The Mt Evelyn cricketers hit their straps over the weekend with five of the six senior teams taking the W, hopefully kick starting a special season. The Mounters didn’t have it all their own way, and at times five victories looked remote, but the men in maroon found an extra gear when they needed it to post victories.
The First XI secured their first win of the season after outlasting Wantirna South who looked to have their measure for most of the second day. The visitors posted an impressive 298 on day one and were well and truly in the box seat. After Bohdie Jones and Darcy Fraser removed the openers relatively cheaply, the Mounters would encounter a brutal innings from Yeshan Wickramaarachichi who would peel of a century at better than a run a ball. He would be ably supported by Steve Burger and Andrew Wain, as the Devils top order would push the total past 200 in the 52nd over, and with seven wickets in hand, and a required run rate hovering around three an over, the Devils looked well set to clinch their first victory of the season.
Bohdie Jones would be the pick of the Mt Evelyn bowlers, and his reintroduction to the attack would have immediate dividends, and when young star Lachie Morrow would prize Wickramaarachichi from the wicket, the game would turn on it’s head. Jones (4/50) and Morrow (3/36) would cut a swathe through the Devils’ batting line up and in the space of 13 overs, the hosts went from dreaming of victory, to post game congratulations for the opponents as they would inexplicably lose seven for 31. A remarkable turn of fortunes, and full praise for the young tyros with the ball.
The victory is important in terms of the ongoing fortunes for the season. One, it keeps the team in sights on the top four, and with a turn of form, the Mounters could quickly rise up the ladder. There is also the lingering cloud of three teams being relegated at season’s end, therefore wins are important to stay above that pressure.
The Second XI completed their third successive victory to remain undefeated as they put together another professional performance against Yarra Glen. The Mounters were well poised after day one, posting 290. Although comfortable with the score, they approached day two knowing that if they weren’t at their best, 290 could quickly become meagre at the quick Gary Martin oval.
After an early arm wrestle between bat and ball, captain Joseph Chambelin would inject himself into the attack and end a stubborn opening partnership. From there, the Mounters would keep themselves in front of the contest as wickets would regularly fall stunting the Yarra Glen chase each time it looked like flourishing and therefore challenging the total. Chamberlin would expertly employ his bowlers at key times, and they would in turn, back him up with tidy spells of bowling heaping pressure on the chase. Despite a late order rearguard response from the Riverpigs, they were never really in the chase as their innings would be closed for 193, still 97 runs shy of their target. Chamberlin would be the pick of the bowlers taking 3/24, whilst all other bowlers would chalk up ticks in the wickets column with Luke Jones and Luke Shepherd taking two each.
The win sees the Second XI atop the ladder undefeated with a big month ahead.
The Third XI made short work of Coldstream in their home clash at Gruyere. After the first split, the Mounters elected to bat on in pursuit of some quick runs. Alex Whiting (36) obliged as they pushed out their final total to 250. With over 150 to chase, and only two wickets in hand, the Crocs innings was quickly wrapped up for a paltry 102 with Daniel Meades leading the attack taking 4/19.
It was the Hartman show for the Fourth XI as they put together a batting masterclass to close the door on a determined Montrose team. The game was just tipped in Mt Evelyn’s favour after day one, and there was probably one factor that would determine the fate of this game. Could Jarrod Hartman build on his overnight score of 130 not out. Not only did he boost the teams score, but he added another 100 brutal runs to his score before he was dismissed for a massive 233. The Montrose bowlers were helpless in the face of Hartman’s attack which netted him a remarkable 15 fours and 18 sixes. Not to be outdone, Hartman’s brother and captain of the side, Connor, helped himself to a century of his own. A little more circumspect than Jarrod, Connor worked his way through to a chanceless innings of 107 not out. Great reward for his patience at the wicket whilst runs flowed at the other end. When Mt Evelyn’s 72 overs were up, they had posted an imposing 6/438 that would effectively end the contest.
Montrose would resume their innings at 4/158, a strong position after day one, which was made to look insignificant by the earlier fireworks. The pick of the bowlers would be new recruit Campbell Manser who took 4/38, whist he would be well supported by veterans Robbie Wilson (2/25) and Mike Leonard (2/40). The Mounters would dismiss the hosts for 249, recording a massive 189 run win, the first for the Fourths.
The Fifth XI saluted in their game at Wonga Park continuing their good form. Resuming their innings at 7/159, the innings looked as if it would peter out with little added to the total. After being absent for day one, Caleb Doyle strode to the wicket at number 11 and proceeded to blast 41 runs whilst being ably supported by Stix Flavel who held his own at the other end pushing the total out to 216. A handy total, but by no means unattainable.
Wonga would resume their innings at 6/88, plenty of time to chase down the total, but wickets lost on day one would prove to be a hurdle to great to jump, and the chase couldn’t find any momentum as the tail was wrapped up within 10 overs for 113.
Unfortunately, the Sixth XI couldn’t back up their efforts from last week and make it a clean sweep for the Mounters as they went down to a more skilled Heathwood outfit. Undermanned in the field, with just nine players, the Mounters found it hard to stem the flow of runs despite some disciplined bowling. The Heathwood total was push out to a significant 8/256. A tough chase for the young, and undermanned Mt Evelyn team.
The Mounters would make a bright start, and were on track at the halfway mark courtesy of a unbeaten half century from Jamie Bliss, and a handy contribution of 39 from Ian Llewellyn, who is shaking off some early season rust after being away from the game for more than a decade. Noah Bell, Liam Glover and Elisha Whitelaw would all spend valuable time at the wicket, holding back the tide, but would not possess the strength to reach the boundary with the regularity required. Full credit to the youngsters for fighting out the game and ensuring the Mounters would bat out the overs for a respectable 8/172.
