by Mark McLauchlan
The Baw Baw Veterans Cricket Club completed their final three matches in the Echuca over 60s Cricket Carnival last week, finishing the carnival in third place.
Game two was against Hamilton at Cooma, and Baw Baw batted first.
Openers Tony Wyatt and Mark McLauchlan scored freely early and with Peter Felstead at number three they reached 1/86 by the 15th over. Tony got 27, Mark 39 and Pete 28.
Alex Miller also batted superbly with 33 off 24 balls and the team was flying after 25 overs at 2/125 – heading for 200+ runs. But disaster struck when Baw Baw lost six wickets for nine runs to be all out for 169.
They then took to the field knowing they were 20 or 30 runs short against the powerful Hamilton batting line up, but gave it everything, because 'cricket is a funny game' and anything could happen.
Tony Wyatt bowled a tremendous opening spell, taking two quick wickets to have Hamilton on the back foot at 2/14 after five overs.
Unfortunately, that was to be the last of Baw Baw's success with the ball until very late in the innings.
While Mick O'Neill and Rod Pallot bowled tight spells towards the end of the innings, taking 2/20 and 2/14 respectively, Hamilton passed Baw Baw's score with only seven balls to spare.
It was a terrific effort in the field, but ultimately the batting collapse cost them the win.
Game three was at Cohuna against Barkley St in their final pool match.
Winning the toss again, Mick O'Neill decided to have a bowl first.
Craig Russell got an early wicket and after five overs, Barkley St were 1/12. However, the floodgates then opened and by twenty overs the score had raced to 2/93.
At this point Baw Baw were looking at the possibility of chasing over 200 runs for victory.
However, after the drinks break Russell Vincent overcame a wayward start to then reel off five overs and took 1/8 in that period. Rod Pallot also bowled magnificently with seven overs, two maidens, three wickets and only 14 runs – an outstanding result.
The team's batting had its usual solid start with Tony Wyatt and Peter Felstead again in the runs.
Tony fell just as he was getting going and Pete retired after 28 off 30 balls. At drinks Baw Baw were 91 runs – so about level on run rate but had lost four wickets.
The scoring slowed to a trickle over the next 10 overs, so with 10 overs to go they still needed 50 to win.
Several batsmen, namely Craig Russell, Ernie Dessent, Mick O'Neill, Spider Phillips and Peter Wyatt, contributed double figure scores in quick time to bring the final equation down to needing two runs off the final two balls to win.
Pete Felstead had returned following his enforced retirement earlier to finally get the strike and nonchalantly punched the ball through square leg for four, giving Baw Baw the win with a single ball to spare.
Soon after the game, word filtered through that the previously undefeated Hamilton team had lost their final pool game and so Baw Baw finished equal on points in top spot.
However, the final analysis showed that Baw Baw's percentage was slightly lower, so they would play Geelong to determine third place.
Unfortunately, after only six overs in the final, the heavens opened and washed out the game.
It was a frustrating way to finish the Carnival in joint third place. However, overall, it had been a very successful week for Baw Baw Veterans – to finish with two wins and a very close loss to the eventual winners of the Goulburn division was a credit to all their players, particularly in the first season of their existence.
If there are any cricketers out there who are interested in joining the club, please contact either Mick O'Neill on 0407 053 398 or Mark McLauchlan on 0409 803 902.