With 3 of our regulars away on international duties - Ben in Majorca, Ol in Barcelona and Mambo Tickler in Benidorm [?] captain James Coupland had to resort to using the player loan system which resulted in 2 players offering their services - young Matt Besford from Ovington and Mals mate []not quite as young been keen Stuart Larner who plays for several teams in the area. Along with Ben Smith who Bod had coerced into playing it made for a lively afternoon.
Melbourne won the toss and put Burn in to bat on a drying wicket, openers Elliott and Bourke knocked 45 off the first 13 overs before Bourke [17] was caught by Beevers [wk] off the bowling of Underwood. Loanee player Matt Besford bowled 2 wicket maidens in his first two overs to dismiss Bingle [5] and Elliott [24] both to catches by Beevers to put Burn on 55-3. Adamson had made 10 when he was caught by Smith off the bowling of Besford and Watson fell victim to Beevers quick actions when he was stumped off the bowling of Harrison in the 32nd over. Elliott was joined by Tom Cobley and the two made light work of any loose ball from the tiring Melbourne bowlers and between the two added a further 65 runs to the board before Cobley [30] became Beevers fourth caught behind and Besfords 4th wicket taken. A superb catch at full stretch by Beevers saw Bramley dismissed for 0 and returned Besford bowling figures of 10-4-26-5. Clarke finished the innings on 62* Burn finishing on 168-7.
Melbourne bowling: M Besford 10-4-26-5, B Underwood 10-2-32-1, M Harrison 6-0-22-1
In reply Melbourne struggled against Robson and Leetham as both picked up early wickets,James Coupland bowled, Ian Kirby caught and bowled, Besford and Scott Coupland both caught to put Melbourne on a concerning 29-4. A 40 run partnership between Matt Beevers and Brian Underwood took Melbourne to 69 in the 26th over before Underwood was bowled by Bingle after making 15. Over the next 14 overs Beevers made the most of any loose as he was joined by a succesion of batsmen with Eastoe bowled, Smith stumped, Harrison caught and J Kirby bowled. Melbourne finished the 40 overs on 118-9, Beevers having made a superb 69*
Burn bowling M Leetham 12-4-21-3, T Cobley 5-0-21-2, J Bingle 8-0-30-2, G Robson 7-1-13-1, M Smith 8-0-33-1
Many thanks to the match ball sponsor - Jelf Insurance. Next week sees Melbourne in cup action at Ovington