By Joshua Hamilton
Healesville 1st XI Vs Wandin 1st XI at Queens Park, Healesville:
Wandin asked Healesville to bat first and they made a very good start, scoring at a rate of 7 runs per over after 10 overs and losing only 1 wicket. Healesville maintained crucial momentum through their batting innings until Wandin’s Ryan Thompson’s run-out tgave Wandin a bit of energy and belief that they could turn the innings around.
Healesville’s Ash Hamer and Max Minney scored at a fast rate to take their score to 4/246 with 4 overs to go. This allowed Healesville’s batters to play shots with a fair amount of freedom, finishing up at 5/285 from their 40 overs.
Wandin needed a strong start to be within reach of surpassing the big target. Healesville carried on their strong form on the day, taking a few wickets early that left Wandin without runs on the board. Wandin was not deterred from fighting the good fight to go from 6/34 to 7/100 when Bryce Edwards (25) was dismissed. Wandin kept digging deep with Jordan Poynton (74), and Dave Thorne (23no) seeing the innings finish at 9/194, just over 90 runs short of Healesville’s momentous total.
The win saw Healesville 1st XI’s season come to a strong finish, but they still narrowly missed out on the finals in the Steve Pascoe Shield, finishing the season in fifth spot, 6 points behind Heathwood, the Heathmont and Ringwood combined side.
