Premier Cricket: 18 wickets fall on day one of clash between Melbourne University and Monash Tigers
Monash Tigers need just 17 runs to claim first-innings points against Melbourne University after an incredible 18 wickets fell on a drama-packed day one at Central Reserve on Saturday.
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Monash Tigers need just 17 runs to claim first-innings points but have just two wickets in hand against Melbourne University after an incredible 18 dismissals on a drama-packed day one at Central Reserve on Saturday.
After being sent in, Uni made it to 2-79 before Dom Matarazzo chewed through to the middle order as the visitors collapsed to be all out for 114.
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Matarazzo picked up the first five wickets to finish with the immaculate figures of 5-22 off 20 overs, including eight maidens.
But by stumps the Tigers had crashed to 8-98 after a middle-order collapse of 6-32, capping an incredible day.
@MonashTigers end the day at 8/98 chasing @MelbUniCC 114. Another absorbing day that usually is the result between these 2 teams @vicpremcricket
— Monash Tigers (@MonashTigers) December 8, 2018
Wes Agar (2-24) claimed openers Daniel Sartori (4) and debutant Kyle Viccars (6) cheaply before Fawad Ahmed (3-26) and Alex Gregory (3-18) ripped through the middle order.
Marcus Berryman (12 not out) and Fred Klaassen (3 not out) survived a tense final 20 minutes to make it through to stumps.
At one stage, 16 wickets tumbled for the addition of just 133 runs.
“Looking at the start of the day’s play, it certainly wasn’t that kind of wicket,” Sartori said. “Always winning the toss and bowling you expect to bowl a side out but certainly not that many wickets in a day.”
Matarazzo’s haul took him to 18 wickets for the season. Four of his dismissals were bowled and the other was caught behind by Scott Edwards.
“That’s as well as I’ve seen Dom bowl. He was just fantastic from the first ball he bowled,” Sartori said.
“I think Dom’s strength is his accuracy and he just doesn’t give the batters any free balls to hit. He just does the simple things really well, he challenges your defence every ball and waits for the batter to make a mistake.
“He’s been a fantastic bowler now for a good four or five years and I certainly rate him up there as one of the better bowlers in the competition.”
Despite the contest being delicately poised, Sartori said he was content with where his side was situated.
“To fight back like we did was fantastic so overall I’m really happy with the day’s play,” he said.
“Whichever way the result goes, both sides are going to be pushing pretty hard to try and get that reverse outright.”