Under 15

Round 9

Caulfield 2/173 (Alex Woff 50 retired, Sam Heselev 50 retired, Ben Wassertheil 30, Josh Herdman 16) d Oakleigh District Footballers 4/134 (Sunny Joshi 1/13, Daniel Fleming 1/14, Wassertheil 1/23)

A superb batting effort led by the brilliant Alex Woff and skipper Sam Heselev guided Caulfield to a comfortable 39-run win in its last home and away match for the season, against Oakleigh District Footballers at Caulfield Park. But the win did not provide quite enough of a percentage boost and our boys missed out on the finals by an agonising 0.05%.

Heselev won his eighth toss of the season and elected to bat. He and Ben Wassertheil gave Caulfield a flying start, with Heselev particularly severe on a wayward attack. He raced to 50 off only 32 balls, including nine 4s spanked mainly through the legside.

Josh Herdman joined Wassertheil and the pair continued the assault until the 13th over when Herdman was first out, caught on the square leg fence, with the score on 97.

Star opener Alex Woff, batting at No.4 because of a hand injury, reached 400 runs for the season early in his innings. He and Wassertheil were untroubled to take the score to 133 in the 17th over before 'Wasser' was bowled for 30, made in 44 balls, including four sweetly struck boundaries. Woff marched relentlessly to another 50, his eighth in a row, off 32 balls.
His innings, which included three 6s and four 4s, was laced with savage, lofted pulls, and featured smart placement and running between the wickets.

Woff made a staggering 441 runs for the season from eight innings, with a top score of 77 not out and a lowest score of 50 not out. He was not dismissed all season.

Max Pockley (8) and Daniel Fleming (1) were the not out batsmen at the end of the 24-over innings.

Caulfield needed a similar effort in the field to increase its percentage, and set itself a target of bowling out the visitors.

Tight opening spells by Herdman and Sunny Joshi had Oakleigh District Footballers struggling early, especially after Joshi took a neat return catch in the fourth over.

Medium pacer Fleming troubled the batsmen with his inswing and full length.
With the score 2/36 at the halfway point of the innings, Caulfield looked to be heading for a big win.

But gradually the aggressive footballers got on top, and the last 12 overs went for 98 runs.

Only a great catch by Luke "Muffler" Toniolo at backward point off the bowling of spinner Wassertheil and a last ball runout provided relief for the home side.

The result was never in doubt but the visitors' weight of runs and a lack of wickets took the edge off our percentage.

Two narrow one-day defeats before Christmas proved very costly, and it was disappointing that the team could not capitalise on Woff's stellar season, which is believed to be a record for the Southern League.

Round 8 - day 2 

Caulfield 184 d East Malvern 66 (Lincoln Edwards 3/3, Josh Herdman 2/5, Sam Heselev 1/0, Shaun Ivanyi 1/1, Ben Wassertheil 1/4, Daniel Fleming 1/29) and
4/33 (Ivanyi 2/6, Herdman 1/7, Peter Treloggan 1/14)

Caulfield took 14 wickets for less than 100 as it steamrolled fellow finals aspirant East Malvern on the turf at Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park. The percentage-boosting win propelled Caulfield into the four, with its average of 1.372 just shading Toorak-Prahran Colts (1.364).

The last Under 15 home and away match is a one-dayer this Sunday (17 February). Caulfield is at home to Oakleigh District Footballers and the Colts play one of the bottom teams, so the last finals berth will depend on those results.

Against East Malvern, Caulfield was defending 184. Our boys were given a great start by paceman Josh Herdman who crashed through the defences of two East Malvern batsmen in consecutive balls of the fifth over, disturbing the middle stump both times.

And when Daniel Fleming claimed an lbw, the home team had slumped to 3/14. A promising partnership of 38 was broken when Ben Wassertheil took a neat slips catch from off spinner Sam Heselev (who took 1/0 from four overs).

