Cricket Report

Round 11 1st XI Match Report vs Newington College

L. A. Hunt

Saturday 25th February played at Newington College, Buchanan Oval, Stanmore

Shore 8/195 (Hugo Orpin 62, Will Sutton 33) by 124 runs NC 6/196 (Ben Hocking 3/32, Sam Walton 2/22)

Looking to come back from a disappointing loss last week against Scot’s, the SHORE 1st XI won the toss at Newington and elected to bat on a hard wicket. The innings began steadily with stability from openers Sutton and Segaert, however, the SHORE batsmen struggled against the Newington spinners with Segaert, Bailey, and Hunt all falling cheaply to spin. With the departure of Sutton at 4/68 the team looked to be in trouble, facing a collapse. Thankfully, a clinical innings of 63 from keeper Hugo Orpin, which featured 4 sixes, combined with a strong 29 from his partner Toby Robinson, saw the SHORE team guided into a safer position towards the end of the innings. Some sharp running between the wickets of the two players was what allowed them to maintain a consistently high run rate throughout the overs they were in. The innings was then closed out by Josh Constantian and Ben Hocking scoring 10 each leading SHORE to a formidable total of 8/194. Although, with Newington’s competent batting line-up, the SHORE bowlers would have to perform well in order to put their team over the line.

The bowling innings began exceptionally well for SHORE, as young openers Sam Walton and Tom Fuzes continued to bowl the consistently spectacular lines and lengths that the team has become accustomed to over the year. Some sharp fielding from Alex Segeart at mid-wicket delivered an excellent run-out for the team and suddenly Newington were struggling at 2/22. Although, with strong batters remaining in the shed, they looked to remain persistent and continue to chip away at the total. This was until Ben Hocking was unleashed at first change. Bowling up the hill and into the wind, Ben continued to bowl the accurate stump to stump lines that he has produced all season, claiming 3 quick wickets including the likes of the Newington captain, and leaving Newington floundering at 6/41 at drinks. Well on top, the SHORE side would need to knuckle down and ensure that they did not give the opposition any opportunity at mounting a comeback. However, it was this that they failed to do. The side lacked a sharpness and awareness in the field that existed in the first session of their bowling innings. Catches went down, run outs were squandered, and the Newington 7 and 8 batsmen began to build a partnership that threatened the once dominant position of the team. This persisted and as both batsmen reached half centuries with 10 overs to go, only requiring 4 runs an over to win, the realisation that a game that had been in an unlosable position was about to be lost had struck the SHORE side. From 6/41 Newington managed to chase down the total set for them at 6/197, scoring 156 runs without losing a wicket. With only three games left in the season the SHORE 1st XI must do some soul searching to determine how to maintain the flashes of dominance they show in small sessions for entire games.

The team faces Riverview at Riverview in round 12 next weekend and will look to consistently display the grit and ability to win games that they have shown at times during this season.