Iona’s hopes dashed

Iona played Warrandyte at the main Warrandyte ground in over 60s cricket, with late rain putting an end to Iona’s dash toward victory.

There was another change in captaincy as Ron Milnes was injured (possibly as he tripped over his ego from last week’s win) and had to withdraw from this week’s team.

Warrandyte local Bob Rogers filled in for Milnes and John Moore was given the captaincy.

Moore won the toss and asked Warrandyte to bat, as they wanted to field first.

John Ryan and Noel Sharpe opened the batting for Warrandyte. At 10 overs Warrandyte were 0/51 and at 20 overs 1/143.

David Wells claimed the first wicket when Carl Muscat stumped John Ryan for 39.

Noel Sharpe retired 42, Steve Pascoe retired 41 and John Chapman retired 17.

Geoff Ofield was bowled by Graham Davey for 10, with Neil Banfield also bowled for six.

When Carl Muscat caught Ian Sharp for a duck off Bob Rogers bowling, Warrandyte were 4/182 in the 30th over.

Ray Baird was bowled by Muscat for 38.

Barry Johnson not out 16 and Ray Garlap not out eight helped Warrandyte finished after their 40 overs 5/228 (three retirements and two players never batted). All 11 Iona bowlers tried hard. The wicket takers were Graham Davey 2/31, Bob Rogers 6-1/29, Carl Muscat 1/9 and David Wells 1/33

Other bowlers were Bob Phillips 0/31, Fred Franks 0/26, David Ryan 0/25, Terry Lindsey 0/8, John Moore 0/15, Les Boyd 0/7, Bill Best 0/10.

After a nice afternoon tea it was Iona’s turn to bat.

The captain decided that the Iona players would retire after 10 overs so everyone could get a bat.

Bob Rogers and Barry Cain opened. Cain was caught for three off 14 balls and Iona were 1/10 in the fourth over.

Carl Muscat made nine off 10 balls before being stumped and Iona were 2/35 in the eighth over.

In the 10th over Bob Rogers retired 27 off 27 balls.

Terry Lindsey was caught for one off seven balls and Iona were 3/47 in the 12th over.

The next wicket of Les Boyd upset the trend of losing a wicket every four overs, when Les Boyd was run out in the 18th over for eight off 27 balls.

In the 22nd over with the score on 4/83 Bob Phillips retired 15 off 28 balls.

Bill Best went one better than last week before he was bowled for one and Iona were 5/85 in the 24th over.

In the 29th over David Wells was caught for 17 off 16 balls and Graham Davey retired 28 off 34 balls.

Fred Franks was stumped for one off seven balls and Billy Ryan was caught for four off 11 balls. Iona were 7/133 in the 30th over.

Needing a very gettable 96 off 10 overs Bob Rogers returned to join John Moore.

But as bad luck would have it, the rain got heavier and saved Warrandyte from a potential defeat.

When the game was called off in the 32.4th over Iona were 7/151 with Bob Rogers not out 32 off 29 balls and John Moore not out 16 off seven balls.

It was another great game of over 60’s cricket.