This precipitated a major collapse, with East Malvern losing 6/4 in six overs mainly due to Lincoln (LJ) Edwards, who bowled tidy medium pace and moved the ball well. He took 3/3 off five overs, with Wassertheil taking a screamer of a catch at slip, Heselev clinging on to a high, swirling chance in front of point, and keeper Alex Woff effecting an intelligent stumping.

Heselev and Edwards also combined for a brilliant run out, and Woff completed his second stumping, off the bowling of leg spinner Wassertheil.

The last pair hung around for eight overs, ending any chance Caulfield had of taking outright points, before Wassertheil finished off the innings when he took another sharp catch at slip off Shaun Ivanyi's bowling.

The ground fielding and catching was outstanding, maintaining the pressure throughout the innings. Wassertheil was a revelation at slip, moving quickly and with sure hands to accept three chances.

The one major disappointment was that sundries top scored with 27 (more than 40% of East Malvern's score), including 12 no balls and 11 wides.

Skipper Heselev enforced the follow on, and with only 10 overs left, set the team a target of claiming three wickets. It took four, thanks to excellent catching by snaffle merchants Wassertheil (slip) and Heselev (mid-wicket).

Herdman struck again at the top of the innings to make it 3/12 for the day.
Peter Treloggan, in his new role as an off spinner, chimed in with a good wicket, and Ivanyi enjoyed the conditions to earn two more scalps, making it
3/7 for the day.

Round 8 - day 1

Caulfield 184 (Alex Woff 51 not out, Sam Heselev 36, LJ Edwards 27, Josh Herdman 13, Daniel Fleming 10) v East Malvern

Opening batsman Alex Woff scored his seventh consecutive half-century to guide Caulfield to a strong position in its final two-day match of the season, against fellow finals aspirant East Malvern on the turf at Treyvaud Memorial Park.

Woff, who has now made 391 runs this season without being dismissed, and partner LJ Edwards gave Caulfield its best start of the season.

They put on 86 in 21 overs. As always, Woff was keen to dominate the attack, but he and Edwards took few risks early as they built a solid foundation.
Woff's innings was laced with attractive drives and he used his feet well to the spinners, smashing five 4s across the spongy outfield.

He retired just before the bikkie break, when the score had reached 0/91.
Soon afterwards, the promoted Peter Treloggan was caught behind and Edwards was unlucky to be run out by a direct hit going for a second.

At 2/101 in the 27th over, the door was slightly ajar for East Malvern. Sam Heselev and Josh Herdman set about restoring Caulfield's dominance until Herdman snicked a catch behind.

The Ben Wassertheil was run out at the bowler's end, and Daniel Fleming joined Heselev.

They took charge of the attack, putting on 37 six overs, with clever running between the wickets increasing the pressure on the fielders. As often happens, they were out in quick succession, with Fleming lifting his head to be bowled and Heselev lofting a catch to mid-on at the beginning of the 41st over.

Some lusty hitting from Luke Toniolo lifted the score to 184, but it was disappointing that Woff was again left stranded when he returned to the crease, especially given that 10 balls were left in the innings.

However, it will be a very tough score for East Malvern to chase on a difficult wicket.

Round 7 

Caulfield 101 (Alex Woff 50 not out, Sam Heselev 14) lost to Toorak-Prahran Red 6/174 (Sam Heselev 1/17, Sunny Joshi 1/17, Ben Wassertheil 1/20, Josh Herdman 1/34)

Top side Toorak-Prahran Red had little trouble chasing down Caulfield's disappointing tally of 101 at Caulfield Park. The home side had been in a strong position of 1/80 on the opening day, but a calamitous batting collapse sealed its fate. The bowlers did give their team some hope, taking 4/64 in the opening 16 overs. Paceman Josh Herdman was rewarded for a tidy opening spell with a catch to skipper Sam Heselev at short cover, and Sunny Joshi won the battle with the aggressive No.3 batsmen who was well caught by Luke Toniolo, also in the covers. Then keeper Alex Woff completed a neat stumping off Heselev's bowling, and Heselev effected a run out.

