Our 3rd XI, in the club’s first foray into the Synthetic competition for a few years played off against the undefeated St Paul’s Oakleigh 2nd XI in the grand final.
Having been beaten by their opponent in their regular-season meeting, they knew they’d have fight on their hands.
Winning the toss and batting first, there was a flourish at the start with a couple of early boundaries but the scoring slowed considerably after the loss of Tribe for 21 (44) with the score at 2/27.
There were no big partnerships or large individual scores. Ali, unusually circumspect with a high score of 37 (93) formed the most significant partnership with Doc of 46 for the 3rd wicket. Hendy’s 20 in the middle `kept things moving along before Jamieson’s invaluable 26 in the latter overs gave the team a below-target but defensible target of 144.
Batting Card
The teams reconvened the following day for the run chase.
The scoring was very slow early as Briggs and Seefeld were keeping things very tight. The first wicket fell at 1/2 after 4.1 overs with a slips catch to Heath. From there, the opposition consolidated, compiling a patient 50-run partnership over the next 16 overs before Jamieson broke through for the first of his Michelle with Dalbosco taking a much-needed.
The next wicket fell at 3/60, but when St Paul’s were 3/92 with 26 overs to go, things weren’t looking great for the challengers. One observer was overheard to say “We need to have them five down for 100″… he aimed too low. Jamieson and Mason broke through to take 3/6 in six overs including a spectacular (and self-sacrificing) catch from Ali (splitting the webbing on his hand in the process).
At this point the required run rate was still less than three an over; definitely gettable, but the bowlers kept plugging away. Runs were coming slowly and wickets kept falling.
Fittingly it was Jamieson, taking his fifth wicket that finished the innings with St Paul’s Oakleigh still 25 runs in arrears of the target, incredibly having lost 3 for 28 from their strong position of 3/92.
And there was much rejoicing.
Bowling Card
Harry Jamieson was justly rewarded for his 26 runs and five wicket haul with the Player of the Match award.
The team gathered with the trophy:
Your premiers for 2025/26
George Koumantatakis (c)
Mohammad Hibzur Ali
Ky Briggs
Harrison Dalbosco
Hamish Heath
Justin Hendy
Harrison Jamieson
Oscar Mason
Scott Rankin
Ryan Seefeld
Mahadevan Subramanian
Toby Tribe
Well-done, fellas. The club congratulates you all.
Thanks to Phil O’Rourke for the photos.
