MUCC’s top four XIs will all be in finals action this weekend after a sweep against Fitzroy-Doncaster. Uni Main, Princes Park, Waverley’s Central Reserve and Arden Street will all have MUCC’s black caps on parade.
Englishman Andrew Bourke did his finals preparation a power of good after a brilliant, blazing 155 in a 45-over game at Fitzroy-Doncaster, and new-boy Pat Halpin made 63 at the Crawford Oval. In our 60-over games, Huw Birrell (pictured) made a match-winning 84 at Uni Main and former coach Dan Lowery took 5/32 at Schramms Reserve.
The fifths, who have won all of their games since 5 December, kept that winning run going on Labour Day at the Craw against a Mercantile Cricket Association President’s XI. All of the fifths players who lined up on the Monday are keen to have MUCC’s 5th XI join the Mercantile competition next season, and they impressed with a five-wicket win.
Off-spinning all-rounder Sam Desai unsuccessfully staked his claim for a spot in our powerful 4th XI, with 4/13 and 21.
Professional captain Tim Newhouse, who hit the winning runs in his unbeaten 31, apologised to his players after the game for not helping more of them get into the 4th XI. “All we can do is take our inspiration from Tony Sidebottom and Andrew Hine who fought their way up from the 5s to the 4s and the 3s,” he said.