The Bottle-O Albion Eagles where out at Brooklands for the last regular season fixture against Taieri. After winning the toss skipper Taylor Cumberland decided we would have a bowl.
Mason Clarke and Patrick Arnold took the new ball and Mason struck with his second ball and when Patrick struck twice Taieri was 32/3 after 8 overs. The bowling then fell away as we let Taieri back into the game as they reached 50/3 after 10 and 103/3 after 20. A few short sharp words from the skipper at drinks had the boys back on task as the bowling tightened up considerable and the reward of wickets followed as Taieri proceeded to loss wickets at regular intervals. Patrick led the way with 3/32 off his 10. James Brown was not far behind with 2/39 off 9.3 overs and Mason was also back on task with 3/37 off 8 overs. This had Taieri all out for 184 in the 48th over.
The chase did not get off to a good start as we lost two early wickets and to make matters worse Quinn Sunde reinjured his hamstring and left the field so the score sat at 14/2 with Quinn retired hurt. Josh Olliver and Taylor started to get things back on-track when Josh was caught between two shots and hit the ball to the fielder to be out caught for 27 and the score at 55/3. Another quick wicket fell before Taylor was out for a patient 15 and all of a sudden, we were 61/5. Wickets keep falling and at 88/8 Quinn limped back to the wicket and batted as well as he could, with no quick singles and only hobbling thru for a run to shots that would normally have been 2, with Gordy Chatfield also at the wicket – together they moved the score to 140 when Gordy was out or 14. James Broiwn came to the wicket and another 20 runs were added before Quinn finally did not quite get one and was last out for an excellent 51 – but a 24 run loss was not ideal as the Eagles head into the 50 over final against NEV next Saturday and after skipper Scotty McCormack won the toss he decided they would have a bat – very good decision!
Dan Duke and Chris Morris opened up with Morrie just looking on as Dan clubbed his way to 158 off just 84 balls that included 16 four’s and 10 six’s and the first wicket partnership amassed 212. Another wicket at 216 had Mark Somerville at the wicket with Chris as they moved the score to 298 when Chris was out for88 off 91 deliveries. Whilst a couple of wickets fell Mark keep his foot down as he made an imposing 83 off just 41 balls and the Kilda reached 375/6 when their 40 overs came to an end.
Valley facing a monumental task lost wickets on a regular basis and the bowlers shared the wickets with Gerry Finnie leading the way with 3/33 off his 8 overs. Dukey & Somers got a couple each and Dazza, Scotty and Brett Hamilton (I thought he was the Manager!!) got one each that had the Vets all out in the 35th over for 160. So, a comprehensive win for the Kilda as they head into the 40 over final next Saturday.