Scotch College

A season with great highlights

The Scotch 1st XI finished fifth this year, in an enjoyable season full of individual and team highlights.

Words: Jamie Macmillan – Captain of Cricket Photography: Tru-view Photography

The Scotch 1st XI had a good year, finishing with five wins, three losses and two washouts. All the defeats were by teams that finished above us on the table, so our position was a fair reflection on the year. We began the season with a narrow loss to Melbourne Grammar before having a convincing win against Wesley. Tom Sinclair was the standout player before Christmas, making 37 against Melbourne Grammar and following it up with five wickets against Wesley. Going into the Christmas break we were sitting second on the ladder with one win, one draw and a washout.

Over the break the team played tour matches, against St Joseph’s from Sydney, Eton from England and the annual match against Sydney Scots. The St Joseph’s match was a close encounter, but we were unable to come away with a win. The match against Eton, which was played for the inaugural Tom Batty Shield, was played in a great spirit. A modified format led to a fantastic two days of cricket, with over 900 runs scored. Scotch secured victory with an over to go and two wickets to spare. In the game against Sydney Scots we comfortably won back the shield, with debutant Tom Whittle making a match-winning 82 not out.

Going into the two-day matches and sitting second on the ladder, we were confident of putting in a big second half of the year and challenging for the premiership. The year started well with a convincing win against Carey (which was played as a one-day game due to the extreme heat), where again Tom Sinclair shone with the ball. The following week the real test came as we played Xavier in what became another one-day game. Unfortunately after having Xavier in early trouble we were unable to capitalise, and they scored a competitive total which we could not reach.

After a demoralising loss, our confidence was lifted when we beat Geelong College quite convincingly, with Seb Mather (100 not out) and Jamie Macmillan (126 not out) both hitting centuries and sharing a 239-run stand for the third wicket.

After nearly beating Geelong outright, we took a lot of confidence into the Caulfield game, and that was obvious, bowling them out for 43 just prior to tea on the Friday afternoon with Michael Collins taking 5 for 5. Some well-constructed innings from the top order, led by Al McMahon (59) and Conor O’Beirne (51), enabled us to declare about 140 runs ahead. Sam Muttdon led the charge as we completed a sensational outright victory, bowling Caulfield out for 120, with 12 overs remaining.

The following week against Haileybury, we were well placed at 3 for 196 at stumps before the match was disappointingly washed out on the Saturday. The St Kevin’s match was the game of the year, as it produced the first reverse outright for a Scotch team in many years. After bowling St Kevin’s out for 137, we collapsed to be all out for 78, but then proceeded to bowl St Kevin’s out for 46 in its second innings, leaving 105 runs to be scored for a most unlikely victory. After a solid start, we lost 4 for 20 to be 4 for 63, but we recovered to record a fantastic five-wicket victory. Nick Jamieson had a tremendous match claiming a combined 8 for 13 for the game and making a valuable 35 in the second innings.

Heading into the final game against Geelong Grammar at Geelong, we were keen to win back the Tait Cup. However, after we made a disappointing 138, Geelong Grammar proved too strong, scoring 222, with Nick Jamieson again providing the highlight, taking 6 for 32.

To finish fifth was a reasonably good effort from everyone who played 1st XI this year, and it was a very enjoyable season. GS