But after that, the bowlers struggled to make inroads. Toorak-Prahran had the game won at the tea break, with the score 4/105. Spinner Ben Wassertheil was the only bowler to strike after tea, with Heselev holding another catch in the covers. A run out from Daniel Fleming in the last over was the only other high note in a disappointing performance. The total of 19 no balls and wides was far too many, especially when every run was so precious, and several ground fielding lapses made it a match to forget.

Caulfield now needs to win both its remaining games to have a chance of gaining a finals berth.

Day 1

Caulfield 101 (Alex Woff 50 not out, Sam Heselev 14) v Toorak-Prahran Red at Caulfield Park No.3

Caulfield surrendered a good start against the unbeaten top side Toorak-Prahran Red in a dramatic batting collapse that left it perilously placed in the race for a finals berth. After a rain delay, skipper Sam Heselev won the toss and he and star opener Alex Woff gave Caulfield a sound foundation. They batted sensibly in tough conditions against the accurate attack, picking up singles where possible and punishing the occasional loose ball. It took a rare misjudgement, when Heselev was run out going for a second, for the pair to be separated. They had put on 41 in 15 overs.

Then Woff set about the bowling, with one over going for 18. He careered to another half-century, which included five 4s and two massive 6s over mid-wicket. He has now made 330 runs this season without being dismissed. But the openers got precious little support from their teammates, with the next highest score of 6 shared by Lincoln Edwards, Ben Wassertheil and Shaun Ivanyi.

Caulfield's innings sunk almost without trace, losing 9/21 in less than 12 overs. At 1/80 in the 23rd over, the home side was coasting. About an hour later, the innings was complete.


Round 6 

Caulfield 5/92 (Alex Woff 52 retired, Sam Heselev 13, LJ Edwards 11) lost to Glen Waverley 2/94 (LJ Edwards 1/10)

A depleted Caulfield suffered a narrow defeat in a hard fought one-day game against fellow finals aspirant Glen Waverley.

Both teams had a 4-1 record before the match, and a win could have almost sealed a finals berth for Caulfield. Now with a tough draw in the remaining three rounds, the Under 15s have a fight on their hands to make the top four.

Batting first after winning the toss, skipper Sam Heselev and in-form partner Alex Woff began cautiously against an accurate and disciplined attack on the large and slow Brentwood Reserve.

They gradually stepped up the pace, with Woff particularly severe on anything short, and Heselev playing some attractive lofted drives. But in the 13th of 24 overs, Heselev was caught at deep mid-off, ending a stand of 48.

LJ Edwards and Woff pushed the score along nicely, running well between the wickets, until Woff chalked up another unbeaten 50 in the 20th over. Edwards was caught in the deep soon after, and a flurry of wickets in the last four overs left Caulfield slightly short of its target.

In the absence of pacemen Daniel Fleming, Josh Herdman and Peter Treloggan, Edwards and Sunny Joshi opened the bowling and bowled a tight line on and outside off stump.

After their opening spells of five overs each, the score was 1/19. The wicket was a result of a fine pick-up and throw from Joshi at fine leg. The fielding was of a high standard on the ravaged outfield but the batsmen gradually gained the ascendency with quickly run singles, as well as punishing anything loose.

Spinner Heselev (0/14 off five overs) applied the brakes, with his first three overs going for just three, but in a tight finish, the home side got up in the second last over. Edwards gained an lbw verdict in the last over, to finish with 1/10 off six overs. Joshi took 0/23 off six, after his first five overs cost only nine runs.

Debutant Darcy Tobin and fellow youngster Adam Schwartz gave a good account of themselves in the field, and will learn a great a deal from the experience of taking part in such a high quality junior match.

Next match: vs Toorak-Prahran Red at home, 20-27 January 2008.

