Prahran suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the third-placed Melbourne last Saturday in Cricket Victoria’s Round 8 of Premier Cricket.  After dismissing the Demons for 310 on Day 1 and resuming at 1/ 4, the Blues were never able to build any momentum as wickets fell regularly.  Pre-game, there was concern as one end of the pitch appeared to have been vandalised, which caused some concerns for the Prahran batsman.

At 3/19, it was again left to Captain Matthew Harrison (19) and Neil Schlittler (15) to try and build a partnership and restore some order to the match.  And they did, before Harrison fell with the score at 51.  The seventh-wicket partnership between James Wild (26) and Cameron Huckett moved the team’s score into triple figures before more wickets fell.  In the end the Prahran innings closed at 121, some 189 runs shy of the target.  With only three of the Prahran batsmen reaching double figures, the teams total would have looked even more disappointing if it wasn’t for the 28 extras that Melbourne added to the Blues total.

With a number of their bowlers nursing niggling injuries, Melbourne did not force the follow-on and instead batted a second time, making 164 for the loss of just two wickets.  Steve Seymour was the best of the bowlers, taking 2/44, while Test aspirant Bryce McGain, who came into the side for the second day, toiled away unsuccessfully for his 12 overs.

And there was no joy for the Club’s other three teams, all going down to the strong Melbourne sides.  It is the third time this season that all teams have lost in the same round and long serving Club President Ian Crawford was at a loss to remember when the club had lost all four matches in the one round on more than one occasion in a season.

In the 2^nd XI match, Melbourne declared at their overnight total of 9/346 and invited Prahran to chase down the big total at The Albert Ground.  Unfortunately the total proved too much for the Blues as they were all out for 208.  Grant Chessari top-scored with a well struck 57 and he received good support from Jack Jarvis (48 no) and Brad Rossborough 36.

The 3^rd XI were defending 198 made on Day 1, and after an early breakthrough by Mo Jarvis, the rest of the day had Melbourne well on top as they passed the Blues total with the loss of just 3 wickets.  Felix Nelson, with 2/43, was the best of the Blues bowlers.

The 4^th XI resumed their innings at 0/16 after Melbourne closed their innings at 7/327 on Day 1, but the big score proved far too big for the team to counter.  Young Josh Green was the main standout for the Blues, scoring 69, his highest tally for the club.

This weekend Prahran takes on fourth-placed Melbourne University in a Saturday/Sunday fixture at Central Reserve in Glen Waverley.  This is teh final match before the Christmas/New Year break.