Last weekend Round 18 games were the last roster matches in the HCCA season. The Kingston Crows A grade went down again but our other 3 grades had excellent wins after batting first and compiling good scores. A grade ended in 4^th spot, B1 were well clear on top while it appears as this column is being written that both B2 and C2 finished 2^nd in their respective grades. Although this means they both lose the right to host the semi final they do gain the opportunity to win and go directly into the Grand Final or at least gain the all important double chance.

A grade took on Blackmans Bay on their home ground and will now have to return to that ground next week for a rematch in the 1^st Semi Final. Bowling first in not ideal conditions following overnight rain we struggled to contain their batsmen although at 3/50 we were well in the game. They passed 160 with only 5 wickets down but a string of wickets saw us well on top with the score 9/178. We were unable to claim the last wicket and that partnership of 28 was to be of huge significance later in the day as they finished on 9/206. In an unusual situation our 4 main bowlers only bowled 17 of the allotted overs with Dan Elliott, Robert Chapman and Heath Lovell all taking 2 wickets.

Joel Palmer and Dan Elliott got us off to a terrific start in the run chase adding 48 after 13 overs. Joel was then caught and Dan run out next ball. The runs then dried up and we lost our 3^rd wicket in the 19^th over with only 50 runs on the board. Jamie Knott then came in and with Heath Lovell 21 added 61 for the 4^th wicket. We then slumped to 6/123 in the 37^th over with Knott the only thing standing between a victory and a loss. Unfortunately he was dismissed in the 45^th over with the total 9/166 after compiling a well made 55. The final pair added 18 but our total of 184 was insufficient to lift us to 3^rd place on the ladder.

B1 took on the Southern Tigers at home seeking a turnaround from last week’s poor showing. Geoff Freeman 44 and Levi Treptow 62 got us off to a great start adding 90 for the 1^st wicket. James Murray came in at No 4 and was the anchor of the innings finishing 55no. We lost our 5^th wicket in the 47^th over with the score 5/232 and Sam Peacock joined Murray and blasted 42no with 5 4s and 3 6s and this enabled us to finish on 5/282.

We soon made inroads to the “Tigers” innings and with Jason Jones 4/20, Scott Sward 2/29, Shannon Woolley 2/32 and Sam Peacock 2/42 we were able to dismiss them for 124 in the 30^th over.

B2 were at Kettering where they were asked to bat first and struggled being 3/44 and then 5/99 with Adrian Pereira making 42 of those runs. The late order rallied with Andrew Denton continuing his consistent season with 38, Ross Hinkley, becoming an all rounder, 29, Ash Woodhead 26 and Chase McConnon 20 and this enabled us to make a respectable 9/251. The best partnership of the innings came from Denton and Hinkley who added 68 for the 6^th wicket.

Kettering’s innings started in a strange manner with then 1 wicket for 4 runs after 2 overs and then 1/25 after 3. Despite a couple of good innings we were pretty well able to keep their innings under control and eventually dismiss them in the 47^th over for 220. Dean Heywood took 3/19, Andrew Denton 2/29 and Ross Hinkley 2/31.

On Sunday C2 took on Kettering at home where our eventual total of 8/290 was set up by a 133 run partnership for the 4^th wicket between Matthew Creek, who was unluckily caught on the boundary for 96 with 11 4s and 3 6s, and Shane Hall who compiled 82. Manning Parkinson also made 21.

Kettering started well putting on 33 for the first wicket but once the partnership was broken they fell away being 7/97 and then 9/110. Their last 2 batsmen batted out a number of overs but their total at the end of their 50 overs was 9/154. Dale Hayers led the way with 4/37 and Richie McInnes 2/7 (much better than last week). Manning Parkinson took two sensational outfield catches.

Good luck to all our teams for next week and lets hope our A grade can regain some of their better form.

 

“From the Hill”