1st XI @ East Doncaster (Zerbes Reserve)
O.C.C.C 4/147 (Rankin 47, Merry 43*) def by E.D.C.C 4/148
Round one found us up against East Doncaster fresh off their relegation from Dunstan Shield the year before. It was never going to be an easy task but we went in quietly confident that our hard work in the off season would do us well.
Losing the toss and being sent in meant we didn’t get the best of the conditions but still we thought around 150 would be par. Tad and Stu both with solid 40s, we worked our way to 4/147 off our 40. With the runs on the board we now thought despite maybe being a little short we could defend this if we bowled in the right areas. Unfortunately East Doncasters top order was in good touch and anything over pitched or off line was pounced on. Our lack of consistency and ability to hit the right spots cost us bowling 30+ extras. East Doncaster chasing the runs down with 4 overs to spare and 6 wickets still in the shed. Solid efforts with the ball by Tad and Rohan.
We need to be at training and regroup as a squad this week and will see the rewards on game day.
2nd XI vs Richmond City @ Carey Sporting Complex (Rees Oval)
Richmond City 7/148 (P.Pitts 2/27, S.Wood 2/29( def by O.C.C.C 0/151 (M.Sontag 110*, P.Pitts 35*)
SONTAG debut as Captain of 2nd XI
Debut Players: Araslan MALIK, Amjad ALI, Liam HALVERSON & Pete HUGGETT.
| Player | Runs | Bowling
Figures |
Notes and Votes | |
| 1 | Mark Sontag | 110 n.o. | ||
| 2 | Phil Pitts | 35 n.o. | 2/27 off 7 | |
| 3 | Varun Dewan | dnb | 1/11 off 5 | Sharp catch at SB square leg off Maisy |
| 4 | Arsalan Malik | dnb | 0/32 off 6 | Gifted a lolly catch at long off after some tidy bowling from Woody |
| 5 | Simon Wood | dnb | 2/29 off 7 | |
| 6 | Tristan Reid | dnb | 0/14 off 8 | |
| 7 | Amjad Ali | dnb | 0/28 off 6 | |
| 8 | Trent Poupard | dnb | Great outfield catch off China’s bowling | |
| 9 | Jonny Mai | dnb | 1/6 off 2 | Great assisted run out from the deep. |
| 10 | Liam Halverson | dnb | Fantastic fielding all day. Team performer. | |
| 11 | Pete Huggett | dnb | Fantastic fielding all day. Team performer. |
After the best pre-season I have witnessed from players involved in the 2nd XI, this team came to play. With a pitch that was only ever going to assist the bowlers early, OCCC won the toss and decided to bowl.
SWAMPY and VBOMBER opened the bowling with three maidens in a row making for a very happy captain. Tight bowling continued and in the eighth over the RCCC were on 11 runs. Frustration by the batsmen delivered the first wicket to VBOMBER in the same over and a relatively simple catch to Jonny MAI at long off. From there the pattern of the day was tight bowling and committed fielding. There were only two or three overs where the batsmen got away from us a little, and the edge of the bat featured heavily in those overs.
Overall it was the very disciplined performance from the bowlers who kept Richmond City to 7/148, a very modest total on REES Oval. A par-score on that ground being 230 -250. The bowling was back up in the field with only one sharp chance going down, but all other catches held.
The run chase whilst appearing simple statistically, but was a disciplined batting display from the openers and Sonny made a chanceless 110 not out. China, 35no, survived an early scare but put his head down to support Sonny to a memorable performance for the club. In the end, 0/151 in 32 overs was a great performance by the 2nd XI who are sure to grow in strength and confidence. I was a proud and happy captain this week. Well done fellas.