By Chris Handasyde
Seniors 1st XI: Healesville 9/173 tied with Norwood 173
In what was expected to be a close and important game, the Bloods, sitting third on the ladder, hosted Norwood who were second on the ladder. Norwood won the toss and chose to bat in a 40 over one-day game. Norwood’s openers were solid but when the score was on 0/33, Luke Chandler captured the first wicket with a catch taken by Liam English. Healesville toiled away and picked up wickets regularly as Norwood kept scoring at about 4 an over. Mitch Tampaline 2/23, Josh Handasyde 2/27, Luke Chandler 3/30 and Dermott Fry 2/42 captured the majority of Healesville’s wickets as the side bowled Norwood out for 173 with the last ball of the innings. Healesville’s innings didn’t start well with Luke Chandler out for 2. Kris Anderson played an aggressive innings that got the runs flowing but was run out for 35 off of 37 balls. Ash Hamer (31) and Ryan Webster (58) put on a 60-run partnership before Ash was trapped LBW. Needing 44 of 54 balls Josh Handasyde was then dismissed and a few more wickets fell amongst a couple of 20-run partnerships including Ryan Webster who looked set to guide us home. Needing 3 to tie and 4 to win in the last over, Healesville managed two singles in the first three balls. The last three balls were wicket, run, wicket that saw the game end in a tie. Next week Healesville plays Lilydale at home on Past Players Day.
Seniors 2nd XI: Healesville 9/239 defeated by Wandin 7/240
Playing at Wandin, Healesville won the toss and batted. Healesville’s top order was solid with Max Wallace (26), Brenton Damrow (41), Jonny Heywood (96) from 70 balls and Ben Wallace 32 off 31 balls getting the majority of the runs and building a formidable total of 239 from 40 overs. Jack Drummond opened the bowling and was by far Healesville’s best bowler capturing 2/17 off 8 overs when all other bowlers went for 6 and over or more. Wandin’s middle order of J Galvin (39) D Trembath 70* and M Rayner 27 kept the runs ticking over as Wandin chased down the runs to win the game.
Past Players Day
All past players and supporters are invited to join the club on Saturday 20 January from 1pm onwards at Queens Park where the first XI take on Lilydale. Finger food will be supplied and drinks at bar prices. Robert “tojo” Nolan has dug up some memorabilia and been contacting our past players so it’s going to be a great day to catch up with old team mates.
