Marist 2nd XI began their season with an eight-wicket loss to Weston Creek on Sunday. The boys didn't execute as they would have liked across all three disciplines. The batting began well enough but quickly fell into disrepair, most of the top order falling to 'misadventure' rather than bad luck or great bowling. Adi Sundar and Noah Brown will be most keen to get back into the middle. Both looked superb and it was a pity their innings ended prematurely. At 7/58, Marist needed to dig deep to put any sort of target together. Vishnu (28) fortunately answered the call and anchored the remainder of the innings, partnering Rees (22) and Hyson (28) to raise the total to 143. Below par but an excellent recovery nonetheless.

The small opportunity provided by the lower order batting was quickly extinguished by a bowling and fielding effort that lacked the consistency required. Two-to-three boundary offerings each over will always be accepted by good opposition - Creek certainly were that. We also leaked runs via our ground fielding - too many misfields - and dropped catches ... well ... let's move on. Vishnu again showed the way with the ball, taking 2/13 from three tidy overs. Round One has provided some sharp lessons that the boys will take away and work on; mindset and execution. The result did not have to be this one-sided. The boys know it. Bring on Round Two.

Batting: Jared Wilson 42; Jackson Fosberry 26.

Bowling: Harmehar Cheemar 3/23; Ben Callaway 3/32.

Summary: Every now and again, we are reminded that traditional mindset and skills are still central to success in our game. Sometimes you just have to hang in there. Marist 2nd XI built a solid batting foundation this week choosing caution over extravagance; Pat, Hamish and Jared determinedly saw off the new ball, which allowed later batsmen, Jared included, to flourish. His partnership with Jackson was the most significant of the innings. Excellent late cameos from Cheema, Ben and Will H ensured the boys completed their forty overs with a competitive total in hand. By contrast, our opposition took an attacking approach in their early overs, aided by inconsistent line and length from the Marist bowlers. Resilience was required by all players and when the opportunities finally presented the boys were good enough to accept them - some excellent catching brought Marist back into the contest. Then, with three wickets down and half the runs made, inspired leg spin bowling from Ben - including two classic leggie wickets (please watch the wrong 'un on Frogbox if you get a chance) - and a superb second spell from Will R (1/19 off 8 overs) turned the tide. The final six wickets fell quickly, Cheema delivering the final nail in the coffin to the delight of all Blue and Blue present.

Batting: Riley Roberts 58, Ethan Golder 29

Bowling: Luca Ciocca-Marchant, 4-21

Notable Player: Luca Ciocca-Marchant First X1debut hatrick

 The First XI commenced their season over the weekend, fielding a newly-formed side that combines emerging youth talent with a core of experienced players. There was a strong sense of anticipation surrounding the team’s debut, and they began the match with energy and discipline.

Losing the toss and bowling, the team delivered an impressive performance in the field. The fielding was sharp and disciplined throughout, setting the tone early. The highlight of the innings was the remarkable debut of Luca, who claimed a hat-trick and finished with outstanding figures of 4 for 21. His effort was instrumental in restricting the opposition to a manageable total and was a standout moment in the match.

In reply, the batting innings began confidently. Experienced top-order batter Riley anchored the early stages with a well-constructed 58, providing stability and momentum. However, a middle-order collapse derailed the chase, and the side was ultimately unable to secure the win.

While the result was disappointing, the overall performance showed promising signs. The team’s potential was clear, and with continued development and experience, there is every reason to be optimistic about the season ahead.

The players will take valuable lessons from this encounter as they prepare for the next fixture with renewed focus and determination.