6 Games completed, despite the morning rain, with only Div 7 missing out.

Subs reminder

There are still a few players who need to sort out their subs for the season. Captains have been advised of those players who need to get things sorted, so if you're unsure if you've covered what you need to, please check with your skipper and get anything that's owed paid up ASAP.

MPCC Trivia Night

The MPCC Trivia Night is set for Friday 16 February - get together a team of 4-6 people to show off your knowledge of the obvious and not so obvious. Entry is $15 per person, which includes a free stubbie or soft drink. Events like these are not only great fun, but help keep the club funds going and the subs affordable, so get some mates down to Edgar Mac!

Congratulations to Anil Kumar, who claimed his first club 5-for in a narrow loss for his Burger Station Div 3 side, taking 5-18 against against Richmond.

Congratulations to Petros Kapralos, who also picked up a 5-for, claiming 5-16 for his BBS Timbers Masters team in a good win over Heathcote.

Congratulations to Rakesh Verma, whose 59 in the same Masters game helped set up his side's win.

Congratulations to Andrew Anderson, who steered his Bushnell Builders Div 6 Panthers to a 4-wicket win over Lancaster Park with his 71*.

Congratulations to Mahesh Dimri, whose 80* (50* retired and 30*) led his Bombay Tandoor T20 side to another impressive victory.

Match Reports from Saturday 3 February

MP Sporting Edge Prems vs Heathcote @ Edgar Mac 1 (One Day – Loss)

We were back at the Mac on Saturday with a rainy morning, looking like it could be a washed out day we settled into connect4 and pool early. Fortunately the rain held off and we had a delayed start with play being 43 overs each. With a slightly green deck and some wet patches, Lingy won the toss and we chose to bowl first. Jacob started off brilliantly, bowling to a plan and took the first two wickets of Dan Stanley caught behind and the other opener caught point by Bert. Benny Mac was introduced with the ball still relatively new, he got out the gears early and into his work straight away. He took wicket number 3 caught Chris at mid wicket, then a big wicket of Tyler Lortan caught Sammy G at mid off. Chris then got in on the action and took his first wicket, brilliantly bowled through the gate (a lovely wicket just quietly). Heathcote were struggling at 110-5 and we needed to capitalise. Unfortunately, they got away from us. Their number 7 scored a quick fire 100 and number 6 a well made 69 saw Heathcote close on an imposing 312-6 off their 43 overs. Sammy G with a stumping late on to dismiss their number 6.

It was our turn to bat. A steady start between Bert and Lingy before Bert got out caught. Lingy and Chris then put on a nice partnership of 55, both of them playing some nice attacking strokes whilst also rotating the strike. Unfortunately Lingy fell short of a half century, dismissed for 45 off 41 balls. Chris then followed for a well made 19 off 20 balls. We then had a collapse, one bowler bowling a lot of short balls claimed our middle order and we needed a partnership. Rory and Sammy M looked to dig in early and their partnership was a glimmer of hope for Merivale. Both scored regular boundaries, showing respect to good balls and rotating the strike nicely. Rory on 47 played a lovely straight shot seemingly for six, Heathcote's fielder making a great effort to parry it back into the field of play and catch it. On the pitch however, everyone seemed to have different ideas and he was given out caught for 47 off 42 balls. Well batted Rory, you deserved the right to raise your bat. Sammy M then followed, short of another maiden MPCC 50, a great knock again as he departed for 44 off 56 balls, (it’s going to come one day). Quick wickets then saw us bowled out for 219 off 40.3 overs. Positives throughout the day as we competed with one of the top 2 teams in the one day comp both batting and in the field. However, it’s a repeated message for us in the areas that we need to improve. Onwards and upwards, we face St Albans at home next week in a must win match, all our energy and efforts need to be left on that field next Saturday.

Many thanks to Mel and her little helper Nora for putting on an amazing spread again, we really do appreciate your efforts. Thanks to Chris for her support time after time. Dakesy, another cracking pitch which held up brilliantly despite all the rain and bad weather. Ray, best wishes from the team. We hope you get better and your condition improves, all the efforts you put in to support us we thoroughly appreciate and we can’t wait to see you back on the sideline with a Heineken in hand. Don’t worry, Luke drank yours for you on Saturday!

Thanks for reading,

Bert.

MP Sporting Edge Prems vs St Albans @ Bishopdale (Two Day, Day 1)

The MP Div 2 Wolverines rocked up to a damp pitch on Saturday morning with the skippers deciding to delay the toss till 1. McBride lost the toss and full of confidence after their Chairman’s Cup victory last Sunday St Albans' captain decided to bat. Things started off well for us as the pitch was doing all sorts with Beattie and McBride both picking up early wickets. With the batsmen finding it hard to score they were on about 15/2 off 10 overs. Small partnerships developed throughout the innings but none ever big enough to take the game away from us with Hamish picking up 3 wickets through the middle overs. St Albans ended up on 119/9 off their full 45 overs, showing how slow and difficult scoring was. Beattie 3/24 and Hamish 3/34 the pick of our bowlers.

