Jonty's Jottings - November 15-17

Hi again parents and juniors,

 

What an unbelievable weekend of cricket, with some massive scores being racked up both for and against us, and a groundbreaking first win for the season for our 4th Grade to get us off the bottom of the ladder.

There were records left, right and centre, most notably the highest score made by our 1st Grade team in the 49-year history of the club.

On the junior front, a massive congratulations must go to two boys at opposite ends of the spectrum:

Josh Norsetter took his 100th wicket in senior cricket on Sunday at the age of just 15 - what an achievement mate, well done.

And a huge mention to Zac Nilsson, who made his senior debut in 7th Grade on Sunday alongside his dad Tony and played an amazing game to be man of the match against an opposition stacked with high grade players doubling up. Zac took four wickets, including being on a hat-trick, and then made 12no! WOW! Sensational stuff Zac!

Overall, our 1s and 2s are in good positions, our 3s lost, 4s won, 5s won with another huge score and 6s will need to bat well this week.

Up and down in the juniors again, with our U16 (1) needing to bat very well this week, our U16 (2) chasing an outright, U14 looking to bowl brilliantly, U12 missing out by the smallest possible margin and U10 having another great game.

Here's the results from the past few days:

 

1st Grade - Two Dayer - Moonee Valley 8/466 v Bellbridge. A record-breaking performance, led by Anthony Cafari with a brilliant 129 and well supported by Sumit Anand (69), Sameera Vithana (67), Shiwantha Kumara (50no), Dan Comande (47no) and Josh Gorry (47). Ladder Position: 3rd

2nd Grade - Two Dayer - Moonee Valley 217 v Bellbridge 2/22. A very competitive score with the bat set up by Matt Thomas (69) and Suraj Weerasinghe (45), which looks even better after picking up two late wickets. Ladder Position: 2nd

3rd Grade - 45 overs - Moonee Valley 4/99 lost to National 5/107by five wickets with 108 balls to spare. Our batsmen found scoring extremely tough on a low, slow pitch and an overgrown outfield before some loose bowling allowed the ladder leaders to get the win. Dean Jukic (40no) proved impossible to dismiss, while Aiden Pangrazio (2/2) gave them a fright late. Ladder Position: 3rd

4th Grade - 45 overs - Moonee Valley 6/201 def Brunswick 167 by 34 runs. A massive form reversal after a previous highest score this season of 86. With some experienced players back in the team, we put up a competitive total on the back of an unbroken 95-run partnership between Mick Bannister (52no) and Markus Harris (51no) after Ian Denny (32) again showed why he is our greatest ever player. Then we bowled and fielded excellently and would have won by more if not for some lucky escapes by their batsmen. Markus (5/43) backed up his half-century with his second five-wicket haul of the weekend! What a performance! As mentioned earlier, Josh Norsetter (2/31) claimed his 100th senior wicket! Ladder Position: 7th

5th Grade - 35 overs - Moonee Valley 6/305 def Craigieburn 9/135 by 170 runs. The Shiners just keep rolling on, scoring at almost nine runs an over to rack up a huge score. Liam Shaw (70), Manu Poulose (50), Paddy Shelton (50), Cassidy Box (39) and Jesse Nankivell-Sandor (35no) all batted beautifully in a great team effort. Justin Trowell (3/12) and Dom Rettino (3/14) then combined to give Craigieburn no chance. Ladder Position: 1st

6th Grade - Two Dayer - Moonee Valley 3/25 v Royal Park Reds 282. Tough work for the undermanned 6s, but Markus Harris (5/83) was the shining light with his first ever five-wicket haul (before bettering it a day later). Dejan Gilevski (2/43 off 12 overs) bowled beautifully again, and Yashwanth Kanduri (2/81) also performed well. The best of the batting is still to come - this target is achievable. Ladder Position: 6th

7th Grade - 35 overs - Moonee Valley 7/173 lost to Hume 6/443 by 270 runs. Not much you can say about the final score apart from "unbelievable". Hume scored at a stunning 12.66 runs per over throughout its innings. But this game was all about ​Zac Nilsson. As I mentioned above, Zac (4/84) was easily the best bowler, and then made 12no in a great debut senior game. Murray Price (59no) was the pick of the batsmen, while Jack Newman (52) found some form.  Ladder Position: 7th

Under 16 (1) - Two Dayer - Moonee Valley v Aberfeldie 5/357. A massive score by Aberfeldie. No Valley details submitted again. Ladder Position: 6th

Under 16 (2) - Two Dayer - Moonee Valley 3/83 v Flemington 59. A great first day, with first innings points already in the bag. Riley Walsh (31no) and Luca McMonigle (26no) batted well before Leo Zabarauskas (2/0), Dejan Gilevski (2/6) and Tomas Morrissy (2/20) ripped the opposition out.  Ladder Position: 4th

Under 14 (1) - Two Dayer - Moonee Valley 129 v Aberfeldie 0/88. Not the most successful day for our boys, but anything can happen in cricket. Bowl and field well boys, and that can be defended. Ladder Position: 7th

Under 12 (4) - T20 - Moonee Valley 5/85 lost to Sydenham-Hillside 6/86by one run. Heartbreak for our boys as we fell short by the smalled possible positon. Tidy bowling, with Diego Mazzarella (2/0 giving away literally nothing. Ladder Position: 4th

Under 10 - One-dayer - Moonee Valley v Pascoe Vale Central - No details submitted again.

 

 

Here are the games this week:

1st Grade - Day 2 v Bellbridge at Ormond Park 3rd v 4th

2nd Grade - Day 2 v Bellbridge at Mossfiel Reserve, Hoppers Crossing 2nd v 9th

3rd Grade - 45 overs Saturday v Flemington at Newmarket Reserve, Flemington. 3rd v 8th

4th Grade - 45 overs Sunday v Thornbury Turf Strokers at Ormond Park 7th v 2nd

5th Grade - 35 overs Saturday v Donnybrook at John Laffan Reserve, Donnybrook 1st v 2nd

6th Grade - Day 2 v Royal Park Reds at Ormond Park 6th v 2nd

7th Grade - 35 overs Sunday v Kealba Green Gully at Ormond Park 7th v 8th

Under 16 (1) - Day 2 v Aberfeldie at AJ Davis Reserve, Airport West 7th v 6th

Under 16 (2) - Day 2 v Flemington at Walter St Reserve, Ascot Vale 4th v 9th

Under 14 (1) - Day 2 v Sydenham Hillside at Debneys Reserve, Flemington 7th v 6th

Under 12 (4) - T20 Friday v Greenvale Roos at Ormond Park 4th v 5th

Under 10 - Friday v Flemington 1 at Walter St Reserve, Ascot Vale

 

Only two teams to pick on Saturday and two on Sunday, so let me know early if you are keen for a game.

 

GO VALLEYS!

 

Jonty (Brendan Rhodes)