By Chris Handasyde
Senior Female – Healesville 33 defeated by St Andrews 7/133
Healesville’s first female home game at Queens Park started well under blue skies on a warm Tuesday night. Healesville bowled first and captured early wickets as St Andrews slumped to 5/56. The girls were up and about with Summer Caldicott 2/16 missing out on a hat trick and well supported by bowling from Belinda Harding 2/19, Megan Schelfhout 2/20 and Shannon Maile 1/12. Some strong hitting in the back half of the innings saw St Andrews reach 7/133 from their 20 overs. As Healesville’s innings started the heavens opened with a torrential downpour that threatened to end the match. To both teams’ credit, they stayed the journey and put the lights on so the match could be completed. Unfortunately, Healesville’s innings didn’t go to plan as they were rolled for 33. They play their final game of the series against Bayswater Park at Sasses Avenue Reserve on Tuesday 27 February.
U12-4: Healesville 2/106 defeated Mooroolbark 5/105
The final game of the home and away season was a top-of-the-ladder clash and a thrilling game at Queens Park on a lovely Friday evening. Healesville bowled first and Mika Kerst 2/4 dominated early but steady partnerships from Mooroolbark enabled them to build to a score of 5/105 from their 23 overs. Kael Senti 1/14 and Jackson Lehman 1/6 were Healesville’s other wicket takers whilst Ahren Wicker got a run out. Healesville lost a wicket early but most batters were able to reach retirements as they chased down the total with 9 balls to spare. Louis Keath 23*, Mika Kerst 15* and Angus Morcombe 14* were the top run scorers. This week, Healesville play the first final at Queens Park vs Mt Evelyn at 5pm Friday 1 March.
U12-9: Healesville 8/98 defeated by Lusatia Park 4/117
In the final game for the season, Healesville headed to Woori Yallock where they won the toss and batted first. Arlo Turner 25 got the Boods off to a flyer with Alby Gotch 17* and Angus Holmes 19* batting well to get the score to 8/98 from 23 overs. Healesville spread the bowling out with all players bowling either 2 or 3 overs each. Felix McMahon, Angus Holmes, William Ferguson and Alby Gotch all took a wicket each but strong batting from Lusatia Park saw them get over the line and reach 4/117. It’s been a great season for this young team with many still eligible for U10 but they wanted to play U12s and have continuously improved all season and had a lot of fun.
U14-3: Healesville 9/213 v Knox City (Day 1 of 2 day game)
With Finals not on the horizon for the U14-3 team due to an up-and-down season, they hoped to take some positives into next season against Knox City. The Bloods elected to bat first on a fast Queens Park deck and lost 4 early wickets to set the team on the back foot, with leading run scorers Aeden Senti, Raff Morcombe and Sam Keath among those. Until Cooper Duff set about rebuilding the innings with a well-compiled 37 off his 50 balls in a partnership with Henry Harding 25 off 50 balls seeing the Bloods through a tricky stage. Harry Duff made a combative 28 off 46 before being caught and bowled with some strong scores from Patrick Leonard (27*) and Ryder Hudson (17) as well as some less notable scores that saw the Bloods scramble to a very competitive 213 and bat out their 50 overs for the first time this season.
U14-7: Healesville 3/56 Vs St Andrews 4/85 (Two Day Match)
Returning to the fortress in a game that will decide the final position in the finals, Healesville lost the toss and were sent in to bat. Louis Keath and Harry Thomas set the tone early with some boundaries and good running before Louis was tragically caught at backward point courtesy of a good catch. Harry Thomas soon fell and Taylor Caldicott followed suit leaving the Bloods on the canvas at 3/25. Before Tully Ellis and Austin Simmons showed great discipline to see the Bloods through to the end of the day with Tully ending on 21*. With not many runs on the board, the Bloods had to bowl well and got the early breakthrough thanks to Taylor Caldicott but wickets were scarce and runs were leaking until Summer Caldicott changed from pace to off spin for the final 3 deliveries and managed to take 2 wickets to breathe life back into the Bloods making for an interesting finish next week with St Andrews batting first.
