The Marcellin OCCC 3rd XI fell an agonising 12 runs short of North Alphington's first innings total of 169 to experience it's second loss in a row at home in a cordially played game, where sundries and wickets were the difference in the final scores.

The Marcellin OCCC 3rd XI bowled first, with Peter Mirabella and Ron Murray sharing new ball. Both bowled with pressure and formed a good partnership, Mirabella claiming an early wicket and only conceding runs from french cuts, and Murray bowling with accuracy and swing. First-change bowlers Shane Moloney and Elliott Tremain both troubled the batsmen with their left-arm medium pace and were able to maintain the pressure on North Alphington, and Moloney was rewarded for effort with a wicket. When Captain Paul Chappell brought himself and Tim James on to bowl, North Alphington's wickets started to tumble quickly. Chappell claimed three wickets with the use of his wiley spin, off eight economic overs, and James bowled with some variety to collect two wickets of his own. Cameron Buchanan was the only other bowler to be used by Captain Chappell, and while he did not get any wickets, he did impress with some exciting pace. After looking like the Marcellin OCCC 3rd XI would run through the North Alphington tail end quickly, the batsmen were able to make some important late innings runs, and the bowlers conceded some costly sundries. North Alphington finished with 8/169.

Rich Buchanan and Nick James formed a new opening batting pair, but were not together long in the chase for 170 with Buchanan being bowled for two. Mirabella joined James at the crease, and proceeded to play a defensive role while James played an important innings of 16, featuring some excellent driving. The batting hero of the previous week, Chappell joined Mirabella, and despite looking to steady the innings was out soon after for zero. With the score 3/24, things were not looking positive for the Marcellin OCCC 3rd XI. At this point Mirabella went on the attack, while new batting partner Cameron Buchanan played the supporting, and steadying role with some solid defence. Mirabella proceeded to score approximately 30 runs from the next handful of overs. Buchanan was caught behind from an unlikely edge down the leg side, and Mirabella followed a few runs later, after playing one too many aerial shots, for a personal score of 36 and the team score at 5/63. Despite the score looking bad, there were still 20 overs remaining for play so hope still remained for the Marcellin OCCC 3rd XI. Liam McCormick, Tremain and Daniel Dinneen all played some nice strokes, but were only able to progress the team score to 8/90. At this point of the innings the situation looked dire. With the pressure high and North Alphington looking confident in the field, Tim James and Shane Moloney both ran hard between the wickets and found the boundary rope reguarly to share a critical and exciting partnership of 46. When James was eventually bowled for 31 it was a surprise, but it capped off an impressive day of personal contributions for him, and he and Moloney had gotten the Marcellin OCCC 3rd XI 34 runs away from victory. Last man in, Murray, was also the last man out, but not before scoring six runs of his own, and helping the team score to the final total of 157. Moloney finished with a personal score of 26 not out, in a faultless and almost match winning knock.

The Marcellin OCCC 3rd XI has Saturday 4th November off for the Melbourne Cup weekend, but will be back at Marcellin College on Saturday 11th November to play against St Barnabas.

Match Report Written by Peter Mirabella