In keeping with the trend of this summer, both OSCC elevens recorded resounding victories as both Old Scotch teams continue their finals charge. The A-Team accounted for arch rivals Old Xavier at their Barkers Road HQ, while the Celebrities annihilated the MCC at home on the vast expanses of the Meares.
In the main game, Old Xavs won the toss and had no hesitation in batting on the home deck they know so well. In the absence of Harry Short, Gary Bennett was handed the new ball, and as he has done against Old Xavier in the past, GB wreaked havoc making inroads into the top order. Bennett was superb, and his 5 for 18 was a timely reminder to the critics that he is still very much a force to be reckoned with, and age has not wearied him. Angus Harlock was also tidy in his A-Team debut, conceding only 7 runs from his four overs and all rounder Sam Shearer chimed in with 2/23 off his 8 over spell.
Old Xavier were restricted to 8 for 128 off their 40 overs, and the Scotchies decided to make a statement by attempting to secure the runs inside the 20 over cut-off to win with a bonus point. Openers Tim Hosking and Cam Melville started off brightly with a sprightly opening stand of 99 that not only killed off the game as a contest, but went a long way towards securing the bonus point. Hosking was first out for a pugnacious 48, and soon after Melville was also dismissed, falling for an equally impressive 36. The score was now 2 for 103, and Sam Shearer and Tom Murray duly polished off the remaining 26 runs inside the 20 over time frame as they smashed a welter of boundaries to all points of the compass to seal an emphatic win over the old rival.
A spectacular display that was matched by the Celebrities who have been building momentum this summer, and the boys from the MCC were most unfortunate to be in the way of the metaphorical runaway locomotive playing unbeatable cricket at home on the Meares. Winning the toss, Matt Foskey had no hesitation in inserting MCC and letting his bowlers loose. And the big man John Stavris responded with the first wicket that lifted everyone. This was the cue for Benny Summerfield to wreck the MCC innings with a sustained spell of excellent fast medium bowling that reaped 5 for 28 and in conjunction with Ed von Moger (2/4) dismissed MCC for 50.
Bonus point was the buzz word as Mark Griffiths and Ed Furey commenced the run chase, and they went berserk, scoring at a break neck pace. Griffiths was a casualty for 11, but skipper Foskey arrived at the crease in time for the imposing Furey to seal the win by 9 wickets in the seventh over, with a hammer hit 34 not out.
The K2 Old Scotch Cricket Club now sit atop both First and Second Division in the MCC competition, beautifully poised with finals approaching, firing on all cylinders.
This season has all the hallmarks of being the most memorable one yet in the clubs storied history. Grab your fellow Scotchies and make your way down to support the lads as the A-Team take on Old Mentonians in a Grand Final replay at Scotch on Sunday, while the Celebrities take on Old Caulfield at Glen Huntly Park. Both games are sure to be crackers.
In the mean time...