The Marcellin OCCC 2nd XI suffered their first loss of the season to Ashburton in a nail biting finish on the Lyons Oval.

After losing the toss, the Marcellin OCCC 2nd XI were asked to have a bowl on a good batting pitch. Despite all bowlers doing a solid job, no breakthroughs were made until well after the 20 over drinks break with Nick Watty running out the Ashburton opener with the score on 76. Michael Mirabella removed the other opener thanks to a catch on the boundary from Adam Massarotti, Julian Black picked up a couple of late wickets, and Ashburton finished on 4/149 from its 40 overs. Once again poor fielding and catching did the Marcellin OCCC 2nd XI no favours.

Opening the batting for the Marcellin OCCC 2nd XI, Andrew Keogh was dismissed early for the first time this season, but fellow opener Massarotti was hitting the ball beautifully before being brilliantly caught at mid off for a well-made 28. Daniel Coloe looked in great form until he was run out by a good piece of fielding for 35, and Black was looking good until a thick edge to the keeper had him returning to the sheds for 17. At 7/113 and needing a run a ball things weren’t looking good, but Tim Rush and Mirabella fought well to get the Marcellin OCCC 2nd XI back in the game. In the end a boundary was needed off the last ball for the Marcellin OCCC 2nd XI to win, but Rush was caught about three or four metres in from the fence.

With some areas for improvement, the Marcellin OCCC 2nd XI will look to improve and rebound at home against Boronia on Saturday 4th November. Boronia had a good win against Heathmont this round, and should prove to be a tough test.

Match Report Written by Daniel Day