PAKENHAM VETERAN’S – OVER 60
Pakenham and District Veterans were due to play Research Eltham Collegians (REC) on the main Pakenham Cricket Ground, but after over 100mls of rain fell, the ground was unplayable, forcing a move to the excellent surface of the football ground.
The sun was shining and it was an outstanding day for the over-60 brigade to play cricket.
Pakenham was forced to make six changes to the team that played Richmond a fortnight ago.
Into the team came Peter Francis and Carl Muscat from Phillip Island, Mark Baulch from Yarraville, John Costello from Ballan and two local players Phillip Brooks from Pakenham Upper and Les Jones from Pakenham.
Bob Phillips from Pakenham won the toss and decided to bat first.
On the last ball of the first over Carl Muscat was caught by Mick Cahill off the bowling of Steve Horn, without scoring.
The total had reached 17 in the ninth over when the other opening batsman, Bob Phillips 2 (18) was caught by Phil Thompson off the bowling of Geoff Crisp.
Peter Francis 16 (27) retired before Pakenham lost its third wicket in the 13th over with the score on 38 when John Costello 4 (13) was caught by Marino Bovo off the bowling of Colin Holly.
The score had reached 64 at the 20 over drinks break.
David Leach 13 (25) and Phil Brooks 10 (23) had both retired and Michael Barrow 12 (12) was caught by Steve Horn off the bowling of Mick Cahill.
The fifth wicket fell on 99 when Alan Reitman 4 (11) was caught off the bowling of Mick Connop.
Mark Baulch 14 (25) and Les Jones 16 (25) both retired before Pakenham lost three wickets for three runs, in three overs, in the quest for quick runs.
John Moore 9 (10) and Jim Gregory 6 (25) were both bowled by Steve Horn and Peter Francis, who returned after retiring, failed to add any runs off the three balls he faced before he was caught off the bowling of Colin Holley.
After 40 overs Pakenham was 8 for 139 with the not out batsmen David Leach 20 (32) and Phil Brooks 18 (27).
All REC bowlers bowled well and the fielding was excellent and that is why this score did not appear to be enough on a ground with a quick outfield.
REC Bowling: Steve Horn 7-3/18, Geoff Crisp 4-1/3, Colin Holly 8-2/32, Mick Cahill 6-1/11, Mick Connop 6-1/28, Phil Thompson 2-0/3, Dave Cordy 3-0/5, Carl Caridi 5-0/30.
REC lost its first wicket in the fourth over when David Leach took a great catch off Jim Gregory’s bowling to dismiss Phil Thompson 1 (14).
Carl Caridi wasted no time in scoring 40 runs off 27 balls before retiring.
Dave Cordy 25 (30) and Mick Connop 18 (30) both retired before REC lost their second wicket in the 20th over with the score on 102, when Steve Horn was LBW to Bob Phillips bowling for an eighth ball duck.
REC now had eight wickets in hand and 20 overs left to score 38 runs to win.
In the next 10 overs bowled by David Leach and John Costello REC only scored 25 runs for the loss of Nick Allinson 16 (25), who was bowled by David Leach.
By the 35th over Marino Bovo 16(30) and Ron Collins 7 (26) had retired and the score had reached 136 when Peter Francis took a fine out-field catch off the bowling of Mark Baulch to dismiss Colin Holley 7 (14).
Dave Cordy returned to join Mick Cahill to take REC’s total to 140 for 4 in the 36th over.
Cordy 18 (39) and Cahill 3 (4) were both not out.
All Pakenham bowlers stuck to their task well and never gave up and were only beaten in the fourth last over.
Pakenham Bowling: Jim Gregory 5-1/19, David Leach 7-1/10, Mark Baulch 3-1/5, Bob Phillips 1-1/1, Phil Brooks 3-0/23, John Costello 7-0/25, Peter Francis 2-0/15, Carl Muscat 3-0/10, Michael Barrow 2-0/10, Les Jones 3-0/19
This game may have been one of the very few games of Veterans Cricket played this weekend, because of the weather.
Even though defeated by a better team on the day it was a great game of cricket.
Next Sunday Pakenham plays the Gippsland Goanna’s in Sale.
It is expected there will be a number of changes to the team
-John Moore-
