A SUPERB debut performance of 98 from English recruit Richie Goodenough thrilled Upper Beaconsfield’s Bgrade team in its game against Cranbourne Meadows on Saturday.
The club feels it has found a player who could make a real difference to the team this season.
Batting first against last year’s grand finalist, the Maroons began well with a sound opening partnership from David Taylor (26) and Daniel Brennan (23), but a middleorder slump left them vulnerable as they slipped to 4/60.
However, two excellent partnership between David Mitchell (47) and Goodenough followed he and skipper Scott Pitcher (46 not out) enabling the team to accumulate 6/270 by stumps.
A Suffolk batsman/wicketkeeper, Goodenough demonstrated his class as he quickly adjusted to the quite different bounce of synthetic wickets in Australia, despite a close appeal for lbw before he had scored.
He stroked the ball to a variety of places at the Lawson Poole Recreation Reserve, before clubbing a ball straight to a Rebel fielder.
With the addition of quick James Haupt to the attack, the Maroons the armour to defend the imposing total.
C GRADE
The picturesque Maryknoll village oval was the setting for the clash between Upper Beaconsfield and Pakenham.
Skipper Daryl Williams invited Upper Beaconsfield to bat first and proceeded to weave a magic web around the Maroons bats with his gentlepaced in dippers.
The Maroons slumped from a fair start being 1/26 to be a precarious 6/33.
However a 55run partnership from Matt Scanlon (36) and Steve Finnerty (31) rescued the innings as Upper Beaconsfield was dismissed for 109.
Rob Irving struggled manfully to reach double figures (11) having set a good example and batting past drinks as one of the openers, but four wickets fell in two clumps and Upper Beaconsfield was on a hattrick twice.
However, Pakenham also showed batting difficulties, slumping to 2/2.
At the end of play the Lions had recovered to reach 2/19 needing a further 90 for victory.
Luke Pitcher and Steve Finnerty each picked up a wicket.
F GRADE
Richard Edwards led a ‘patched together’ team that did battle against Officer.
Batting first, the Maroons reached 117 from their over allocation.
Edwards managed a tidy 24, while Chris Smith also played a good knock to reach 26.
The unfortunate aspect for Upper Beaconsfield was that two former stalwarts were playing for Officer and they inflicted damage particularly Craig Hudson, who not only hit a quick 20, but he also claimed the wicket of Chris Smith when the Maroons were batting.
Tim Anderson also enjoyed the clash with his former teammates later admitting that it was highly enjoyable and played in a great spirit.
Apart for batting well, Smith also took 2/8 from his eight overs though he was unable to prevent Officer from winning by 24 runs.
CLUB NOTES
Following Saturday’s senior matches the club held a buddy night attended by 90 people in the clubrooms.
There were 52 junior players allocated as buddies to the senior players to compete for the Bayard Shield awarded on the basis of points accumulated for performances throughout the season.
The club’s next event will be the trivia night and auction to be held on November 11 in the Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre.
All teams have been asked to make up a table for the evening.
