The Baw Baw Veterans' last home game of the season, against Bayside Veterans, got off to a good start when Baw Baw captain Mick O'Neill finally called correctly at the toss and chose to bat.

It was a bit overcast when the openers took to the crease and got away to a bit of a slow start.
After the first wicket fell early, Tony Wyatt and Pete Felstead batted well to reach 1/27 after ten overs.
Both retired after their allotted 30 balls faced, with 13* and 16* respectively. (Wyatt was able to return to the wicket later in the innings to finish with 19*.)
New player Anthony Faltum batted well, although the bowling was very tight during the early part of his innings.
Baw Baw went to the drinks break after 20 overs at 1/57, due to the tight Bayside bowlers.
The ball had become a bit 'spongey' and the outfield slowed due to a consistent drizzle that plagued the eight or 10 overs before drinks.
After drinks Baw Baw's middle order accelerated the scoring rate dramatically, with Faltum crashing four fours late in his innings to retire at 26*.
Daryl Williams made a good looking eight before being bowled, then Alex Miller and Mick O'Neill put together an excellent partnership which continued the higher run rate through to the 30th over. Miller finished with 25 and O'Neill 14.
Ernie Dessent batted well for 16* off 30 balls and Rod Pallot ensured that Baw Baw batted out their allotted overs to finish 9*.
Baw Baw lost three wickets late to finish their 40 overs at 7/147. It was a reasonable total on a wicket that showed a bit of variable bounce, so Baw Baw felt they at least had a chance if they bowled well.
Bayside only required 3.7 runs per over to reach their target, so it was going to be tough to restrict them to less than that.
It certainly proved to be the case early as Bayside reached 1/49 after ten overs with the only wicket being a run out thanks to Williams and O'Neill.
In the second ten overs the run rate was only 3.5 per over thanks initially to 'Carrots' Williams and then the 'spin twins' of Mark McLauchlan and Rod Pallot.
Williams finished without a wicket but conceded only 30 off eight tight overs – he gave all he could to every ball he bowled.
'Boss' McLauchlan took 3/18 off his eight overs and 'Rocket' Pallot finished with 1/19 off five overs.
At the 30 over mark, Bayside were 5/123 at a rate of 4.1, so they were on target. And so it proved, Pete Felstead chipped in for a wicket late, but the Bayside guys had skipped away to reach the target in the 36th over.
Man of the match in his debut game for Baw Baw Vets was Anthony Faltum as he batted beautifully. Welcome to the club Anthony.
As always, the Drouin Cricket Club were tremendous hosts – it is a terrific ground to play on.
If there are any readers out there that would be interested in joining Baw Baw next season, please call Mark McLauchlan on 0490 803 902 or Mick O'Neill on 0407 053 398.