Cricket returned to sweltering conditions on Saturday, as the competition was forced to invoke its Extreme Weather Policy. This saw Divisions 5 and below called off, leaving Divisions 1-4 to brave the heat.
Upwey-Tecoma’s 1st XI faced a tough task against the undefeated ladder leader Lysterfield at Upwey Recreation Reserve.
Lysterfield won the toss and elected to bat. That decision looked a good one as the Beavers jumped out of the blocks to hammer 43 off the opening 3 overs. A Stephen Capon breakthrough stemmed the flow, as the Tigers began to claw their way back into the contest on the back of some tight bowling.
At the completion of their 40 overs, Lysterfield had managed a competitive total of 195, perhaps just below par for a smallish ground and a fast outfield. Capon was the best of the bowlers with 2/30 off of his 8 overs, while the evergreen Jay Colee claimed 2/48 with some expert bowling at the death.
It was an all-too-familiar start to Upwey-Tecoma’s run chase. Both openers fell cheaply, handing Lysterfield the early ascendancy and leaving the Tigers teetering at 2/20.
This brought skipper Jackson Waters and coach Julian Whetstone to the crease, with the two steadying the ship before going on the attack to put the pressure back on the Beaver bowlers.
Not long after passing 50, a wilting Whetstone was forced to retire hurt with the heat getting the better of the English import. Waters powered on to a half-century of his own and rarely looked troubled as he anchored the innings.
A couple of quick wickets gave Lysterfield hope but this was quickly snuffed out by a rapid 32 from Hunter Greenall. The Tigers passed the target for the loss of 5 wickets with 3 overs to spare, with Waters finishing with 67 not out.
The win sees the Tigers consolidate their position in the top 4 and will no doubt give them the belief that they can match it with the best at the pointy end of the season.
The 2nd XI travelled to Lysterfield and was asked to field after losing the toss.
A fiery opening spell from Daniel Wiles had the Beavers in trouble early at 2/12 but wickets were difficult to come by thereafter, with Lysterfield reaching 9/188 at the end of their innings. Wiles finished with figures of 3/28, with the crafty Chris Jewell capturing 2/27.
The Upwey-Tecoma innings never really got going, despite the best efforts of captain Damian Berenato. He was the only meaningful contributor with a sterling 81 as the Tigers fell 25 runs short of the target, finishing on 9/163.
In some other great news for Upwey-Tecoma, mercurial all-rounder Cameron Wheeler has made a blistering start to the Australian Country Cricket Championships, currently taking place in Canberra. Wheeler claimed 6/41 against South Australia Country to help Victoria Country to a big win.