Round 5 day 2 v Maccabi Ajax Storm 

Caulfield 213 (Alex Woff 61 not out, Ben Wassertheil 33, LJ Edwards 32, Josh Herdman 15, Sunny Joshi 10, Daniel Fleming 10) d Maccabi Ajax Storm 26 (Josh Herdman 4/2, Sam Heselev 2/3, Ben Wassertheil 1/2, Sunny Joshi 1/5, LJ Edwards 1/7) and 6/33 (Sunny Joshi 1/0, Max Pockley 1/2, Josh Herdman 1/5, Peter Treloggan 1/6, Shaun Ivanyi 1/15)

Caulfield routed a hapless Maccabi Storm side in a one-sided affair at Princes Park highlighted by a devastating spell by paceman Josh Herdman and another scintillating unbeaten half-century by Alex Woff.

Resuming at the overnight score of 8/183 (with eight overs left in the innings), Sunny Joshi and Shaun Ivanyi began cautiously. After Ivanyi was caught behind for 8 in the 41st over, ending a handy 16-run stand, opener Woff returned to the crease and immediately took charge again. The field was deep set to prevent boundaries, but Woff put on 19 with Joshi before Joshi was run out. Woff's 61 not out took his season's tally to 238, and he is still yet to be dismissed.

Herdman had first use of the ball downhill, and found his rhythm straight away, striking with his fourth ball when he trapped the opener plumb in front. In Herdman's third over, keeper Woff accepted a gloved chance, and Woff claimed another when Joshi found the edge in the next over. Then Herdman took two more wickets in his fourth over, one smartly caught by Daniel Fleming in the gully and the other clean bowled, to have 4/2 after four overs.

After 15 overs, the home side had limped to 5/10 following two spells of four overs in which the total was anchored, first on 7 and then 10. It was Fleming and LJ Edwards who caused the runs to dry up and Edwards created several chances, with Ben Wassertheil at slip taking a sharp catch. Then spinners Wassertheil and Heselev mopped up the tail, with Max Pockley and Herdman holding chances off Heselev's bowling, Heselev taking a neat catch at short cover off Wassertheil, and a good piece of fielding by Luke Toniolo leading to a run out.

In the 26th over, the home side was all out for 26, with only 19 scored off the bat.

Enforcing the follow-on with 16 overs to be bowled, Caulfield was quickly among the wickets again, with Herdman gaining another lbw verdict and Joshi clean bowling the other opener. When Heselev and Woff combined for another run out, the score was 3/6 in the fifth over, and an outright looking a remote possibility. But although Ivanyi, Peter Treloggan and Pockley all claimed wickets - to catches by Herdman, Joshi and Heselev - Caulfield ran out of time and overs to nail the outright.

Round 5 day 1 v Maccabi Ajax Storm 

Caulfield 8/183 after 37 overs (Alex Woff 50 not out, Ben Wassertheil 33, LJ Edwards 32, Josh Herdman 15, Daniel Fleming 10) v Maccabi Ajax Storm

A solid batting performance highlighted by yet another unbeaten half century from Alex Woff put Caulfield in a strong position after a shortened first day of the match against Maccabi Ajax Storm at Princes Park.

With eight overs to be bowled to complete the innings next week, Caulfield is looking to post another score of above 200.

Skipper Sam Heselev won the the toss in hot and blustery conditions, and he and Woff got Caulfield off to a good start before Heselev was given out caught behind with the score on 19.

LJ Edwards joined Woff who gradually took complete control of another attack. He plundered five 4s and two mammoth 6s on his way to a fourth consecutive unbeaten half-century, and took his tally for the season beyond 200.

The pair put on 60 in nine overs, and although the junior partner, Edwards hit four 4s, unleashing some powerful cuts and pulls to keep the scorers busy. It was a surprise when he holed out to a full toss.

Luke Toniolo went the same way, and Josh Herdman looked likely to get among the runs but fell to a skied pull. Ben Wassertheil hit the ball hard in his new role at No. 6, especially his trademark sweep stroke. He smote four 4s in an innings that ended just before the close.