Into bat and we were counting on the slowing and reliable pairing of Jibin and Lou to get us through that new ball period. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen as Lou nicked off early bringing Basa to the crease. Basa and Jibin nudged it round going at a slow pace but rebuilding nicely which saw us bring up the 50 at roughly the 20 over mark. Basa, unfortunately, missed a straight one soon after for a well made 31 off 6noice9. Comet came and went quickly, which bought in our champagne bums on seats cricketer Jamie. Jamie looked strong, smashing a few fours away from ball 1 but the pitch just wasn’t coming on and the stay was brief for an entertaining 19 from just 12. Sitting on 85/4 and Jibin set at the crease we were slightly confident on getting a cheeky wee lead going into next but unfortunately the cricketing gods had other plans as we decided to turn into a house of cards being bowled for only 112. Well batted to Jibin again for a gritty 38 off 124.

Kyle

MP Burger Station Div 3 vs RIchmond @ Richmond (Loss)

When I showed up at Richmond Park just after 12, I expected a quick confirmation that the pitch was soaked and unplayable and a return home. In fact, both pitch and outfield were in good shape (by the end of the match, the deck had even dusted up), and we got underway on time. I won the toss and opted to bat, and Shane and Joel got us underway. Progress was slow at first as they adjusted to the pace and occasional lifting ball, but grew into the innings and took us through to drinks at something like 60-0, with Joel showing a return to form with a couple of 6s alongside some boundaries. Unfortunately, the break did for him as he was bowled by a low bouncing ball for a good 36, bringing Anil out to join Shane. They added a few more with Anil flicking a couple of casual 6s off his pads before Shane was caught at mid-off for 26, then Anil was caught on the boundary for 14 with the score the same – 3-81. This meant another round of Josiah and Darren batting together and they put on another 20-odd before Darren nicked off for 6 leaving us 104-5. Hemanshu added 7 before being caught, then Gilly batted with Josiah for a bit before also being caught for 4, followed immediately by Jase – 7-130. I dodged the hat-trick ball but with overs running out, Josiah missed out trying to advance the score, departing for 27, followed shortly after by Cam. Nathan and I (5*) added a few more before I ran Nath out on the final ball of the innings trying to squeeze one more, leaving us 139 off our 40. A bit disappointing considering we were at 130-5 with about 4 overs left, but it showed how tricky it was to get in.

Richmond got off to a decent start, despite Nathan keeping it pretty tight at one end. The score was at 40 before Cam (1-16 off 6) managed to chip one out, caught by Nath at mid-off. Our hopes of this triggering a tumble of wickets were short-lived, however, as Richmond went into drinks at 69-1, and pushed on after drinks to 101 despite some tight bowling from Jase and some less tight bowling in a couple of overs by me. However, a double-switch with Josiah coming back into the attack and Anil getting a go after Jase rolled an ankle suddenly reinvigorated things. First, Josiah got rid of one of the set batsman courtesy of a good catch coming in from cow by Cam, then Anil got a double breakthrough the following over trapping one batsman LBW and then getting the next caught by Jase low at slip, and suddenly Richmond were 105-4 and we were back in with a sniff. Next over, Josiah had another player caught at point by Hemanshu (106-5). However, Ben Williams was still hanging in at the other end and adding runs. Anil picked up another LBW to make it 114-6 but Ben then found a partner for a little while, which took Richmond into the 130s. Anil wasn’t done yet, however, trapping Williams in front for 53 to make it 133-7. Nath came back on and bowled a tight over without managing to rattle the stumps, giving Anil another chance, which he took, claiming his fourth LBW to get to 5-18 off 6 excellent overs. Two wickets left to get and Nathan still nibbling away, beating the bat and the edge of the stumps, before the final ball of his over shot low, missed the stumps and Gilly’s legs and cannoned into his helmet behind, giving Richmond the win courtesy of 5 penalty runs.

Not a very nice way to end a remarkable fightback, but great heart from the bowlers and fielders to drag the game back into competition.

Dave

MP Bushnell Builders Panthers vs Lancaster Park @ Edgar Mac 2 (Win)

The Panthers were looking for their first win of 2024 when they came up against the might of the Lancaster Park Southern Strikers. The Panthers mauled them last time out when we rolled them for 23 but we were taking nothing for granted as we knew LP could wield the willow on a good day. Skipper Andy A won the toss under a cloudy sky and slightly damp Edgar Mac 2 pitch after all the rain in the morning and had no hesitation to send LP into bat. Andy A and Max bowled tightly first up but couldn't make the breakthrough after a couple of dropped catches. First change bowlers Roger and Jack came on and bowled well with Roger making the first breakthrough in his 4th over, a panther-like dive by Matt Dolan at mid-wicket to take a stunning catch. Next up to the bowling crease were spin twins Conner and Ronnie, who began to dismantle the LP middle order with 3 wickets each. Conner also whipped off the bails from a sharp Roger throw to effect a rare run-out dismissal for the Panthers. Max and Andy came back on to clean up the tail with Max picking up the final two wickets of the innings in consecutive balls to leave himself on the verge of a hatrick, which will have to wait til Max's first ball next week! LP bowled out for 140.