U16-4: Healesville 3/106 Vs Warranwood 6/92 (Two Day Match)
Again a match where the winner will make finals, the Bloods ventured to the region of Warranwood looking to take revenge after their early season match-up. Winning the toss and batting the Bloods dead-ended the Warranwood attack thanks to some elegant strokeplay from Gabe Houlihan (32) before chopping on and a well-compiled 20 from Eli Prentice. The Bloods had to keep the pressure going and a start from Cooper Bell (17) kept the runs ticking before Denzel Parsons (21*) and Tyler Braden (4*) saw out the day. The Bloods still needed early wickets to put Warranwood away and a chirpy cordon and good bowling did the trick with Will Watson (1/15) Denzel Parsons (2/11), Eli Prentice (1/9) and Lucas Frazzetto (1/12) doing the job and giving the Bloods a strong position for next week.
Seniors 1st XI: Healesville Vs Lusatia Park 9/259 (Two Day Match)
Healesville travelled to Woori Yallock for a must-win match against Lusatia Park to lock in a finals berth for the first time since 2020 for the 1st XI. The Bloods were sent into the field in good conditions and Mitch Tampaline was able to get the early breakthrough. The second soon followed thanks to some scintillating fielding from Josh Handasyde in the covers. Though the wickets soon dried up with opportunities being missed on occasions, there was some strong batting from Lusatia before Michael Jackson dismissed the 2 set batsmen just before tea thanks to a Caught and Bowled to leave them 4/133 at tea. Wickets quickly tumbled after tea, Josh Handasyde (2/31) before a late partnership saw Lusatia push their score past 180 and eventually to 259 which the Bloods would feel is a bit more than they should have allowed.
Seniors 2nd XI: Healesville 4/52 Vs Lusatia Park 183 (Two Day Match)
Being sent into the field and the home of cricket the Bloods made some early inroads thanks to a magnificent first spell from Jack Drummond eventually taking 2/45 off his 15 overs. But the star of the show was Brenton Damrow who took his maiden 5-wicket haul finishing with figures of 5/53 off 13 overs. Healesville had Lusatia reeling at 8/144 before a late partnership saw them take their score to 183 with Brodie Grace taking the final 2 wickets ending with 2/9. With 20 overs to bat the bloods looked to put a dent into the Lusatia total, it didn’t start well with Curtis Adamson and Max Wallace being dismissed early. Riley Cameron and Ben Wallace soon followed before Jonny Heywood and Michael Davern saw the day out to leave the Bloods needing 132 with 6 wickets in hand for a chance to play finals.
Seniors 3rd XI: Healesville 7/201 defeated by Montrose 3/202
One win in two games was all the Bloods needed to secure finals for the 3rd XI and things started strongly as Captain Ethan Nikcevich started the Healesville innings strongly with a well-compiled 49. With the runs flowing due to most batsmen being able to come to the crease and have an impact, it was good to see batsmen able to find the boundary with ease. The Bloods went into the bowling innings with a strong total on the board and required the early inroads that just never came, there must have been something in the wicket because Healesville was only able to take 3 wickets for the day and it all came down to the last ball. Scores level, Ball goes through to the keeper, Montrose runs, Gabe Houlihan throws down the stumps, Healesville is certain it’s a run out, square leg umpire says no and Montrose get the chockies.
Seniors 4th XI: Healesville 77 defeated By Montrose 1/79
Opting to bat on the roundabout that is Keith Hume Reserve, the Bloods quickly lost in-form opening batsmen Owen Morcombe and Adam Keath with the watchful Zach Coleman soon following, before the aggressive Sam Keath and evergreen Matt Harding built the Bloods total from 3/10 to 3/65 before Sam Keath fell quickly followed by Matt Harding, and the rest of the order folded quicker than a deck of cards with Montrose running through Healesville to bowl them out for 77. A loss of 7/12. On a small ground, the hopes of defending that total would be minimal against most U10 teams and Montrose had no issues chasing it down with Megan Schelfhout taking the solitary Healesville wicket.
Cricket Blasters Program – The cricket blasters program wrapped up on Thursday night with Starman presenting each participant with a medal. Hea;esville had 48 registered participants with 9 sessions of cricket fun. Thanks to Ash Hamer for running the Cricket Blasters Program as well as all the helpers on and off the field that made this a success.