Daniel Fleming and Peter Treloggan were adjudged lbw, and Max Pockley played a loose stroke to be caught at point. Sunny Joshi and Shaun Ivanyi kept the bowlers at bay in the final few overs to set up a possible assault next week.

Round 4 

Caulfield 8/243 cc (Alex Woff 77no, Sam Heselev 53 retired, Josh Herdman 26, LJ Edwards 23) d Toorak-Prahran Colts 6/138 cc (Daniel Fleming 2/12, Max Pockley 2/21)

Day 2

Caulfield completed an empathic win against Toorak-Prahran Colts after a disciplined display in the field complemented last week's record-breaking batting.

It was Caulfield's third win on the trot after the disappointment of a last-over defeat in Round 1.

Chasing such a large score was always going to be problematic for the visitors, and Caulfield new ball bowlers Josh Herdman and Daniel Fleming made life very difficult for the top order.

The pacemen received excellent support from the fielders, with Fleming throwing down the stumps from fine leg in the first over to narrowly miss a run out when the batsmen attempted a second. Skipper Sam Heselev repeated the dose from deep cover in the fourth over, and this time the decision went Caulfield's way.

When Herdman was relieved, the score was 1/13 after eight overs. Herdman had bowled four overs for three runs, and Fleming's opening spell of five overs cost only six runs.

The Toorak-Prahran batsmen stepped up the pace slightly as a solid second wicket stand developed, but at the bikkie break, the total of 1/56 after 25 overs was woefully short of the required target of six runs an over.

The batsmen had been restricted by tight bowling, with Shaun Ivanyi (0/7 off five overs) and Peter Treloggan (0/11 off four overs) keeping the brakes on.

Ivanyi, Treloggan and Sunny Joshi (0/16 off four overs) all put down tough return chances during this phase of the game but the ground fielding was generally outstanding.

In the first five overs after tea, the batsmen got right on top, scoring almost as many runs (54) as they had in the entire opening session. But with the partnership approaching 100, both batsmen fell in quick succession, with Max Pockley's accurate return from point leaving the opening batsmen short of his ground, and Ivanyi taking a very well judged catch at mid-on off Pockley's bowling.

Then Ben Wassertheil took a sharp catch at mid-wicket to have the visitors
4/117 in the 33rd over.

Fleming came back for a second spell, disturbing the batsman's furniture on one occasion and watching Heselev take a safe catch at cover. Fleming finished with 2/12 off eight overs, and it was almost impossible for the batsmen to score off his wily partner, Herdman, who finished with 0/4 off six overs.

The visitors' tally of 6/138 (in 40 overs) was more than 100 short of Caulfield's massive total.

A feature of the morning was the fine wicketkeeping debut of LJ Edwards, who moved and gloved the ball brilliantly.

Round 4 Day 1 

Caulfield 8/243 cc (Alex Woff 77no, Sam Heselev 53 retired, Josh Herdman 26, LJ Edwards 23) v Toorak-Prahran Colts
Caulfield took charge of the match against Toorak-Prahran Colts at Caulfield Park, with the home side's top order dominating a rain-shortened morning.

The game began on time despite morning storms and persistent light rain, and after winning the toss, skipper Sam Heselev had no hesitation deciding to bat.

Heselev and Ben Wassertheil put on 23 before Wassertheil was bowled. Alex Woff, fresh from successive unbeaten half centuries, soon increased the scoring rate despite the wet outfield.

The soggy ball was doing the Colts no favours, but Woff and Heselev's sensible strokeplay and aggressive running provided even more of a challenge for the visitors.

Several overs were lost in a rain delay after 12 overs, and the Caulfield boys got to work with the squeegie as the weather cleared.

Woff continued on his merry way, well supported by his captain, hitting seven 4s to all parts of the ground on his way to another 50, with the stand worth 77 in 15 overs.

