Port Melbourne Premiership: 3rds

Posted by Bill McIvor on 16-Mar 2008, 6:00 PM

South C2 Premiers After finishing 1st and 2nd on the ladder at the completion of the regular season, it was no surprise that the South C2 Grand Final was a match up between Port Melbourne Cricket Club and Murrumbeena Cricket Club. In a match dominated by the late summer heat (including a heat-rule delay on the 4th day) it was Port Melbourne that prevailed to claim its 8th 3rd Grade Premiership, and first in 11 seasons.

Port Melbourne won the toss and chose to bat first on a typical Murphy's wicket; flat and hard. The innings was notable for the even contributions with the bat (with 9 of 11 batsman reaching double figures). Although wickets fell at regular intervals, it was the performances in the middle order that tipped the match in favour of the Borough. Strong performances from Mick D'Augello (32), Nick Dymond (34), and Nutter (48) led the side to a solid first innings total of 240.

In reply, Murrumbeena struggled early - losing their first wicket for just 8 when Borough captain Liam O'Brien took a blinder of a catch at short leg. The innings of 223 was dominated by 2 excellent partnerships; 57 runs between Mehta and Symons for the 3rd wicket, and 52 runs for the 10th wicket (led by young gun Cam Walker). The dramatic last wicket partnership threatened to hand Murrumbeena the advantage, only for a terrific final spell from Afridi (3-37) to give Borough the valuable first innings points.

With a 17 run advantage on first innings, and time ticking on the 3rd day, the Borough were aware that a strong performance with the bat would be enough to secure the win. Answering the call was George Tsakanias (65), Mo Mistero (34) and Mick D'Augello (40) who batted the side to an almost unassailable 3-152. With the heat rule enforced with the score on 8/230 late on the Sunday afternoon, the decision was made by Murrumbeena to concede the result and signal the victory for Port.

Man of the Match was George Tsakanias, awarded for his strong efforts behind the stumps in the stifling heat, and his match winning runs in the 2nd innings. Special mentions must also go to Mick D'Augello (strong batting in both innings) and Afridi (wickets at crucial times and a crucial runout in the Murrumbeena first innings).

For images of the Grand Final, including the celebrations, please visit the gallery.

Port Melbourne C.C. v Murrumbeena C.C.

Grand Final, VTCA South C 2nd Grade
Woodruff Oval, Port Melbourne 8th - 9th & 15th - 16th March 2008
Toss: Port Melbourne Batted First: Port Melbourne
Result: Port Melbourne won by 17 runs on first innings.
Man of the Match: G Tsakanias (Port Melbourne)
Port Melbourne C.C.
1st Innings
Batsman Name Dismissal R 4 6
+G Tsakanias b C Walker 10 1
M Mistero b P Gyi 12 1
J McNiece b P Gyi 12 2
M D’Augello c T Newton b C Walker 32 5
N Dymond b IL Walker 34 5
B McIvor c A Favaloro b P Gyi 22 3
N Chrimes c T Newton b N Edwards 48 8
*L O'Brien c & b R Symons 21 2
C Pye not out 5
M Thyssen c D McDermott b V Mehta 0
S Thaseem c V Mehta b R Symons 14 2
Extras (2nb,11w,13b,4lb) 30
Total 73.4 overs 240
FOW: 12(G Tsakanias) 39(M Mistero) 46(J McNiece) 79(M D'Augello) 118(N Dymond) 151(B McIvor) 212(N Chrimes) 222(L O'Brien) 225(M Thyssen) 240(S Thaseem)

Bowler Name O M W R nb wd
C Walker 16 3 2 50
V Mehta 15 4 1 50
K Jani 17 8 0 28
P Gyi 10 2 3 42
IL Walker 5 0 1 21
N Edwards 6 2 1 20
R Symons 4.4 1 2 12
Murrumbeena C.C.
1st Innings
Batsman Name Dismissal R 4 6
*B Fenton c L O'Brien b B McIvor 0
V Mehta b M Thyssen 46
P Gyi run out 8
T Newton c B McIvor b N Dymond 2
R Symons lbw b B McIvor 56
N Edwards run out 4
D McDermott b B McIvor 14
+A Favaloro c ? b S Thaseem 17
K Jani lbw b S Thaseem 2
C Walker not out 33
IL Walker b S Thaseem 18
Extras (4nb,4w,5b,10lb) 23
Total 94.2 overs 223
FOW: 8(B Fenton) 37(P Gyi) 42(T Newton) 99(V Mehta) 120(N Edwards) 140(D McDermott) 147(R Symons) 155(K Jani) 171(A Favaloro) 223(IL Walker)

Bowler Name O M W R nb wd
B McIvor 27 9 3 62
M Thyssen 22 5 1 58 2
N Dymond 19 8 1 17
M D'Augello 3 0 0 17 1
S Thaseem 17.2 4 3 37 1
C Pye 7 2 0 18 3 1

Port Melbourne C.C.
2nd Innings
Batsman Name Dismissal R 4 6
+G Tsakanias c A Favaloro b C Walker 65 8
M Mistero V Mehta b N Edwards 34 6
N Dymond c B Fenton b C Walker 13
M D’Augello c & b T Newton 40 5 1
J McNiece lbw b C Walker 5
B McIvor b V Mehta 15 2
N Chrimes not out 20 3
*L O'Brien c T Newton b K Jani 9 1
C Pye c C Walker b K Jani 1
S Thaseem not out 0
M Thyssen dnb
Extras (4nb,5w,12b,8lb) 29
Total 91 overs 8/230
FOW: 52(M Mistero) 85(N Dymond) 152(M D'Augello) 188(J McNiece) 188(B McIvor) 213(L O'Brien) 220(G Tsakanias) 230(C Pye)

Bowler Name O M W R nb wd
C Walker 26 8 3 57
V Mehta 23 7 1 42
K Jani 20 10 2 37
P Gyi 9 4 0 23
IL Walker 5 1 0 15
N Edwards 3 0 1 13
T Newton 3 0 1 23
R Symons 2 0 0 0