Highlands Veterans Over 60s cricketers have commenced their 2020/21 season with four home matches.
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And in quick succession, they have yielded two wins, a draw and a loss.
The opening game was against Southern Highlands Over 50s and the Over 60s had the better of a match that was abandoned due to rain.
The Over 60s were certainly in the box seat in the split innings game with the Over 50s on 6 for 78 in the 28th over chasing the Over 60s score of 1 for 95 from their twenty overs.
David Talbert bowled four overs taking 1 for 13, Paul Cullen had 2.3 overs (2 for 3) while John Lindsay, Rob Billington and Grant Lewis each grabbed one wicket as skipper Gary Whitaker gave eight of his side a bowl to get some overs completed before the impending showers.
Lachie McCulloch with 16 not out was the top scorer for the Over 50s.
Highlands innings opened strongly with both Ian Bradburn (27) and Rod van Beek (20) retiring after facing 30 balls. Grant Lewis went cheaply but Glyn Chivers (14 not out) and Frank Nevill (24 not out) were in good touch to give the 60s a lead of 43 when both teams had completed 20 0vers.
So a moral victory to the Over 60s!
The second match against Southern Highlands Social club was much more competitive with the over 60s amassing 171 for the loss of 8 wickets and the visitors replying with 180 from their 40 overs.
Gary Whitaker was his usual punishing self to top score with 42 while Fred Latham remained 36 not out, Lewis retired on 28 and Marty Dubler also retired for 19.
Tim Dibdin (2 for 13 ) and Stephens (2 for 23) were the pick of the bowlers.
In reply, hard-hitting Mick Wallace saw the Social Club off to a blistering start before being bowled by Lewis for 42. He received good support from Nuhlberg, 35 not out, and Lindsay 27 retired, in a comfortable win for the much younger Social Club.
For the Over 60s Lewis with 2 for 12 from four overs and Babbage 1 for 9 from six overs contributed well with the ball.
Central Coast were the next team to visit the lovely Chater Oval and Highlands Over 60s recorded a convincing victory over their old foes who have remained on the fixture list right from the establishment of Over 60s matches.
Batting first, Highlands were 3 for 57 at the 20 over mark and Central Coast were 3 for 50 at the same point in the contest.
However, after the lunch break it was all Highlands especially when skipper Peter Jensen came in at number 11 to smash the attack before being caught for 29.
Earlier Rod Watling (19), Ian Bradburn (17), Paul Cullen (12) and Rob Moran (23) had retired at the compulsory 30 balls faced enabling Highlands to reach 142 after 40 overs.
No-one could grab the initiative for Central Coast to make a challenge when they resumed their innings and they focused on lasting the 40 overs, finishing on 6 for 94.
Jensen's 3 for 3 from four overs to complement his hard-hitting batting earned him man of the match.
The most recent game was against Port Jackson who generally provide stiff opposition but on this occasion they were up against a very strong Highlands side who won comfortably.
Port Jackson won the toss and batted but struggled against the tight bowling or Rod Watling and Rod van Beek whose knowledge of the wicket is second to none.
Van Beek's two early wickets had the visitors in trouble at 2 for 14 from seven overs and only solid batting by Peter O'Reilly allowed Port Jackson to crawl to 3 for 42 at the twenty over mark, a score restricted by excellent fielding by the home side.
In reply Highlands fielded a top order of NSW representatives with Peter Jensen and Ian Bradburn dominating the attack, some hard hitting punctuated by their usual fine understanding between the wickets.
Bradburn retired for 31 and Jensen was bowled for 16 but Highlands took a handy lead into the lunchbreak with the score on 59.
After the break the Port Jackson innings fell away.
The wicket of former Sydney first grader, Jim Robson, was crucial but van Beek trapped him in front for just six and there was scant resistance thereafter so that the Sydneysiders finished on 9 for 100 from their forty overs.
All seven of the accredited Highlands attack bowled well with van Beek producing the best figures of 3 for 23 from his six overs.
Paul Cullen was economical with 1 for 10 from his six overs and skipper Jensen again produced a good spell to take 2 for 18 from his six overs.
This left Highlands to score another 42 to win the match and this they did in style, the feature innings being provided by Mark Preddey with an unbeaten 37 including six boundaries that, along with his 1 for 13 from 7 overs, fully justified his man of the match status.
By reaching 103 for the loss of just three wickets and with 11 overs to spare the Highlands win is certainly their best ever against the Sydney team.
The over 60s do have a very extensive fixture list this season despite the fears that the pandemic might curtail matches and the highlight will again be the Vintage League in which Highlands were runners up last season and - if it goes ahead - the State carnival.
Prior to the season starting, the Annual General Meeting was well attended with the same executive being elected: David Wells as president, Peter Jensen as secretary and Norm Stanton as treasurer. The meeting also approved the Southern Highlands Cricket Club becoming an incorporated body.
Once again, the two Rods, van Beek and Watling, will be the curators and the club is also very grateful to Ann and Neil McConnachie for again allowing the over 60s the use of the lovely Chater Oval as their home ground.
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