Mid Year Cricket Association: Darebin Chargers all out for 4

A Victorian Subbies paceman captured remarkable figures as a team was dismissed in 4.4 overs in the Mid Year Cricket Association.

Marcus Murphy bowling for Preston. Picture: Hamish Blair

Stumps were flying in all directions in a remarkable game in the Mid Year Cricket Association on Saturday.

It all happened in the clash between Northern Bulls and Darebin Chargers at Huskisson Reserve in Lalor.

Early on, it was a blaze of boundaries, with Northern Bulls blitzing 295 in their 35 overs.

Then came a crash — of epic proportions.

In reply, Darebin Chargers was flattened for 4 — yep, all out for 4 — in 4.4 overs.

The destroyer was Marcus Murphy, who plays for Preston in the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association.

He took a double hat-trick on his way to figures of 7-2 off 2.4 overs.

At the other end, Luke Boreham, who plays for Old Ivanhoe Grammarians in summer, took 3-2.

Darebin Chargers’ score was a new record low score in MYCA’s 12-year history.

The previous lowest was 17.

Marcus Murphy has a laugh with a Darebin Chargers batter on Saturday.

The Northern Bulls slips cordon.

Northern Bulls wicketkeeper Raj Bhatia, who is also MYCA president, had the best seat in the house as Murphy bowled thunderbolts.

“I think it was just one of those rare occasions when the conditions favoured the bowling and it was swinging an absolute mile,” he said.

“Marcus was bowling in-swinging yorkers from about half a foot outside off stump and they were cartwheeling middle stump.”

Eight of the wickets were clean bowled, while there was one LBW and one catch behind.

The winter season hit off last month and Bhatia said the competition was booming, with 208 teams playing — up from 160 last season.

“The hardest part is getting grounds, that’s the biggest challenge, but we manage,” Bhatia said.

While batters have to retire at 50 in MYCA, it hasn’t stopped a couple of big-hitters smashing centuries this season already.

Sahan Perera, from Melbourne Lankans, belted 109no, with 9 sixes, last week.

Kalapu Gamage, from Melbourne Sixers, smashed 117no, with 10 sixes in the opening round.

MYCA this season launched a senior female division, with teams from all around Melbourne taking part in it.