Round 8 saw the 2nds playing top of the table Deepdene in the second game back post the Christmas break. The home team won the toss and decided they would post a total. The usual opening combination with the ball of DDay and Frenchy started us off with a reasonably tight first 10 overs however claiming no wickets. Tristan continued the good start providing some catchable wicket chances. Finally one stuck getting the eagles off the mark with the home team 1/77 off 17. The slow Marcellin start was not yet over with the number 3 batsmen quickly picking up the pass, taking to our part time spin option. Post drinks the next wicket fell in the 28th over, claimed by Massa, and the third wicket wasn’t far behind taken by Watty. With Massa and Watty bowling tight lines the eagles were able to peg back the run rate. This was assisted by some gritty fielding both in close and on the boundary. With Deepdene looking to accelerate into the lunch break, DDay snared a prized scalp and a diamond duck run out followed in the same over. The home side finished 5/198 off the full 40, and Marcellin looking to dig deep and produce and solid run chase.

The opening combination of Skull and Fally started well knocking around singles and working themselves into the innings. Although this was short lived as an audacious attempt at running two off an over throw ended with Skull completing his 2nd run at the sheds. This was not the ideal start for the eagles (1/13 off 5) however it brought two experienced heads to the crease. Kaz and Fally continued well, both showing a range of shots against a good bowling attack. This lasted until the 15th over with Fally being caught behind on 28. At drinks the eagles were slightly behind the required run rate being 2/83. With the big colossus now at the crease the run rate increase and the ball saw the boundary, even once going over it for a maximum by quite some way. Soon after Kaz went out for 28 and brought Dali in at number 5. Looking to steady the ship the singles again were prevalent. Dali however departed after 6 overs and that’s when it started to go downhill for the eagles. Massa followed suit and was dismissed with a team top score of 30. With Tristan mounting a small resistance he was foiled on 16 in the 33rd over and the game was pretty much wrapped up. Marcellin all out for 141 mid way through the 39th. The boys badly craving some consistency in all facets of the game, they will look to bounce back next week and break their string of defeats.