Gippsland Goannas Over 70 cricketers arrived at Toomuc Reserve in Pakenham to play the West Gippsland Wombats Over 70 team on Sunday.
The ground was in excellent condition, and the Goannas were sent in to bat.
Fred Debono and Andrew Smith starting the innings. The score had reached 27 in the sixth over when Smith was bowled for 13. Debono was lbw soon after for 12 as stand-in captain Ian Southall and former Warrandyte player and Goannas recruit Warren Dummett came together.
Southall was stumped for 11 in the 10th over and Dummett for 14 a little later.
Steve Lincoln and Gordon Cowling steered the Goannas to 4/89 at the 20 over drinks break.
Lincoln retired for a very well made 25 from 30 balls and Cowling was run out for 15 when the score was 97.
The Goannas made a respectable 128 in total.
Cowling and Ron Lovel opened the bowling for the Goannas, with just one run from the first 20 balls, and nine coming from the first six overs bowled.
Smith, with a superb throw from about 25 metres, hit the stumps at the bowlers end to secure a good run out for the first wicket.
The score steadily mounted as Southall, Smith and Barry Nunn bowled the next six overs. Debono took a good catch from Nunn’s fourth ball for the score to be 2/50 after 12 overs.
Kel Bond came on and had wicket keeper Dummett taking a sharp catch, and next over one by Dick Noble in the gully.
The Wombats went to drinks at 4/85 and seemed to be coasting.
Cowling and Lovel resumed after drinks and slowed the run rate.
Noble came on, and after three overs had 1/3. Southall had a second spell, hitting the stumps three times to have the Wombats in trouble at 7/111, then 8/119 after 32 overs.
The number 12 batsman retired, allowing the first retiree to return to the crease. He was able to hit two fours to get the Wombats over the line, in the 38th over.
The fielding from the Goannas had been very good, and the bowling, especially after drinks, very tight.
Unfortunately, the Goannas batting had finished almost 10 overs (and about 30 runs) short of what might have been a winning score.
Wicket taking bowlers were Southall (3/12), Bond (2/19), Noble (1/9) and Nunn (1/10).
The Goannas Over 50 team travelled to Caulfield to play against the South East Vets.
Batting first, the Goannas reached 166 for the loss of nine wickets, with Anthony Bloomfield and Geoff Wells both retired for 40 and 41 respectively. Others to make a few runs were Chris Malone (19), Steve Rogers (15), Pat Spiteri (14) and Chris Anders (13 not out).
In reply, the SE Vets passed the Goannas score in the 34th over and finished at 2/170.
The Goannas Over 60’s will resume next Sunday with an away game against Endeavour Hills, while the next Over 70 game will be in two weeks time against the Australian Cricket Society team at Moorabbin.
