Year 8 Boys Cricket Team win with teamwork

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA

Cricket – Year 8 Boys

Loddon Mallee Regional Final

When the Intermediate Boys took to the field for the Loddon Mallee Regional Final, it was a pleasant change for everyone to play at Ewing Park in the heart of Bendigo, rather than endure an early start or a long bus trip.

In the first game for the day, CMC took on St Augustine’s Kyabram. Riley Travaglia won the toss and sent St Augustine’s into bat on a skidding wicket. St Aug’s got off to a flying start, scoring 28 off the first 3 overs. Callan Orr showcased his bowling prowess and was able to sneak a full toss past the bat to clean bowl one of the openers.

At the halfway mark, St Aug’s were looking like posting a mammoth total, being 1/72 with the batters well and truly in. However, Chad Mannes stepped up to match their intensity, securing two key wickets, and displaying accuracy and control in his deliveries. Aydan Hand and Tyce Griffin also made significant contributions to the bowling attack. Aydan’s disciplined bowling earned him 1 wicket for 23 runs, adding to the team’s success. Tyce, who is not just a valuable bowler but also a resilient all-rounder, chipped in with 1 wicket. (We won’t mention a drop catch that fired him up for the rest of the day.) Riley produced some excellent death bowling to only concede 5 runs from his 4 overs, including 2 maidens. St Augustine’s posted a strong, defendable total of 6/122.

Bowling Stats Overs Wickets Runs

As the team transitioned to the batting innings, Tyce emerged as the star performer, anchoring the innings from the start with a spectacular unbeaten knock of a massive 63 runs. Tyce’s innings showcased a perfect blend of skill and determination, hitting 12 boundaries to take control of the game. Riley, a force to be reckoned with, played a supporting role, contributing with four elegant boundaries, demonstrating both technique and flair.
The combined efforts of the bowlers and the standout performance in batting, particularly Tyce’s unbeaten innings, set the stage for an exciting and competitive match. CMC got over the line with 6 overs to spare. The team had the momentum and were ready to take on the Northern Metro Region champions in the next game.

Batting Stats

Tyce Griffin – 63*
Riley Travaglia – 17
Callan Orr – 11

State Quarter Final

Our second game for the day was against a strong-looking team, Hazel Glen College. They had been warming up for 45 minutes or so and we knew we had a tough game on our hands. Riley lost the toss and this time, we were sent in. After the heroics of the earlier game, we hoped this would be to our advantage, with momentum on our side.

The innings had its share of ups and downs. The opening moments of the game brought an unexpected turn of events as Tyce faced an early dismissal, losing his off stump for a golden duck. With our run machine from the first game gone, the group was nervous. After the first 5 overs, the team were 1/8 runs, which was not the start we had hoped for. Despite this setback, the boys quickly regrouped, and Griffin O’Shea, playing the crucial role of opener, emerged as a stabilising force. O’Shea exhibited skilful stroke play, anchoring the innings with a composed 37, laying a solid foundation for the team. The boys showed resilience, with a bit of feeling out in the middle.

As the innings progressed, Callan Orr brought his attacking grit to the crease, with an impressive display of power-hitting. Orr’s innings included a remarkable big six that sent the ball sailing over the boundary ropes, contributing significantly to the team’s total. His entertaining knock came to an end at 21 runs, but not before injecting momentum into the innings.

Aydan Hand announced his arrival by striking a boundary off the very first ball he faced, setting the tone for his innings. His elegant stroke play and calculated aggression allowed him to finish unbeaten on 32 runs, also including a big six, providing a crucial late-innings surge.

The team’s final score stood at an admirable 4 for 136, a testament to the combined efforts of the players. The innings featured a blend of resilience, skill, and patience, reflecting the group’s commitment to delivering a team-oriented brand of cricket.

Batting Stats
Griffin O’Shea – 37
Aydan Hand – 32*
Callan Orr – 21
Riley Travaglia – 13

The bowling innings kicked off with a riveting display of quick hands by Aydan Hand, as he took a reaction catch in his follow-through. What a perfect start to our defence! Little did we know, that meant that Hazel Glen now had their two best batters together at the crease. The game was poised for an intriguing battle between bat and ball.

Hazel Glen were absolutely cruising, ticking the score along to 1/70 in the 10th over. Once again, Chad Mannes came to the rescue. After bowling a maiden over against the run of play, Chad struck in his second over to dismiss the opposition captain for 36, thanks to a strong chest mark from Joshua Kelly. The boys found their voice after a long 10 overs.

The fielding efforts of Tyce Griffin were nothing short of a comeback. After dropping one in the first game, Tyce took a confident catch and executed brilliance with a crucial direct hit run-out. His contributions in the field played a pivotal role in restricting the opposition’s scoring opportunities. Josh also snared a run-out, but Hazel Glen’s other key batter was still in and was making our score look achievable. It was our skipper, Riley who stepped up to the plate with another catch to Tyce which seemed to be the icing on the cake. Hazel Glen finished with 6/115. The boys pulled off a memorable win and since the match was played in Bendigo, a lot of parents were there to celebrate.

Well done to all of those who contributed to the success of the day. Everyone played their part. Our next stage will be in Melbourne next Wednesday.

Bowling Stats Overs Wickets Runs

TEAM: Mannix Grieve (Scorer), Griffin O’Shea, Maxwell Nicholas, Elliot Ryan, Riley Travaglia, Tyce Griffin, Callan Orr, Aydan Hand, Mr Alex Code (Coach), Zavier Ralphs, Xavier Horan, Chad Mannes, Joshua Kelly, Jacobi Kramer, Zane MacDonald