North 94 (Hack 28, Howard 26*, Perry 3/17) defeated by West 152 (Everuss 25, Howard 2/32) by 58 runs.
It was not the ideal way to close out the regular 2023/24 season for North Bulldogs, with the Minor Premiers suffering a loss at the hands of West Robins.
Captain Hack lost the toss and West elected to bat. Wickets were hard enough to come by early in the piece and runs seemed to flow for the West batters.
Austin Wilson took first blood to remove Lachlan Kaye for 11 and then quickly struck again in the field to run out opposition captain Mackenzie Attard for 10, leaving West 2/45. Another run out at the bowlers end a few overs later from wicketkeeper Tobias Hack saw Jordan Vella remove the bails and Adam Perry dismissed for 18 and West at 3/45.
A strong partnership between Max Everuss and Peter Christos saw West peel off runs after the first drinks break. But then Lachlan Bell removed Everuss thanks to some clever variations with the ball and some sharp work from Ben Jurd at mid-wicket.
It would appear lightning does strike twice in the field, as Austin Wilson, clearly not satisfied with one run out to his name, struck the stumps directly from point to see Peter Christos caught short of his ground and West go 5/97 midway through their innings.
A couple of balls later, Jurd removed the dangerous Paddric Attard LBW without troubling the scorers. This saw West at 6/97, and placed in a somewhat precarious position that could go either way.
Their saving grace in the later overs came in the form of Callum Rosewarn, Daniel McInerney, and Tom Burke who each played crucial innings to see a late flurry of runs added. The three added 50 runs between them, with a number of impressive shots being played by each. Vella removed Rosewarn, caught on the boundary by Howard for 16.
Jaxon Cain finished proceedings by bowling Liam Squire for a duck to see West all out for 152.
This total, though imposing, certainly appeared manageable for North’s batters.
The typical sight of Hack and Bomford graced the field in an attempt to get proceedings underway. And the typical sight of Bomford returning back to the sheds within the first over was on display once again, as he was bowled without troubling the scorers, North 1/1 early on.
This appeared to set into motion a string of regular wickets which never saw North really take hold of the chase. The only standouts being Tobias Hack (scoring a well-made 28 from 72 deliveries) and coach Codie Howard finishing 26 not out, with clearly too much left to do for the veteran batter.
Jurd was dismissed for nine, trapped LBW. Wilson departed the next ball, caught behind. Luke Hall was unlucky to be rapped on the pads for a ball that kept very low, out LBW for two. Vella was dismissed in similar fashion, out LBW for seven. Lachlan Bell soon followed, caught and bowled off Perry for one.
Retiring club legend Ben Victory unfortunately only got a single run in his final A Grade clash, caught off the bowling of Lachlan Kaye.
Jaxon Cain had a late flurry of runs but was caught for a well-made nine runs.
A special mention to debutant Jacob Muscat, who similar to his mate Rhys Pitt last week, played his first of many A Grade games for the Blue and White. In a stark contrast between young and old, he strode out to bat at 11 with coach Codie Howard at the other end, but he was dismissed without scoring to see North all out for 94.
A 58-run loss was not the ideal end to the regular season, but perhaps it was the loss the Dogs had to have as they turn their attention to the Grand Final in two week’s time. Be sure to watch this space, as we gear up for another edition of BDCL Grand Final action in a fortnight.
