TWO batsmen with limited exposure to the middle of the ground this season were summoned to pluck victory from the jaws of defeat for Upper Beaconsfield in its clash with Devon Meadows in the penultimate home-and-away district match.
Chasing a demanding 198 for full points the Maroons’ nerve was put to the blowtorch as they almost stumbled on the eve of the finals. Then Paul Matthews and Scott Pitcher paired up to steer the home side through the muddy waters with a fighting partnership.
Earlier in the day the top order suffered from the awe-inspiring Peter Zauner who collected two of the first three top-order bats and have the Maroons 3/42.
Another Cameo performance from Chris Pentland (29) helped partner John Simpson (20) add 36 runs but the batting was piecemeal and lacked conviction.
However, a more committed partnership from Luke Pitcher (37),who seems to have turned the corner lately, and reliable Dan Brennan (39) added a further 44 before a spate of three wickets fell and at 8/172 still 26 runs in arrears the pressure was mounting.
Then Scott Pitcher strode to the crease with a serious look on his face and he and Paul Matthews picked off 37 runs in an unbroken partnership for the ninth wicket that wrested the initiative from the feisty Panthers.
The Maroons struggle might have a silver lining for the finals as it showed that the batting depth is profound.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:BGRADE
Skipper Glen Kilburn was chuffed that his B Grade team put away a deflated Clyde at Lineham Oval.
Resuming at 2/47 Upper Beaconsfield lost five wickets before passing the Clyde score of 92 but solid batting from three players led the team to 9/200 and a much-awaited victory.
Youngster Taylor Joyce was 20 not out overnight and batted almost until the match’s conclusion to produce a fine 45. He was assisted by Chris Reid, who surprisingly batted at nine, but made an invaluable 47 not out and Craig Perkins who again demonstrated his batting prowess to reach a handy 35.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:FGRADE
“Chasing an outright is never really easy,” according to one sage at the Gembrook Recreation Reserve as F Grade managed a mixed result despite everything not just falling naturally into place.
After declaring overnight at 5/89 in response to Gembrook’s 77 all seemed on the radar as a wicket fell to opener Chris Cutler in the third over. But the tall paceman landed awkwardly at the end of the over, throwing the attack into disarray as he hobbled from the ground.
From that point on the Brookers played with a resolve missing in their first innings and it was a struggle to pierce their defences.
Richard Edwards, 0/6 from eight overs, bowled without luck as did Rob Hansen who bowled 14 quite tight overs but he did not seem to enjoy the slice of good fortune needed to spear through the bats.
Andy Haythorpe (1/47) was handy with his flight and bounce while Lachy Harrison threatened to break the defences open with 2/27. When Adam Hussein ran out veteran Matt Bardwell (95) the Gembrook skipper declared and asked the Maroons to chase 156 from 21 overs.
Rohan Escreet took on the bowling to clatter a rapid 46 while Richard Edwards (19) looked good for a while as did Rob Naismith (27). At 6/113 Upper Beac needed 43 runs still but ran out of overs and maybe was saved from ignominy.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:UNDER17
The under-17s enjoyed a comfortable win over Devon Meadows at Glover Reserve. Defending 152 the bowlers managed to restrict their opponents to just 103. Toby Sherer bamboozled his adversaries with clever flight and spin to take 4/26 while Kyle Gibbs (2/11) and Andy Kay (2/18) also achieved impressive figures.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:UNDER15
The Upper Beaconsfield under-15s also defended their score successfully against Emerald Redbacks. Needing 192 to win the Redbacks started badly, losing 3/6, but a 78-run partnership threatened to destabilise the defence.
Then a good bowling partnership between Luke Duffy (2/26) and Jack Brown (3/14) ripped through the tail and sheeted home the advantage as Emerald tumbled to 152 all out.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:UNDER13
In the final matches the two under-13 teams experienced differing fates. The Maroons were set a chase of 115 runs but succumbed for just 36 runs with only Jack Phillips (14) reaching double figures.
The Whites battled Gembrook and pinned their opponents down for a long while. Brett Hamilton enjoyed his best figure, reaping 4/12 from six telling overs, while five other bowlers picked up a wicket each. Gembrook managed to snare the points with seven batters in the shed.
The club extends its condolences to the Smith family after the passing of Barry Smith. The secretary of the Upper Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve, Barry worked tirelessly to improve the playing conditions and facilities at Upper Beaconsfield. He will be sadly missed.
