74 from just 48 balls; Rowing retiring at Drinks for a well made 50 which included five 6s.
After drinks, Aryan Sanjay and Henry Crook tightened the screws for MFAC and were rewarded with wickets in their final overs. Dodunski took a blinder at Mid-On off Crook, to get rid of Thallon (31) and Toby Elms a slick stumping off Sanjay. Steve McClymont smacked three consecutive sixes in a cameo of 20 from 17 before Sanjay got under one in Ethan Kahts’ solitary over. Fletcher McKenzie returned to bowl at the death, picking up a third wicket with Henry Crook taking the catch. At 8/222, Skipper, Sheldon Stackpoole (try saying that quickly 😁) came to the wicket, clubbed his 4th ball for six and went on to add 25 from 16 in partnership with Luke Rowing who fell to a second Dodunski catch off Archie Brown. This brought Mitch Rowing back to the crease. The next 7 balls went for 18 runs before another Dodunski catch - this time off the bowling of Tyler Boss - ended Stackpoole’s and the Wanderers innings on 259.
The 37 overs took just 140 minutes to bowl; a credit to both sides and excellent work by umpire Greg Bradley.
There was time for a quick bite to eat, but a gloomy weather radar forced the players back on just 20 minutes later.
With two wickets to Luke Rowing in his first over and a wicket to Jackson McDonald in the 3rd, MFAC were in “all sorts” at 3/7. Enter Toby Elms and Aryan Sanjay who batted beautifully to take MFAC to drinks without further loss, with the score on 100.
With 160 to get from the remaining 20 overs, acceleration was necessary. Sanjay obliged, smacking a 4 from the first ball after drinks to bring up his 50 and the 100 partnership. The very next ball sailed over the boundary and all of a sudden the game was afoot! A rank long hop by Ben Thallon to Sanjay in the next over should probably have met the same fate, but instead, the ball found its way into the waiting hands of Tyrone Bean at fine leg; the partnership ending on 109 from 166 deliveries. Ben Thallon struck again a few overs later, sneaking one through Lachlan Boss’ defence to make it 5/133. Having just reached his 50, Toby Elms played two identical lofted shots off Mitch Rowing to long off. The first one found grass, but Luke Rowing made amends with the second; 6/139.
With 120 to get from 13 overs, an amazing 50 partnership from just 28 balls between Fletcher McKenzie and Tyler Boss breathed life back into the MFAC innings. The return of Luke Rowing and a superb leg-side stumping by McClymont from a wide, ended Tyler Boss’ innings and the partnership. An over later, a very good catch in the deep by Archie Douglas off Caleb Connor ended McKenzie’s innings of 32 from 25 balls; 8/203. Luke Rowing’s double strike in the 36th over took his figures to a stunning 5/23 from 7 overs.
Joy Chauhan and Archie Brown entertained with an 11th wicket 32 from 25; Archie Douglas taking a catch off Tyrone Bean from the final ball of the innings to dismiss Brown.
Hospitality from the hosts was excellent as always and camaraderie between the players exemplary, with several sporting gestures evident during the evening.
Well done to all!