Andy R was without his regular opening partner, Dean, so up stepped the man, the myth, the legend - Ronnie Khuu, to open up the Panthers batting. Both were cheered on by a group of friends on the sideline but unfortunately luck wasn't on Ronnie's side when he inside edged one onto the stumps for a 6 ball duck. Andy R got a start before he holed out to mid-on while on 13. Max came in and played patiently, while Glen was given his marching orders early doors when he got a full one on his pads for a duck. Sam Hall and Max were playing well under difficult conditions as the rain had come back, Sam was next to go on 6 when he edged one that had kept low but somehow still carried through to the keeper. This brought Andy A to join Max who both played well defending the good balls until Max decided to take on the deep mid-on and lost, out for 17. Flats came and went pretty quickly for 2 after he was bowled swinging for the hills and missing. In stepped Roger who was fresh off a well compiled 42 the previous game. Andy A and Roger started the partnership off just trying to survive and see what happens. Eventually LP put on some weaker bowlers which Andy A took a liking to. A highlight of the innings was a shot Andy A hit which was caught on the boundary but luckily it occurred right in front of the Panthers camp who spotted the fielders foot on the boundary line. Andy A (71*) shared a 90 run partnership with Roger (17*) to secure the win with just over 3 overs to spare. A satisfying victory for the Panthers after 3 losses on the trot. The spinners did the trick with the ball, and the lower-order partnership brought it home. The Panthers look forward to their next challenge, ready to pounce on the same pitch next week.

MP Div 7 vs Ohoka @ Mandeville (Abandoned)

Div 7 were rained off after getting to 159 in the first innings.

MP BBS Timbers Masters vs Heathcote @ Woolston 1 (Win)

Merivale-Papanui captain PK won the toss and after looking at the pitch and consulting team members who had played at Woolston previously, elected to bat first on a patchy pitch. Ranjith Rangajaran and Rakesh Verma opened aggressively and runs flowed. However, it was evident by the 14th over that the pitch was slowing down. Ranjith and Rakesh continued their partnership and got to drinks without losing a wicket. The score 88/0. They both fell quickly after drinks, Ranjith Rangajaran for 36 and Rakesh Verma for 57. This was our best start of the season. However, they were both fined heavily, firstly for turning a few twos into ones and then not running a single, after Ranjith hit a ball to long on. But an 89 run opening partnership is awesome and put us in a great position. The innings slowed after their departure, but Simon Bell anchored the innings, making sure the good work done by the openers wasn’t wasted. Simon hit a patient 30, adapting to conditions well, with the knowledge that runs on the board, irrespective of the total was the key. He was supported by Wade Millar 17 and Simon Cartmell 13, as Merivale-Papanui reached a modest but very defendable 162/5 on a slowing pitch. Coster the best of the Heathcote bowlers with 2/20 off 7.

In reply, The Tunnel Rats started strongly with an opening partnership of 38. The first wicket went to Kris Rowe, picking up the gutsy Harris, who took a few on the body. The wicket fell in Rowe’s 7th over. A fired up Rowey followed the opening wicket with 2 more which saw the Tunnel Rats wobbling at 40/3 after 15. Rowey ending with 3/22 off his 8 overs. The fall of the 3rd wicket, saw John Garry, who was looking dangerous, joined at the crease by Vash Patel and together they threatened to take the game away from Merivale-Papanui. They got to drinks with the score at 74/3 and continued confidently after drinks. The introduction of captain, Petros Kapralos, and reluctant bowler Mark Hume, saw the scoring rate slow. Mark Hume then had John Garry LBW for a solid 64, which opened up an end. With 40 needed off 9 overs, PK picked up the second key wicket of Vash Patel for 37. With the pressure on, PK picked up 4 more wickets, as The Tunnel Rats went from 117/3 to 139/9, the last batsman, unable to bat because of injury. Petros finished with 5/16 from 6.1 overs. Ranjith Rangajaran followed up his 36 with a stumping and three catches. It was a good, tough match played in good spirits, between two evenly matched teams. A few dropped catches and other poor cricketing moments meant our fine tin rattled a bit during the fines session. The day ended splendidly with both teams sharing a drink and a few stories.

PK

MP Bombay Tandoor T20 vs Heathcote @ Walter Park (Win)

MP kept up their winning ways, with captain Mahesh's 80* the highlight of the day.

Article added: Wednesday 07 February 2024