By Chris Handasyde
Cricket was back until the rain come in and spoiled a positive start to the season.
U14-3 – Healesville 4-121 defeated Norwood 9/119
With Rain threatening throughout the week, the kids rocked up to their first game of the season at Don Road to excellent weather and a game against a good Norwood side.
With new captain Aeden Senti winning the toss and electing to field in the dewey outfield.
Harry Duff took a wicket in his first over and continued to threaten in his spell, before Norwoods premier batsmen was run out tragically after knocking a quick 15 runs.
Norwood then regained momentum through some strong off side batting taking their score to 2/66 off 10.
With the game slipping Healesville managed to regain momentum through 3 wickets to returning player Max Ferris and a further two wickets to Raff Morcombe rattling the stumps to restrict Norwood to 117 runs off their 25 overs.
Ryder Hudson and Henry Harding opened up for Healesville looking to set a good platform for the strong batting line up.
They were able to negate the opening bowlers both retiring on around 10 runs each off 25 balls.
Aeden Senti and Mika Kerst got to work to try and chop down the runs required which climbed to 90 off 16 overs when they joined at the crease.
Senti took to the bowling and used to quick outfield to his advantage knocking 40 runs off his 25 balls.
With Mika a strong running partner and chipping in with 11 himself.
With both retiring, Harry Thomas and Raff Morcombe joined at the crease requiring 40 off the last eight overs.
Morcombe hit a strong boundary before being run out returning for a third run.
Harold later joined him in the sheds being bowled going big. This brought Louis Keath and Endo Gotch to the crease who continued to whittle down the total.
With eight required off two overs, Keath knocked an important boundary leaving Healesville requiring two runs off the final over.
With the drama at fever pitch, Endo Gotch got caught off the first ball trying to end the game, ending his important innings of 14 runs.
Next Ball incoming batsmen James Howden got skittled leaving Healesville needing two off four balls with Max Ferris entering the crease.
Ferris guides one off the hip first ball to gain an important single and secure the draw with one run off three balls required for the win.
Keath has a crack at the next two balls and fails to make connection leaving one off one required.
A similar position to the team last season who unfortunately drew the game.
Keath with ice in his veins, like he did against Heatherdale last season. sweeps the ball off his leg stump down to fine leg for the winning runs resulting in a boundary and a win for Healesville. Well Done Boys.
1st XI – Healesville 4-165 v Lusatia Park (Match Abandoned due to rain)
With the rain on everyone’s mind.
Lusatia Park came out to Don Road with Queens Park under construction and the Bloods won the toss electing to Bat.
Josh Handasyde and New recruit Nick “Zinger” Zinghini opening the batting.
The Bloods were able to get through the first eight overs building a sold partnership before Handasyde was found leaving the gate wide open for a nice in swinger from the Lusatia Park opening bowler leaving him back in the sheds.
Returning player Max Minney then got to work with Zinger building a strong partnership before Zinghini picked out backward square leg off a pull shot.
Minney then spooned one to point. leaving the bloods 3/94 at drinks with Tom Handasyde and Ryan Webster new to the crease.
They then continued to build a partnership before Webster walked past one down the legside similar to Jonny Bairstow showing zero awareness of the keepers intention to stump him.
Luke Chandler and Tom Handasyde continued knocking the ball around before the rain inevitably ruined the game with Healesville 4/165 off 35 overs, with the match eventually being abandoned.
Next Week the boys travel to East Ringwood to face the team that knocked them out of the preliminary final last season.
2nd XI – Healesville 6-206 v Lusatia Park (Match Abandoned due to rain)
In the 2XI we won the toss against Lusatia Park 2XI and decided to bat. Kris Anderson came out firing with a quick fire 97 off 50 balls before being caught on the boundary.
Young Darcy English had patient innings with a well batted 33* working at the crease with new player to the club Beau Hawkins also putting on a show dispatching the bad ball making 41 before being dismissed. Leading us to a good set up of 6/207 before the match had to be abandoned due to rain in the 29th over.
3rd XI – Healesville 6-174 v Wantirna (Match Abandoned due to rain)
Healesville won the toss with some expert captaincy and elected to Bat.
The openers (Powell and Thomas) got us off to a solid start, before the Bradens (Grant 81 and Tyler 23) batted exceptionally well in tough conditions.
Prem Singh came in late with some fireworks before the game was washed out.
4th XI – Healesville 180 v Norwood 6/115 (Match Abandoned due to rain)
Healesville 4th XI faced Norwood in the season opener.
Healesville won the toss and elected to bat.
Opening pair O.Morcombe and R.Morcombe impressed with the bat getting healesville of to a fast start with A.Keith also a major contributor to Healesville’s total score.
A.Senti was pick of the bowlers taking three wickets in the wet conditions.
The Match was ultimately abandoned due to poor light and heavy rainfall.
