A learning experience for the Camberwell Magpies as reigning champions Prahran was too good in three out of four matches on the weekend.
The firsts travelled to Toorak Park , and were looking to bounce back after losing to Geelong the previous week. Ben won the toss and elected to bat first. We didn't get off to the right start, losing 4/46 in 16 overs, and the challenge from there was to bat our allotted 50 overs.
Liam Fitzpatrick was the highlight of the innings, making an important 67 not out, which included 6 fours and was the rock as the wickets kept tumbling. In the end, we made a total of 9/163 and needed to bowl really well to get anywhere near a win.
It looked possible with Hamish Burrill and Shubham Bhargave snaring the first two wickets with only 45 on the board off 10 overs. After that, though, it was all Prahran with Captain Jake Hancock making 66 not out to guide Prahran home with a six-wicket win of 38.5 overs.
Even though it was another loss, there were still positives with Fitzpatrick's first premier level half century and the bowling group making inroads defending a small total.
Captain Ben Rowles and Coach Ben Ryan have some work to get the group to play our best cricket as a unit next week against Essendon.
Liam Fitzpatrick on the way to 67no, anchoring our innings.
Photo Credit: Helen Fitzpatrick ( Much appreciated )
In the Seconds, the away side Prahran chose to bat first.
They got off to a flyer with an opening partnership of 106, which was only broken with a run out by Spencer Wood. With Adit Pawha, Adrian Vidajic and Kevin Prior into the attack they halted Prahran as they lost 6/80 to reach a below-par 186 at Watson Park.
The run chase didn't go to plan early, losing in-form opener Spencer Wood & Skipper Dan Rawson with 31 runs on the broad from 5 overs.
Both in excellent form, Jack Di Stefano (46) and James Wiseman (53) steadied the ship with a 71 run stand. Contributions from Tommy Donaldson 21, Pawha 28, Redhu's 19 saw a comfortable win by four wickets with 10 overs to spare. It was the second win of the year and a great bounce back from the tight loss against Geelong last weekend.
In the third's, Prahran elected to bowl first at Righetti Oval and Camberwell didn't get off to the right start losing two wickets in the first three overs to be 2/14.
Swapnil Challa and Max Anson steady the ship to put on a 45 run partnership, but when Challa was out for 29 and then Josh Nelson for a golden duck, the very next ball, we had slumped to 4/59. Anson hung around and top-scored with 36 (83) as Captain Luke Prior cameo 21 at eleven took the score to 135.
In reply, Sam Nash grabbed the first wicket to have Prahran 1/6 in the second over but after that, it was all Prahran with Delaney and captain Will Pike guiding Prahran to a comfortable seven-wicket win.
It hands the thirds their second loss of the season, again highlighting a top-order batting collapse. The positives of Sam Nash and Ben Jowett returning and Brett Watkins toiling hard for 0/12 off his six overs say's we have the bowlers if the batsman can give them something to work with.
On Sunday, the fourths played at Watson Park, with Prahran winning the toss and batting first.
We got off to the right start taking 5/96 off 19 overs with skipper Bobby Capstick, Max Burn and Harry Jamieson taking the first five wickets between them.
Then it was 15yo Academy member Samuel Olsen rampaging through Prahran's lower order taking his first 5 wicket haul in premier cricket with 5/28 of 8.2 overs. It was an impressive display of bowling that earned praise from the opposition coach and helped Camberwell restrict Prahran to 10/149.
In reply, at 2/69 we looked like we had the 149 covered, but regular wickets saw Camberwell all out for 113. It was not a happy scorecard with Sam Mazza top scoring with 25 and Kane Scanlon again like last week being second highest with 16, thats not enough to win games of cricket.
The Fourths are still looking for their first win of the season, but positives from Sunday was the performance of Sammy Olsen & Ben Tricarico in both innings. Hopefully, a win isn't too far off.
Only one win this weekend, so plenty of work on the track and players back from the end of year celebrations will mean a hunger to perform against Essendon next weekend.
Our #VicSuperSlam continues Tuesday night against St Kilda; if you can attend, that would be great otherwise, Live streaming will be available on Frogbox.
This Round Recap is proudly brought to you by Melbourne City Toyota.
