Cricket Report

L. A. Hunt – Captain of Cricket

Round 13 1st XI Match Report v St Joseph’s College

Saturday 11th March played at Northbridge A Ground, Northbridge

Shore 9/138 (Hugo Orpin 51, Toby Robinson 45) SJC 10/101 (Ben Hocking 4/19, Sam Walton 3/15)

Coming off a series of agonisingly close losses, that were thrown away by a SHORE side that lacked a sense of desperation and fight, the 1st XI arrived at Northbridge on Saturday with a point to prove. Playing a Joey’s side that was imbued with excitement over a potential grand final match against Kings the following week given they merely ‘beat the 6th place SHORE side’, the SHORE cricketers were keen to disrupt this course and throw the competition off balance. Intending to get runs on the board and put a weak Joey’s batting side under pressure, SHORE won the toss and elected to bat first. However, they underestimated the stickiness and deviation that existed on the A ground wicket, and some consistent bowling from Joeys opening bowlers saw them fall to a devastating 5/22. Although, something was different this week, SHORE understood they had lacked fight and mental strength in the previous weeks and did not want to slip into the soft complacency that they had allowed too often. So, in a 2016 Lebron-like comeback, Hugo Orpin and Toby Robinson, number 6 and 7 batsmen respectfully, revived the SHORE innings from a treacherous position. Some clinical playing of spin and rapid running between the wickets saw the two guide the innings to 114 before Robinson fell for 45, agonisingly short of a deserved 50. His partner, Hugo “Craynos” Orpin was able to make this milestone, scoring his 50 before falling shortly after for 51. The partnership speaks to the mental resilience of each batsmen, to be in such a devastating position at 5/22, only to guide the team to 114 without losing another wicket is a remarkable achievement and both should be commended. After the fall of the two batsmen, SHORE’s lower order successfully battled the entire 50 overs, scraping the side to a more than defendable score of 138.

The bowling innings began well for SHORE, with Tom Fuzes and Sam Walton sharing the new ball between them. Two early wickets from Walton saw Joeys fall to 2/18 before the number 2 and 4 batsmen began to stabilise their innings. As per usual, a remarkably accurate stump to stump bowling spell from Ben Hocking tore apart the opposing side, interrupting the Joeys partnership and taking the side to 4/46. This was supported by some excellent bowling from Josh Constantian, whose around the wicket angle to the left-handed Joeys’ captain was vital in stemming the flow of runs and putting pressure on the batting side. By this point, the game, which coincided with a year 7 orientation event at Northbridge, had drawn in an unusual number of spectators for a cricket game at Northbridge, providing the 1st XI with motivating support. This seemed to spur some exceptional off-spin bowling from Axel Bailey, who appeared to be eager to finish the game early and get home for undisclosed reasons. His consistent lines and difficult pace saw him go for an economy of only one run per over and claim the wicket of the Joeys’ number 7 batsmen. The return of Ben Hocking for his second spell struck fear into a depleted Joeys’ side at 6/86. Hocking bowled 3 batsmen in his second spell, taking his figures for the gamer to 4/19, whilst Walton’s return from the other end claimed the final wicket, taking his figures to 3/15 and seeing SHORE claim an epic victory.

Such an excellent victory was capped off by the fact that it was the year 12s final game at Northbridge. Finishing the final game on Northbridge’s memorable fields on such a high was truly a special moment for the senior players in the team. Thanks must be given to Mr O’Kane and Mr Ticehurst who have catered for the 1st XI at this ground for the entire season and to Mr Wallace and Jack Davis-Rice whose coaching was imperative to SHORE’s victory against the 2nd place Joeys’ side.