PAKENHAM VETERANS
On Sunday 29 January, Pakenham and District Veterans Cricketers played Warrandyte at Stintons Reserve, Park Orchards.
What a difference a week makes in over 60’s cricket.
Last week Pakenham had 15 players ready to play against Kooweerup before they forfeited the game, this week only eight of the regular players for Pakenham were available.
After numerous phone calls and emails, Pakenham was able to put 11 players on the park. Pakenham would like to thank Sean Dooley, Ian Hammet and Ian Broome for playing this week for Pakenham.
Bob Phillips won the toss and decided that Pakenham should bat first.
Alan Reitman and Phil Brooks opened the batting.
In the fourth over, with the score on 14, Reitman 9 (10) was caught by James Darragh off the bowling of Andy Pardalis.
By the 20th over Pakenham had reached a total of 86, with Phil Brooks 23 (25), Michael Barrow 20 (25) Carl Muscat 13 (25) and David Leach 16 (25) all retiring.
After drinks, Ian Hammet 15 (27) retired before Ian Broome 13 (13) was stumped by Bruce Twite off the bowling of Noel Sharpe.
The score had reached 155 in the 31st over before Pakenham lost two wickets in two overs for three runs when Bob Phillips 14 (16) was bowled by Mark Ratti and Sean Dooley 15 (17) was caught by Steve Pascoe off the bowling of Russell Townsend.
John Moore 11 (9) was then caught on the boundary by Damien Mobilia off the bowling of Russell Townsend.
Maurice Esmonde 7 (25) retired before the retirees returned.
In the 40th over Michael Barrow 26 (30) was caught by Bruce Twite off Damien Mobilia.
Phil Brooks 26 (37) and Carl Muscat 19 (30) were both not out.
Pakenham posted a reasonable total of 6 for 189 off their 40 overs.
Warrandyte bowling: Andy Pardalis 5-1/30, Steve Pascoe 4-0/13, John Ryan 6-0/22, Greg Warren 3-0/24, Noel Sharpe 5-1/14, Damien Mobilia 6-1/19 Russell Townsend 4-2/15, Mark Ratti 2-1/18 & Michael Pollock 5-0/29.
Warrandyte’s inning started badly for the Pakenham skipper, who took himself off, after bowling two overs for 31 runs.
The culprit was Greg Warren, who took 17 balls to make 45 runs before he retired.
This innings included seven fours and two sixes.
In contrast, at the other end, Bruce Twite made a sedate 24 off 30 balls before he retired. Warrandyte lost their first wicket in the 15th over with the score on 99, when Michael Pollock 4 (4) was caught by Ian Broome off Carl Muscat’s bowling.
Andy Pardalis 18 (30) and John Ryan 23 (25) had retired.
Damien Mobilia 25 (25) retired before the new bowling sensation from ACS, Ian Hammet, took his first wicket in 19 years.
The unlucky batter was James Darragh 5 (5) who was caught by the wicket keeper Phil Brooks.
The total was now 2 for 175 in the 27th over.
Russell Townsend 19 (14) retired before Steve Pascoe 15 (18) and Mark Ratti 6 (12) took the total to 193 in the 31st over.
Pakenham Bowling: Ian Hammet 2-1/9, Carl Muscat 4-1/26, Phil Brooks 6-0/20, David Leach 4-0/26, Ian Broome 5-0/15, Michael Barrow 4-0/23 Alan Reitman 2-0/13 & Bob Phillips 4-0/43.
Although outclassed by a better side it was a great game of over 60’s cricket with nearly 400 runs scored in 71 overs.
Next week Pakenham Play East Doncaster at Pakenham.
-John Moore-
