Round seven for NMCA’s E-Grade Sault Shield saw Kinglake host the Strathewen 2nd XI for a two-day game.
Strathewen won the toss and invited Kinglake to bat and after 19 overs they had skittled Kinglake’s batsmen to have them all out for 25. Top scorer for Kinglake was the extras column with 6, then Ted Groenewegen, a veteran of the club whose last season was 2011-12, with 5 runs.
Strathewen then faced 24 overs and declared at 147 for 3 wickets – one each to Josh Green, James Gibbs and Declan Grant.
This left Kinglake with the prospect of facing 27 overs before the close of play. Unfortunately for Strathewen, Kinglake had faced just two overs before the heavens opened and rain forced the umpire to abandon play for the rest of the day.
Day 2 saw Jason Gaffee and Alex Hybinett resume their innings and Alex faced 39 balls in 50 minutes before being run out for 6. Their partnership was worth 46 runs.
Ted Groenewegen came and went for 0 from two balls and James Gibbs came to join Jason at the crease.
James managed to stay the course and remained 19 not out at the end of Kinglake’s second innings.
Jason was on a mission and scored 55 from 53 balls in 72 minutes. After he was brilliantly caught there was a parade of five batsmen with Max Murray 0, Tim Stonehouse 0, Keith Martin 0, Josh Green 1 and Declan Walters 2. Extras consisted of 4 byes and 3 leg byes.
Two batsmen for Kinglake were absent out so the total achieved by Kinglake from 25 overs was 90 runs which gave Strathewen the win by an innings and 32 runs.
The next round is again a two-day game at home against the Preston Footballers 2nd XI.
– Bruce Stonehouse