In the lead-up to Saturday’s match against Ex-Services, Hillgrove’s co-captain Matt Schaefer requested his side put some “value” on their wickets and start being “responsible for batting time in the middle.”
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The call to step up with the bat was answered with a commanding eight-wicket win over Servies.
The bowling line-up of Schaefer, Liam Neeson, Sean Skinner, Max Laurie and Dick Heagney saw the match start in favour of Hillgrove as they restricted Servies to 129.
Laurie finished nine overs with 3-18, Heagney 3-39 from his nine, Skinner 2-18 from 6.5 with Schaefer on 1-21 from nine and Neeson 1-21 from seven.
“I thought we bowled really well to restrict them to 129. I think they batted for 41 overs or something so we were pretty tight with the ball and then we rattled through the tail,” Schaefer said.
“It was pretty good to roll a team for a score that was within our reach.
“We were really tight with the ball and that puts pressure on the batsmen to score.
“It is great to have Max back in the line-up.
“He was a big loss for us in the couple of games he was away, we really struggled to get through those additional overs, especially with Archer away as well so having him back in the team was a big help. Dick Heagney has been getting a few wickets as well which is great.
“He hasn't been bowling a lot in past seasons but his leg-spinners have really come along and he bowled a couple of really good balls on the weekend to get wickets so really happy for him and hopefully he can keep getting wickets.”
Chasing 130 to secure the win, the batsmen needed to stand up.
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Openers Matt Baillie and Will Waterson got the innings underway in a formidable style, posting 46 runs between them before Waterson was stumped on 10.
In an ironic twist following his batting comments last week, Schaefer departed the field as quickly as he came in with a duck.
“I was hitting the ball pretty at training last week so I thought the weekend, it might be my day,” he said.
“I went in there, perfect opportunity, new ball had been seen off and then two balls later I was on my way back.
“It is a funny old game but that is the way it goes.
“I was just happy Crofty [Josh Croft] was able to go in and consolidate with Bails and they got us home.”
Baillie finished the innings 68 not out which included eight fours and one six while Croft finished with 29 not out, ending Hillgrove’s innings at 2-130.
The competition takes a break this weekend before resuming on February 2.
The Friday night Twenty20 begins on February 1.