Won by 42 runs

It was a beautiful afternoon for our match. The 2nd XI had been riding high on a three-game winning streak, and anticipation was high, particularly because this marked our inaugural home match. Valentine Sol and Olivia Murdoch had been shining stars on the girls' team lately, earning their well-deserved call-ups, with Olivia given the opportunity to captain the side. Upon winning the toss, Olivia opted to bat first. The familiar faces of our supporters where grouped together on the boundary, basking in the sunshine and brimming with enthusiasm. There was an exciting atmosphere!!!

Dupplin and Hay took to the crease as our opening pair, initially facing a bit of pressure from the St Mary’s opening attack. However, they soon found their rhythm, pushing the ball into the gaps and treating us to some delightful boundaries. Maxi and Harry followed suit, with Maxi showcasing his shot making ability in placing the ball into the gaps while Harry wasted no time in unleashing his trademark powerful strokes. The partnership of Olivia and Val, our third duo, kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely by rotating the strike well and Val adding some well-struck boundaries. Charles and Mack then stepped up to the plate with a clear intent to up the ante. Their aggressive approach, though risky, paid off, with a flurry of boundaries, with Charles leading the charge. Senuka and James Manifold complemented each other beautifully forming a partnership marked by sharp running between the wickets, a standout feature of the season thus far. As the innings progressed, Monty, James, and Leo showcased their growing confidence at the crease, each making valuable contributions to propel our total to a commendable 105.

Following a brisk match tea, it was our bowlers' turn to put St Mary’s to the test. Olivia and Val took the new ball, applying pressure right from the outset and stifling the St Mary’s batters, leaving them with little room to maneuver. However, we were in need of breakthroughs, and Olivia duly delivered, claiming the first wicket of the day. Leo then entered the attack, bowling very well and making further crucial breakthroughs. Everyone bowled well, conceding few easy runs and maintaining a tight grip on the proceedings. Despite our best efforts, St Mary’s proved resilient, putting up a determined fight to stay in the match.

However, our bowlers continued their fine form, with James, Monty, Mack, William, and Tristan all chipping in with valuable wickets at crucial junctures. Senuka emerged as the standout performer with an impressive haul of three wickets, conceding a mere six runs off his two overs.

Equally heartening was our fielding display, with Mack pulling off a spectacular one-handed catch and James showcasing his agility with a superb running catch at deep point. It was yet another commendable team effort, keeping our winning run going and entertaining the big home crowd. Well done everyone.

Player of the match – Senuka – batted very well with James and took 3 wickets.