The Camberwell Magpies Second and Third XIs got their year off to the right start with last over victories against Northcote on Saturday, but it was another tough day for the First and Third XIs.
The First XI travelled to Bill Lawry Oval for their first match of 2021 aiming to get their first win on the board for the season. Northcote won the toss and decided to bat first in conditions tailor made for batting, but early on it was looking like the Magpies could restrict Northcote to a low total with the Dragons at 2/90. But Northcote recovered to post 280 on the back of a maiden First XI century to Josh Sundberg. Pick of the bowlers for Camberwell were the promoted Kieren Jamieson with 1/27 off 7 overs and young gun Ollie Jenkins with 1/50 off 8 overs, while 17-year-old First XI debutant Will Townsend showed no signs of nerves in his first outing with three catches and tidy figures of 0/36 off 7.
In reply, Camberwell’s hopes of breaking their 2020/21 duck nosedived as the Pies quickly found themselves 3/14. Pleasingly for the Magpies, a noteworthy fight back was mounted by three of the youngest members of the First XI team with Shubham Bhargave (37 off 31 balls), Jenkins (39 off 74) and Townsend (39 off 63) all providing formidable resistance to the Dragons’ attack. However with the horror start, ultimately the target proved to be too much as Northcote recorded a 115-run win.
In the Second XI, Northcote elected to bat first at McQueen Park. After the Dragons made a fast start, the Magpies slow bowlers and spinners brought the run rate under control through the middle overs, with Thomas Vanderslik the pick of the bowlers with 2/25 off 10 overs.
In response, Adit Pawha returned to form with 81 at the top of the order, and he received strong support from young gun Liam Fitzpatrick (30) and Vanderslik (48) as the Pies drew ever closer to chasing down Northcote’s 9/239.
In the end it all came down to the last ball, with the Pies requiring three to win and two to tie. Enter tailender Sam Nash, who with a strong bunt down the ground and some assistance from a misfield on the boundary was able to find the rope and hand the Second XI their second win for the season.
It was a similar story in the Third XI, with Northcote winning the toss and batting first at Mayer Park. It was good toss to win with opener Max Mikedis making 104 as Northcote compiled 6/227 off their 45 overs. Top bowlers for Camberwell were Daniel Walker with 2/22 off 9 overs and Jacob Kooran with 1/33 off 6 overs.
In response, young opener Spencer Wood made the first of what will hopefully be many Premier Cricket centuries with a superb 102, as the Magpies chased down the total with two balls to spare and three wickets in hand. The win was a great reward for persistence for the threes, who had been on the end of some close losses prior to the Christmas and were winless coming into the match.
Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for our young Fourth XI, who experienced a tough day to be bundled out for 78 batting first. Top scorer was Angus Steele with 23, but it was Northcote’s day with all five bowlers getting in the wickets column.
In response, Northcote weathered a shaky start to ultimately chase down the total with eight wickets in hand. For Camberwell, Josh Nevett and Anton Ponnnamperuma were the only wicket takers.
Attention now turns to next week against the Greenvale Kangaroos, where the club will be looking build upon the positive signs shown in the first round for 2021.
This Round Recap is proudly brought to you by Melbourne City Toyota.
