Essendon comfortably win

Essendon have comfortably accounted for Iona in over 60s cricket.

Batting first, Essendon made 5/237 off their allotted 40 overs.

At one stage Essendon looked like compiling a score of 260-270 plus on the dry and flat Iona ground.

Nine bowlers were used to stem the flow of runs.

Wicket takers were Fred Franks (1/26), Stan Hellings (1/19), Jon Martindale (1/28) and Bill Best (1/6).

Jeff Phillips and Peter Felstead affected a run out.

There were 40 sundries with no balls being a factor.

After lunch, Iona’s batsmen attempted to wipe off the deficit but a tight line of bowling by the Essendon bowlers ensured low retirement (30 runs or 30 balls faced), restricting Iona to 8/145.

Contributions were made by Mark McLaughlin 17, Jim Rowley 12, Jeff Phillips 15, Stan Hellings 13.

Iona’s man of the match was ‘Mr Consistent’ Peter Felstead, who hit an unbeaten 37.

Essendon’s captain Les Quarrell presented Felstead with his award.

In his after match speech, Quarrell thanked Bev Hellings for her work in getting a wellaccepted lunch ready.

He also thanked the Iona players who sub fielded for Essendon after he and others went down with injury, along with two Iona players for turning up at short notice to fill in for the visiting side.