VETERAN’S CRICKET
Sunday 8 October was the second round of the Victorian Over 70’s cricket competition and the game between the West Gippsland Wombats and Mornington/Canterbury was moved from Korumburra to Iona as the oval at Korumburra was still under water.
The Wombats won the toss and decided to field first.
It is amazing what a difference a week makes.
Not only was the weather ideal for cricket but the Wombats’ cricket had improved greatly as they took wickets in the eighth and ninth overs.
Dick Stumbles 8 (20) was LBW to the bowling of Bob Phillips and Phil Mayne 13 (30) was bowled by Geoff Birnie and Mornington/Canterbury was 2 for 26.
In the 14th over Anthony Stancombe 5 (18) was run out by a direct throw from Pieter Loos that hit the wicket from 15 meters away.
Brendon Thomas was not to be outdone by Loos, as Thomas hit the wicket side on from 25 meters away to run out Ian Sharp 12 (19).
The score was 94 in the 25th overs, when the Mornington/Canterbury’s captain, Michael Angwin 7 (9) was the fifth wicket to fall, as he was caught by Brendon Thomas off the bowling of Keith Houghton.
Ian Rowland 25 (30), Charles Morris 21 (30) and Bill Hanson had retired before Michael Loy 6 (5) was caught by Mike Newton off the bowling of Pieter Loos.
Stanley Pamieta 6 (5) was then bowled by Jin Gregory.
The first retiree Ian Rowland returned to join Vin Booth and after 40 overs they were both not out.
Rowland made 36 (35) and Booth 8 (10) and the score was 7 for 183.
Wombats Bowling: Pieter Loos 6-1/28, Jim Gregory 5-1/27, Bob Phillips 6-1/30, Geoff Birnie 6-1/14, Keith Houghton 4-1/8, Mike Newton 3-0/18, Dallas Wyatt 6-0/32, Jon Martindale 1-0/3, Brendon Thomas 1-0/3, Jim Armstrong 1-0/8.
The Wombats were off to a slow start because of excellent bowling from the Mornington/Canterbury opening attack.
Barry Cain 0 and Jon Martindale 13 both survived to retire after facing 25 balls.
The first wicket fell in the 12th over with the score on 32, when Keith Houghton 9 (10) was caught by Phil Mayne off the bowling of Stanley Pamieta.
A hard-hitting partnership between Pieter Loos and Dallas Wyatt took the score to 76 in the 18th over before Loos 25 (23) was caught by Ian Rowland off the bowling of Stanley Pamieta.
The next four batsmen retired after facing 25 balls, Dallas Wyatt 31, Mike Newton 10, Bob Phillips 17 and Jim Armstrong 2.
David Wells 5 (21) retired hurt before Brendon Thomas 4 (13) was caught by Vin Booth off the bowling of Ian Rowland.
Jim Gregory and Geoff Birnie were both not out on 13 after facing 10 balls each.
The Wombats captain John Moore was not required to bat.
After 40 overs the Wombats score of 3 for 154 was 29 runs short of the Mornington/Canterbury total.
Mornington/Canterbury Bowling: Stanley Pamieta 6-2/30, Charles Morris 4-0/5, Bill Hansen 4-0/5, Dick Stumbles 5-0/22, Anthony Stancombe 2-0/14, Ian Sharp 4-0/31, Michael Angwin 6-0/9, Vin Booth 4-0/17, Ian Rowland 5-1/19.
Although defeated by a better team, the Wombats showed a great improvement from their first game, but the still have to work on their catching.
The Wombats next game is on Tuesday 17 October against Warrandyte at their home ground.
-John Moore-