Heselev was joined by the impressive LJ Edwards, and they put on 58 in six overs, picking up runs at will against the spinners. Heselev reached his half century in the 29th over, with five 4s, in a welcome return to form. At 1/158, Caulfield was right on top.

But then Edwards was caught at mid-wicket for 23, and apart from Josh Herdman, who smashed 26 including four 4s, the middle order fell away. In a flurry of runs and wickets, Caulfield lost 7/49 in eight overs.

However, when Woff returned to the crease in the 38th over, he took the initiative straight away, helping himself to a further 27 in only three overs, including two 4s and two huge 6s over mid-wicket. He was well supported by Peter Treloggan (3 not out) in an unbroken stand of 33.

Woff finished with 77 not out in another highly skilled and aggressive display. The tally of 8/243 (off only 40 overs) broke the previous club Under 15 record total of 3/240, which was set in 1972/73.

Round 3 v Murrumbeena

Caulfield 5/124 (Josh Herdman 52no, Alex Woff 50 no) d Murrumbeena 6/103 (Josh Herdman 2/9, Sam Heselev 2/27, Daniel Fleming 1/8)

Caulfield won its first one-day match for more than a season when it overcame Murrumbeena in an enthralling battle at Murrumbeena Park.

After winning the toss and batting, Caulfield was soon in trouble on another bouncy pitch, losing three early wickets.

Opener Alex Woff, fresh from a quickfire 50 in the previous match, and Josh Herdman joined forces at 3/19 in the ninth of 24 overs. They set about rebuilding the innings with intelligent running between the wickets and judicious strokeplay.

They showed great maturity and gradually took charge in difficult conditions. Both made half-centuries, with Woff hitting five 4s and a towering 6 that disappeared into a neighbouring garden, and Herdman smashing six 4s including three in consecutive balls in the 23rd over. The total of
5/124 was competitive but by no means insurmountable.

Herdman made it a day to remember when he claimed wickets in his first and third overs for only one run, the first caught by wicketkeeper Woff and the other by Daniel Fleming at short cover.

Sunny Joshi bowled a frugal spell, and swing king Fleming delivered several 'snorters' that leapt off the pitch. He had his reward when Heselev took a straightforward catch at forward square leg. After 13 overs, Murrumbeena had limped to 3/33 and needed almost nine runs an over to pull off an improbable win.

But the next five overs went for 40, and suddenly the home side was in with a chance. Its odds shortened further when the first four balls of the 19th over - bowled by spinner Sam Heselev - were dispatched for 17 runs. But keeper Woff completed a memorable day with a clever stumping off the next ball.

Caulfield kept its collective nerve in the final overs, thanks to thoughtful bowling from Herdman, Joshi and Heselev, and a good run out by Luke Toniolo.

Herdman took the bowling honours with 2/9 off five overs. Best of rest were Heselev, who took 2/27 off four overs, Fleming 1/8 off three and Joshi 0/15 off five. Caulfield conceded only four extras in the innings. 

Round 2 v Maccabi Ajax Lightning

Caulfield 6/179 (Alex Woff 50 retired, Ben Wassertheil 34, Daniel Fleming 22 retired, Marcus Frajman 11 not out, Sunny Joshi 10) d Maccabi Ajax Lightning
8/144 (Daniel Fleming 2/12, Sunny Joshi 1/7, Max Pockley 1/7, Peter Treloggan 1/20, Sam Heselev 1/28, Shaun Ivanyi 1/35)

A brilliant unbeaten half century by Alex Woff provided the highlight of Caulfield's first win of the season in a windswept match against Maccabi Ajax Lightning at Princes Park.

Woff came to the crease after the early loss of skipper Sam Heselev, and immediately took complete charge of the attack. His whirlwind innings included seven 4s and a 6, and featured powerful drives and pulls and deft cuts.

