T20
“Key Performances: For Carnegie South T20, a vital 73 run performance of Thomas Cameron and taking 2 essential wickets both Malin Silva and Noah Montogomery for Bentleigh Uniting T20. Craig Short’s fifty for Bentleigh Uniting fell short as Carnegie South triumphs in a tight battle winning the match by 21 runs.”
In the unforgiving world of T20 cricket, the Senior Round 2 clash, between the home team, Carnegie South T20 and visitors, Bentleigh Uniting T20, defined heat. On the evening of 21st November 2023, Lord Reserve buzzed with tension as Carnegie twisted the game to their favor, winning by a hard-fought 21 runs.
Carnegie South, batting first, showed their might with a splendid inning. The scoring was all catalyzed by a magnificent 73 from Thomas Cameron. Albeit his initially slow strike rate, he picked up the pace to drive the team to a challenging total of 157. Charlie Robinson had a slow start but managed a fighting 13, his persistence paid off as he was involved in a pivotal 53-run stand that held their innings together. Moreover, Marcus Haslam’s quick 25 off 17 balls and James Richards’ and Sai Kiran Reddy Methuku’s unbeaten 11 runs each intensified the scoreboard pressure on Bentleigh Uniting’s bowlers.
Bentleigh’s tough bowling line-up, however, rose to the occasion. The show-stealer, nevertheless, was Malin Silva and Noah Montgomery, whose deadly spells saw them claiming 2 scalps each. While Noah was tad expensive, he will take a lot of learning from this contest. Occupying the middle order, this dynamic duo paired up to deconstruct Carnegie’s batting line-up.
When it was turn for Bentleigh Uniting to bat, they ignited hope with some fire play. Craig Short sensationalized the innings with his attractive 55 off 40 deliveries. Piling on his contribution were Campbell James with a score of 22 and Andrej Yaksender’s 15 that momentarily transfixed the opposition.
Despite the bar set high, the Bentleigh batting line-up remained below par in execution, getting all-out for 136. The fall was triggered by Carnegie South’s aggressive bowling by James McMahon, Nikhil Veluru, Will Nash, and Marcus Haslam who left the Bentleigh batsmen helpless by snagging 2 wickets each.
Carnegie South, by virtue of this win, has crowned themselves with a laurel that their upcoming competitors would be leery off. Bentleigh Uniting, though close in wickets and runs, will have to refine their playing techniques and brush-off this defeat going into the next clash.
H Grade
Bentleigh Uniting 3 dominated over Cheltenham Park 3 with substantial individual contributions from Peter Manakis (57 runs), Rodney Block (44 runs) and Michael Debono (4 wickets). From Cheltenham Park, Matthew Jorgensen, Daniel Walliser, and Ben White each accounted for 2 wicket hauls.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Bentleigh Uniting 3 came onto their home ground, the Bailey Reserve, with a fierce determination and an unyielding will to win. Right from the first innings, they exhibited an aggressive batting display that left Cheltenham Park 3 gasping for breath.
The Bentleigh Bulwark, Peter Manakis, led from the front, hammering an explosive fifty. With 57 stunning runs to his name, he became a nightmare for the bowlers, his brawny yet graceful batting standing in striking contrast to the tentative play by Cheltenham Park 3. Adding fire to the lineup were Rodney Block and Doug Clowes, amassing a total of 60 runs between them.
Cheltenham Park’s bowlers, Matthew Jorgensen, Daniel Walliser, and Ben White, tried to peg the scoring back, but Bentleigh’s robust attack proved too hard to quell, taking the team’s tally to an imposing 182, with no signs of slowing down.
Shaking off the shock of the first innings’ bombardment, Cheltenham Park 3 started their inning on a cautious footing. Bentleigh, riding high on their batting conquest, readied their bowling arsenal to dismantle the Park’s batting lineup. Harry Block led the charge, snaring three key batsmen while Michael Debono, showcasing his exquisite ball handling, proceeded to claim a staggering four-wicket haul. Ben Perkins, not to be outdone, chipped in with a handy contribution of two wickets, piling up the pressure.
Despite the notable batting efforts from Ben Dennison, Patrick McCarthy, and Matthew Jorgensen, Cheltenham could manage only 87 runs in their innings. Bentleigh Uniting emerged victorious, winning the match by a significant margin of 95 runs.
Harry Block and Michael Debono were prominent contributors, proving to be a force to be reckoned with, and leaving Cheltenham Park with plenty to ponder before their next encounter. With such powerful performances, Bentleigh Uniting 3 continues its onward march in the tournament, basking in the glory of this hard-fought win, while Cheltenham Park 3 must return to the strategy board to reassess and come back stronger.
U16
In the festive U16 B Central Round 6 match, the home team Mordialloc U16 1 defeated the valiant Bentleigh Uniting U16 1. Despite a solid contribution from Noah Montgomery and Matthew Logan, Bentleigh fell short due to a strong exception from Jarvis Barr and Lachlan Stratford from Mordialloc. Max Calvez and Jethro Cox also made notable contributions to the Mordialloc batting lineup.
In a clash tinged with festive cheer, Bentleigh Uniting U16 1 faced off against Mordialloc U16 1 at the lively Doug Denyer Reserve / West Oval. It was a classic Friday afternoon duel with the home team winning by score.
The first innings saw Bentleigh totter to a score of 83 in a game of fluctuating fortunes. The top order tried valiantly with a good contribution while the middle order faltered, offering minimal contribution. The highlight of the first innings was a notable knock of 21 runs by Noah Montgomery with Logan and Farrington making valuable contributions.
However, the game tilted in favour of Mordialloc when the fiery Jarvis Barr caused a batting collapse, dismissing Logan and Tom D at the team score of 43. Lachlan Stratford too got into action, dismissing the dangerous Darsh Shukla. It was a commendable effort from Mordialloc bowlers with Jarvis Barr and Lachlan Stratford picking up 2 wickets each.
Entering the second innings, the home team needed 84 runs for victory. Openers Kobe Senaweera and Jethro Cox got off to a steady start before Lewis Richardson dismissed the former. The game then witnessed a major contribution from Max Calvez, who notched up 31 runs to anchor the innings. Jethro Cox also contributed significantly with a score of 22.
Victory looked certain for Mordialloc thanks to the major contributions from top order batsmen with the middle order only having to make a minimal contribution. As the innings unfolded, the sight of Lewis Richardson and Noah Montgomery claiming Mordialloc’s top order could only provide a brief respite for Bentleigh.
Despite the commendable efforts from Bentleigh’s Noah Montgomery, who picked 1 wicket, and Lewis Richardson who claimed 2, the home team, led by Max Calvez braved the odds to attain a huge victory by wickets to bring the festive match to a delightful close.
The day indeed belonged to Mordialloc U16 1 team, who displayed the right mix of skill and spirit to claim a thrilling victory. Bentleigh Uniting U16 1, despite the defeat, put on a spirited show and exhibited countless promising aspects, setting the scene for some exciting cricketing face-offs in the future.
Indeed, it was a fantastic cricketing spectacle underpinned by exceptional individual performances and a fervor of festive cheer. Here’s to many more such thrilling encounters in this festive season of cricket!
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