NOBLE Park’s first XI suffered its second heavy defeat of the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association season, beaten by Coburg on Saturday.
After winning the toss and batting on a Coburg City Oval wicket that could best be described as terrible, the game was as good as over inside 20 overs with Noble Park reeling at 7/25.
A lone hand from Mark Rendle, who finished unbeaten on 22, saw the team reach 77.
Rendle set an example to those at the top end of the order by adapting to the poor conditions and tempering his natural attacking game.
The Coburg batsmen took a leaf out of Rendle’s book by playing cautiously and passed the total with the loss of only three wickets.
Sean Schubert, Paul McDonald and Sharni Perera were the wicket takers.
The second XI went down in a thriller against Coburg at Pat Wright Sr Oval.
Batting first, Noble Park reached 7/188, set up by a 104-run opening stand by Darren Seccull (66) and Paul O’Meara (41).
Matt Crozier chimed in with 28 in the lower order.
In reply, Coburg passed the total in the last over, Crozier with 2/18 and Andrew Borovac 2/34 the best of the bowlers.
The third XI easily accounted for Brighton, passing the target of 7/101 with the loss of only one wicket.
Fourteen-year-old leg spinner Johann Wise took 3/18 in Brighton’s innings with Justin Hart (43 not out) and Michael Fox (39) sharing in a 70-run opening stand to set up the win.
Mark Jacotine (13 not out) joined Hart to take the score to 1/105.
The fourth XI went down to Brighton, dismissed for 109 while chasing down 6/148.
Andrew Murray top scored with 25 with support from Jamie Fox, who made 21.
Pranay Asija (2/27) was the best of the bowlers.