By Josh Handasyde
In the first game back after the season break, Healesville Cricket Club’s Ist XI was defeated 153 to Eastfield’s 9/156.
Healesville travelled to Eastfield for the first match after Christmas. The Bloods won the toss and elected to bat on what was a beautiful day for cricket. The day didn’t start as the Bloods had hoped as opener Handasyde was run out in the first over before Max Wallace had a similar fate in the next. The Bloods quickly fell to 5/20 before Tom Handasyde and Brenton Damrow helped steady the ship. Damrow (17) was out LBW leaving the Bloods again in a precarious position at 6/45. Tom Handasyde and Liam English built a solid partnership before English was caught on the boundary for a well-made 32. Tom Handasyde (39*) batted through to the end and with some good late-order hitting from Mitch Tampaline (26) and a first ball six from Dillon Kerr Healesville scrambled to 153. The Bloods had the dream start with the ball having Eastfield 3/27 and consistently taking wickets to have them 7/92 at the drinks break with both Luke Chandler (3/25) and Jack Drummond (3/25) amongst the wickets. When Josh Handasyde bowled the no.9 batsmen Eastfield were 8/106 had the Healesville supporters were thinking the game was close to ending. But J. Lennox (33) and Nick Ruciek (28*) built a partnership that ended when Damrow took a wicket with his first ball, Eastfield were 9/134. A final wicket partnership of 22 got Eastfield over the line in what was one of the tensest finishes to a game this season. Next week the Bloods face off against Warrandwood in a two-day match down at Queens Park.
