Cricket News
Sandhurst Senior Boys
On Monday, the Girton Senior Boys Cricket team competed in the Sandhurst competition.
Our first game was against a very strong Catherine McAuley College. CMC won the toss and batted first. There were some great contributions with the ball, Wasik Ajmain 2/18 had the best figures but Connor McKenzie, Will Bowles and Charlie Whitsed also bowled well. CMC set a target of 123 to win!
The batting was opened by Ben Cameron and Aidan Clemens, who got the team off to the perfect start, getting to 80 runs before losing a wicket, Ben finished with a solid 36. The finish line was in sight, but nerves got the team, and we lost a clump of wickets. Aidan finished on 49 which was the top score for the game. Fortunately, Fraser McKinstry and Patrick Kroschel were able to hold on and tie the scores on the last ball of the game! On a countback, Girton was declared the winner and moved on to the final for the first time ever.
We faced Bendigo Senior in the final, batting first Ben and Aidan opening once again. The dream duo got the team off to a flyer! Both Ben and Aidan hitting boundaries for fun. Aidan got to 70 before being caught in the deep, and the innings was brought home by Isaac Willits and Ben both finishing not out and with 10 and 40 respectively. With a huge target of 137 set, it was game on.
The start of the bowling innings did not go according to plan, Bendigo Senior was 0/37 after the first 2 overs! The game was slipping away but due to the deadly skill of our spinners, we were able to drag it back. Both Isaac Willits and Will Bowles bowled a combined spell of 8 overtaking 4/16, an amazing effort. Similarly, Wasik Ajmain was solid with his leggies, as well Ben (1/18) and Aidan (3/30). The end came with a Girton taking 10 wickets leaving Bendigo Senior 23 runs short! Leaving Girton as the victors for the day, and for the first time ever moving on the Loddon Mallee Final!
I’d like to thank Mr Smalley for his great coaching and umpiring and Ms Speed for her awesome photography.
Aidan Clemens (12 Millward)
Cricket Captain
GVGS Games
On Wednesday, the Girton Senior boys team played against our rivals Goulburn Valley Grammar in a 30 over match. Girton bowled first, led by the brutal pace of Seb Morris who recorded 2/22 off his 5. The middle overs were dominated by spin with Isaac Willits (0/7), Will Bowles (0/24) and Wasik Ajmain (1/21) working together to spin GVGS into a web. Finally, the innings was closed out well by young gun Patrick Kroschel (2/13) well done Pat. GVGS set a target of 132 to win.
Unfortunately, the batting didn’t go according to plan, wickets were steadily lost with no solid partnerships to get us home. Top scorer was Isaac Willits with 22 and Pat Kroschel with 17. Although we finished short it was a great day played in good spirit.
Congratulations to Isaac Willits who was awarded our Man of the Match!
The Junior boys played on the adjoining oval. They bowled first, with everyone having a good go with the ball, restricting GVGS to just 90 runs off the 25 overs. Yet when time came to bat Girton had a terrible start losing early wickets quickly, the standouts with the bat were Noah Willits and Ethan Fletcher but it wasn’t enough to get us over the line. Girton was bowled out for 70 just short of the required runs. Bad luck boys! Congratulations to Noah Willits who was our Man of the Match.
Thank you to Mr Martin and Mr Clarke for their superb coaching. Thanks to Mr Smalley for all his work, scoring and coaching but in particular umpiring. His decision-making skills were outstanding.
Aidan Clemens (12 Millward)
Cricket Captain