He and opener Ben Wassertheil (34) ran intelligently between the wickets and paved the way for what turned out to be an easy win. It was Wassertheil's top score for the Under 15s, and his innings included five 4s. He was out just before tea in the 23rd over when he holed out to cover.

By the bikkie break, the score was 3/115 and the result seemed in little doubt especially given the trying conditions for the bowlers at one end, where they had to combat very strong winds.

Caulfield eventually reached its target in the 31st over, losing only four wickets in the process.

Batsmen to spend valuable time in the middle included Daniel Fleming, who completed a great match with 22 not out (including four 4s), Marcus Frajman
(11 not out), Sunny Joshi (10) and Peter Treloggan (8).
 

Round 2 - day 1

Maccabi Ajax Lightning 8/144 (Daniel Fleming 2/12, Sunny Joshi 1/7, Max Pockley 1/7, Peter Treloggan 1/20, Sam Heselev 1/28, Shaun Ivanyi 1/35) v Caulfield

Caulfield squandered some of its advantage after a spirited display in the field for most of the morning.

It was always going to be tough for Caulfield after losing the toss in stifling conditions at Princes Park, but swing king Daniel Fleming looked threatening on the spongy wicket.

He struck early when a rearing ball was spooned to keeper Alex Woff. The same combination claimed the No.3 batsman in Fleming's second over, when his figures were 2/1.

His opening partner, Sunny Joshi, chimed in when the impressive Shaun Ivanyi held a clever running catch at cover. At 3/9 in the seventh over, Maccabi was on the ropes.

But Caulfield could not deliver the knockout punch and as the temperature soared, the batsmen began to claw back the advantage.

It wasn't until Woff took a neat catch standing up to Ivanyi that Caulfield struck again, with the score 4/43 in the 15th over.

Five overs later, Ben Wassertheil held a very smart catch at slip from the bowling of Max Pockley, and it was 5/67.

Fleming was in the game again, with a runout from square leg resulting in the sixth wicket at 82, but after that Caulfield began to wilt and in the last nine overs, Maccabi added 50 for the loss of two wickets. This was in stark contrast to the previous nine overs, when the batsmen eked out only 12 runs in the face of some tight bowling and enthusiastic fielding.

Round 1 

Caulfield 7/111 (Max Pockley 32, Ben Wassertheil 15, Sunny Joshi 14, Sam Heselev 12) lost to Toorak-Prahran Blue 4/113  (Ben Wassertheil 1/13, Luke Toniolo 1/25, Sunny Joshi 1/27)

A depleted Under 15 outfit began the season with a narrow defeat to Toorak- Prahran Blue in a topsy-turvy one-day encounter at Caulfield Park.

Batting first, skipper Sam Heselev and Ben Wassertheil got off to a fine start, scoring 35 in the first seven overs. The hard-hitting Wassertheil
(15) was first out, mistiming a loose ball to point.

Heselev fell on 46, well caught in front of square leg. Sunny Joshi took toll of some short-pitched bowling, but when he was caught behind, he was the first of three wickets to fall with the score on 63.

Max Pockley and Shaun Ivanyi turned the innings around with a sensible and aggressive partnership of 46 in nine overs. Pockley smashed his way to a top score of 32 in his maiden innings in the Under 15s, and was well supported by Ivanyi (7 not out).

The tally of 7/111 in 24 overs looked competitive, especially after the Blues had slumped to 2/14 after six overs. Joshi was swinging the ball well and yorked the Blues opener, and then threw down the stumps from short fine leg to affect a run out.

When Ivanyi held a good catch on the backward square leg boundary with the score on 35 in the 12th over, Caulfield was well on top. But the game changed again after that with too many 'four balls' offered by the underdone attack.

Luke Toniolo took the fourth wicket in the 17th over with the score 72, but there was little else for Caulfield to cheer about as the Blues got home with four balls to spare.

An outstanding feature of Caulfield's display was the fact that our boys bowled just one wide and one no ball, compared with the Blues' 25.