MPCA 2021-22: Mt Eliza shot out for 40 by Baxter in Provincial
Five players made ducks as the Mounties became the new owner of an unwanted MPCA record in a day of carnage at Madsen Reserve.
South East
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Not often does a side make 88 and go on to have a comfortable victory.
But Baxter did exactly that in MPCA Provincial on Saturday after unleashing a dynamic bowling and fielding display to flatten Mt Eliza, in reply, for 40.
The Mounties lost an astonishing 8-8 to go from 2-32 to all out in 19 overs at Madsen Reserve.
Baxter paceman Chamika Sattambi led the onslaught, taking 4-2 off three overs, after young tyro Will Borthwick (3-20) and champion Dale Irving (2-16) made the initial breakthroughs.
And it was history in the making; Mt Eliza’s score of 40 was the all-time lowest team total in an MPCA Provincial First XI one-day game, eclipsing Mt Martha’s 41 against Mornington in 1997-98.
“We had no idea (it was a record),’’ Baxter skipper Sammy Mullavey said.
“It’s not something you go out try and do. We just wanted to defend 88.’’
Baxter also had five players take a dip in the duck pond as it was dismissed in 37.4 overs.
Pete Torcasio’s contribution of 29 at No 7 proved crucial.
Tristan Faithfull bagged 4-11 as Mt Eliza players walked off the field on good terms with themselves at the halfway mark.
Mullavey, though, said he felt his Baxter side was “in the game’’.
“Just knowing our bowling line up and that pitch at Mt Eliza, with a slow outfield, it’s not really batsman friendly,’’ he said.
“I said to the guys, ‘let’s just try and create 10 chances and if we can hold our catches then we’re going to be in the game’.
“I didn’t think we’d bowl them out for 40. That’s the way cricket goes sometimes.
“We held those catches in slips and behind the jump and it fell our way.’’
Mt Eliza sent out Nick Baron as a pinch hitter to open the innings and it worked to some extent as he cracked 25.
But when he fell LBW to Borthwick, a batting collapse of epic proportions followed.
Long Island is knocking on the door of the top four after inflicting Baden Powell’s first defeat of the season at Overport Park.
The Islanders batted first and put up 7-188, with Aiden Mckenna (57 off 79 balls), Tom Boxell (38) and Pubudu Edirisinghe (41no off 37) showing the way. Anthony Christou snared 3-23 off eight overs.
In reply, Baden Powell loomed large at 4-160 but wickets in quick succession to be dismissed for 175 in the final over.
Boxell (4-33) grabbed the key wicket of Braves star Rhys Elmi for 40. Coen Chernishoff top scored for the BPs with 47.
At Red Hill, former Victorian batter Simon Dart peeled off his 14th century for the Hillmen to set up a boilover victory against Old Peninsula.
He made 106 not out off 135 balls after arriving at the crease at 1-0 to steer Red Hill to 4-201 after it won the toss and batted first.
Dart put away 10 boundaries and 1 six, and shared a 116-run third wicket partnership with Chris Dew (48).
In reply, Red Hill paceman Lincoln Toy dismissed dangerous Pirates opener Dylan O’Malley for one and, although Will Crowder (44no), John Forrest (36) and Wade Pelzer (30) fought hard, Old Peninsula fell short at 8-172.
Toy finished with 3-18 off six overs and Dart chimed in with 2-8.
It was Red Hill’s first win of the season, boosting its hopes of avoiding relegation.
Reigning premiers Sorrento kick-started its finals quest with a gritty win over Langwarrin.
Andrew Libby, Bobby Wilson and Jake Wood shared the wickets as Langy was shot out for 117 in the 38th over.
Travis Campbell, with 31, was clearly the top scorer for Langwarrin.
The Sharks overcame some batting hiccups to achieve victory with seven balls to go, finishing 7-118. Wilson led from the front with a typically classy knock of 50. Dylan Campbell snared 3-22.
MPCA PROVINCIAL LADDER
Baden Powell 60, Baxter 48, Langwarrin 48, Old Peninsula 36, Long Island 36, Sorrento 36, Mt Eliza 12, Red Hill 12.
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