The heavens opened on Saturday consigning cricketers of all ages to a day on the sidelines as play was abandoned. Fortunately, the weather has been a lot kinder on Tuesday evenings over the past month as Mt Evelyn’s T20 team have advanced to the knockout stages of the RDCA Community Big Bash after some great performances across the four qualifying rounds.
Led by exciting all rounder Will Macklin, the team have belied their weekend form to secure three wins from four games to rank tenth of forty four teams to secure their birth in pointy end of the competition.
The action for the Mounters kicked their campaign off at home against Kilsyth. Mt Evelyn would kick the game off with the bat and would explode out of the blocks courtesy of a fast paced opening partnership of 67 from Campbell Mole and Daniel Giblin. Mole would anchor the innings with an explosive knock of 87, featuring four fours and six sixes to lead the team to an imposing total of 6/171.
With Kilsyth at 5/114, mainly courtesy of wickets to Bohdie Jones (3/43), the home side looked as if they had done enough for victory, however a brilliant half century from Redbacks’ Captain Marcus Adams ensured the visitors would claim victory in the last over with four wickets in hand.
Week two would see the Mounters travel to Chirnside Park to take on the Panthers. On a gloomy night, where rain threatened to curtail the contest, Mt Evelyn would again take to the batting crease first in a bit to post an insurmountable total. In an even batting performance, the visitors were able to compile a handsome total of 7/164 before a rain delay would shorten the innings to 19 overs. Opener Daniel Giblin was the star of the innings with 41, whilst Jesse Fraser (36) and Troy Hancock (34) would ensure that the scoreboard would continue to flow throughout the innings.
Regular wickets would determine the Panthers’ fate as they could not develop enough meaningful partnerships to make a serious tilt at the target. Most of the bowlers would enjoy some some success lead by Will Macklin (3/15) and Troy Hancock (2/8) as they put the squeeze on the batting line up to see them tucked away for a disappointing score of 92.
Week three saw the team on the road again as they travelled to local rivals Mooroolbark in a key clash for final positions. On the wide expanses of Heights Reserve, Mt Evelyn batted first once again, and once again they would produce a useful total. This time it would be built on a blistering middle order blitz from 1st XI captain Troy Hancock who would combine brutal force with fine touch to compile 82 runs off 39 balls featuring eight fours and five sixes. He was ably supported by Jesse Fraser (24) and Mike Mawson (27) as the visitors scored 6/167.
The Mooroolbark innings would prove to be a tough arm wrestle. The Barkers bats would continue to tick the scoreboard over at a steady rate, opposed to a Mt Evelyn bowling attack that would hold their nerve and restrict the batters access to the boundary. Eventually, the visitors would grind their way to victory courtesy of disciplined bowling and clever field placements. Bohdie Jones (2/12) would once again be the pick of the bowlers as he was backed up by another allround bowling performance to restrict the home side to 7/144.
The final qualifying round saw the Mounters host old Yarra Valley foes Yarra Junction. For the first time in the competition, Mt Evelyn would be asked to bowl first. Another disciplined bowling effort would be produced by the Mt Evelyn bowlers. The Eagles couldn’t latch onto anything speedsters Bohdie Jones (1/10 off 4 overs) and Caleb Hrabe (2/20 off 4 overs) delivered, whilst Troy Hancock’s innocuous medium pacers would net the wickets as he took 3/29. The visitors would compile a tricky total of 8/135, a score below par, but challenging enough if early wickets fell.
Mt Evelyn openers Campbell Mole and Daniel Giblin would have none of this as they blasted their way to the winning total without the loss of a wicket. The pairs contrasting styles complimented each other perfectly as Mole’s steady approach allowed Giblin to blast his way to an impressive century. Giblin was brutal against all bowlers as he hit the ball to all parts of the field to score 102 not out off 47 balls featuring 74 runs scored in boundaries alone. The home side would race to the total within 14 overs to secure their place in the final rounds of the tournament.
The competition now moves into the knockout stages, and the Mounters have drawn another Yarra Valley foe in Seville this Tuesday at Gary Martin Oval. This clash promises to be a tough battle between bat and ball with a place in the last 16 up for grabs.
