Prahran “rains” over St.Kilda.

This weekend’s Cricket Victoria 1^st X1 Quarter Final at Toorak Park between Prahran and St. Kilda was turned into a thriller thanks to the constant interruptions due to rain.

On Saturday, where very few other games got a start, only the magnificent condition of Toorak Park allowed any play to be possible. Having won the toss, St. Kilda Captain, Glen Lalor had no hesitation in asking Prahran to bat, even though curator Mark Doyle and team had delivered another fantastic wicket for the game. The game got underway mid second session with Wild and Murphy getting away to a solid start before the rain came again after half a dozen overs. After another lengthy break that saw all other games abandoned, it was only the efforts of Assistant Curator Matthew Harrison, the Prahran family and St. Kilda players that allowed any chance of play resuming, which it eventually did. However, as often is the case after sitting around dressing rooms for long periods, Praharan lost several wickets in the 15 overs or so that were available. At stumps Prahran were 3/52 with night watchman Shane Jones at the crease with Steven De Bolfo. The highlight of the short day for Praharan was the innings of Liam Murphy who looked completely in control throughout and was set for a very big one before getting out in fading light.

Day two saw play start on time with the ground in excellent condition despite more overnight rain.

Wickets fell at regulalr intervals with De Bolfo 35 and skipper Neil Schlittler 50, being the stand out performers with Prahran eventually being bowled out for a modest 152.

St. Kilda started their run chase positively and had moved comfortably to tea, needing only roughly 120 afterwards with plenty of wickets and overs in hand.

This is where the rain played another part in the context of the game, setting up a thrilling final session shortened to only 20 overs, with the run chase for St. Kilda becoming a whole lot less comfortable. This allowed Praharan to apply the pressure and the result saw wickets regularly fall as Cameron Huckett and Paul Sealey ripped through the heart of their batting.

Sealy finishing with 6/55 and Huckett 3/62 delivering just what the club needed.

This is a magnificent victory for the club against very finals hardened opposition and must give the team great confidence going into this season’s semi finals against last year’s premiers Ringwood. On the back of a perfomance earlier in the season where we knocked up in excess of 400 against the Rams attack only to have the second week washed out, we go into the game with some real belief that if we play to our ability with bat and ball, then a Grand Final is not beyond the realms of possibility.

However, the players need all the support of every player, member and supporter of the club this coming weekend by travelling to Ringwood and showing your vocal support as the guys try to keep this irresistible momentum rolling.

The following is an excerpt of what appeared on the Cricket Victoria Premier Website together with a photo that Cricket Victoria official photographer, Gary Sparke took at the game, showing Paul Sealey and Cameron Huckett at the height of their terrifying spell.

To see more of Gary Sparke’s great photo’s and the full Quarter Final wrap up, follow the link below.

http://premier.cricketvictoria.com.au/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=26135;group_name=mainsite

In a thriller at Toorak Park, Prahran (152) held off St Kilda (136) in a tension-charged match. Resuming at 3/52, the home side lost wickets regularly to be bowled out for 152. Steve De Bolfo (35) and skipper Neil Schlittler (50) top-scored today. This left the Saints a relatively comfortable run-chase, but some more rain-interruptions tightened up the equation. At the last resumption, at 2/61 the Saints needed 92 off 19 overs. Pacemen Paul Sealey (6/55) and Cameron Huckett (3/62) were the stars for Prahran.

1STS PRAHRAN v ST KILDA
At Toorak Park, Prahran
G Lalor (St K) won the toss and sent Prahran in
   Prahran 1st Innings (res at 3-52)
   L MURPHY lbw Lalor                   38
   J WILD c Rowan b Babula               5
   G CHESSARI lbw b Downton              0
   S DE BOLFO c Rowan b Lalor           35
   S JONES lbw Mueller                   0
   N SCHLITTLER b Beer                  50
   A BULL lbw Lalor                      8
   S COATES c Lalor b Downton            1
   S SEYMOUR c Warren b Mueller          0
   C HUCKETT b Beer                      6
   P SEALEY not out                      1
     Sundries                            8
     Total                             152
   Fall: 34, 39, 51, 57, 110, 120, 123, 127, 151, 152.
   Bowling: D Mueller 14-4-41-2, A Warren
   9-4-33-0, A Downton 13-4-30-2, D Babula
   5-2-16-1, G Lalor 10-4-19-3, M Beer 6-3-6-2.
     Batting time: 226 mins. Overs: 57.
   St Kilda 1st Innings
   D DEANE c Chessari b Huckett          5
   D ROWAN c Jones b Seymour            39
   R HEYWOOD c Coates b Sealey          13
   G LALOR c Coates b Sealey             6
   P HANDSCOMB c Coates b Sealey         0
   A WARREN c sub (Rosendale) b Huckett 10
   D FORBES lbw Sealey                   8
   A DOWNTON c Jones b Sealey           13
   M BEER lbw Huckett                   28
   D BABULA not out                      3
   D MUELLER b Sealey                    4
     Sundries                            7
     Total                             136
   Fall: 24, 55, 66, 66, 71, 87, 89, 118, 129, 136.
   Bowling: C Huckett 15-2-62-3, P Sealey
   16-3-55-6, S Seymour 3-0-12-1,
   S Jones 2-1-1-0.
   Batting time: 155 mins. Overs: 36.
   Prahran won on 1st innings.