The first fortnight of ECA turf cricket was weather-affected - but Mont Albert managed to grab six valuable points, while Heathmont were welcomed back into Dunstan Shield with a tie against he reigning champs Old Carey.
We don't have much to report on turf cricket, thanks to the October weather. Mont Albert did pick up six points with a valuable home ground win against Glen Iris in their Round 2 clash. In a dour battle on an as-expected slow wicket, Glen Iris left a critical 23 balls out on the park when they were rolled for just 69 in the 37th over. Newly appointed Club Captain/Coach Andrew Padbury gave nothing away (1/9), while Ben Howes 3/1 and Fateh Singh 3/11 relished the conditions. After MA veterans Tim Wright and Jack Woods were dismissed early, a steady 35 from Charlie Waite saw MA home.
At Heathmont, there was a thrilling tie. Old Carey were invited to bat - and were teetering at 5-31. Dale Lawrence (3/24) and skipper Dylan Howard (3/20) ran rampant. But a steadying partnership between Matt Knox (17) and Nicholas Valentine (20) pushed Old Carey's total into almost respectable territory.
Heathmont were in no hurry in the chase, but may have been better off having a red-hot go to get the runs quickly as the defending champs showed their class; slow and mediums were the order of the day - Tad Merry 1/8 from 8 and skipper Sam Morarty 4/9 from 8 strangled the scoring. It came down to the last ball - a scurried bye run by last pair Jake Cairns and Dale Lawrence secured the tie. OC keeper Josh Devine thew to the bowlers (and correct) end - but Sam Moraty's throw at the stumps missed narrowly. For Heathmont, it was a minor victory of sorts - taking it to the defending champs in their first game back in Dunstan.
