It was the best on-field start to a season the Belgrave Cricket Club senior mens program has had in the last 15 years across the top two teams, with the 2nd XI currently undefeated after winning 6 consecutive games.
At the Christmas break, the team was sitting equal second. The mens 1st XI started the season slowly with 2 losses and 1 draw but have now won 4 in a row to sit outright 2nd on the ladder leading into the Christmas break.
In the final game of 2022, the 1st XI took on Eildon Park at Belgrave reserve and a disappointing bowling and fielding effort saw the team needing to chase down 269 off 40 overs to win, a total the side chased successfully in one day cricket.
After losing a few wickets early, Belgrave got the run rate under control thanks to opener Reece Schelfhout hitting 53 off 29 balls including 9 fours and 2 sixes. A few more wickets fell and Belgrave found themselves in a bit of trouble at 4/100, needing a further 169 runs to win off only 30 overs.
Enter 15-year-old Ronan Culloty and one of our former WACA premier cricketers, Chad Hitchcock. Ronan who made his 1st XI debut at the age of 14 and was only taking the field for the 1s in his 20th match at 15 years old was faced with a tall order to guide the side home to a much-needed win to solidify the place in the top 4.
Ronan played with the confidence and bravery you would expect from a 200-game veteran, running hard between the wickets, working the ball around the field beautifully and punishing the bad balls to finish on a well compiled 97 off 86 balls including 11 fours and 3 sixes. Ronan was ably supported by the mature head of Chad Hitchcock who hit 64 off 54 balls including six fours and two sixes and together they put on 168 runs, in the process breaking a club record 1st XI fifth wicket partnership which has stood for 40 years since 1982/83.
The 1st XI headed into the Christmas break outright second on the ladder and both our 3rd and 4th XI men’s sides sits one game outside the four. It’s an exciting time to get back involved in the club and sport, which would welcome off-field volunteers and senior players for either our men’s or women’s program.
The cricket season resumes on Saturday 14 January, when Belgrave plays Upper Ferntree Gully.
The club’s junior program has been a huge success in 2022, with the number of sides doubling from 2021 to now include a second Super 7s team, the first stage 2 girls junior side and the under 14s getting up and running again and now sitting 3rd on the ladder at the Christmas break.
One of the Under 14s players, Nicko Litterbach, made his senior club debut at the age of 12 this season and took the field with his dad, Iain Litterbach.
In a fitting outcome, Nicko took his first wicket with Dad taking a wonderful catch on the boundary. Another great effort worth mentioning is Eli Morgan in the fast 9s who on the weekend before Christmas hit a mammoth 53 not out retired off 23 balls including 8 fours and 3 sixes.
Overall, the juniors is going from strength to strength with the club’s strategic focus on ensuring all participants get a fair go regardless of ability a smash hit with the kids and parents alike. The junior girls’ side is full for the season but we would welcome any additional players aged between 7 and 14 to join us for the second half of the season as well as any local community members looking for volunteering opportunities to support off the field, the club can help to secure volunteer working with children checks free of charge.
