Chester Bennett Cup 2023/24

The battle for the Chester Bennett Cup was played at Saints this year on the picturesque Lloyd Oval, the Main unfortunately not available due to concerns about the pitch for the following day.

PAC batted first but hadn’t counted on our young guns Yash Patil and Ashwin Atukorala, both taking an early wicket and PAC in trouble at 2/28. PAC stemmed the bleeding with the 3rd wicket partnership putting on 31 but Woodville A grader Harvey Brennan put an end to that taking the no.4 batsman for 9. From there our team kept piling on the pressure taking poles regularly. PAC were all out for 97 with Yash Patil the main destroyer ending up with figures of 3/12. Mike Cranmer, Brennan and Ashwin all chipped in with 2 wickets apiece and former Kensi legend Paul Allegretto (PA) got a taste of the action with 1.

Image: Jett May, Yash Patil, Mike Cranmer, Harvey Brennan

It was great to see a mix of experience and youth walk out to take the fight to the Reds with Allegretto and School Captain James Hattingh opening the batting. PA being the gentlemen he is decided to head back to the sheds early to give the young blood a chance at glory. Jim was joined by Brennan and they treated the crowd to some glorious stroke play, Brennan eventually out for 32 and the score at 44. There were a few murmurs amongst the large crowd that perhaps PAC were in with a chance when Hattingh was out with the score on 59 and SPOC favourite Jett May unfortunately out not long after, SPOC 4/77. But it was never in doubt.

Image:  Luke Minicozzi, Aswin Atukorala, James Hattingh, Andrew Harvey, Mike Cranmer & Sam Mcleay (Captain)

Former SPOC triple century scorer Tom Rankine had outdone himself in the field and gave Hattingh an important lesson on how cramp can play tricks on you once you hit your late 30’s, this allowing current SPOC A graders Sam Mcleay and Andy Harvey the opportunity to put the matter to bed. SPOC chased down the target 6 wickets down and Chester heading back home to Saints.

Image: Standing left to right: Tom Rankine (S&A 2005), Paul Allegretto (HWD 2004), James Hattingh (School Captain HWD), Ashwin Atukorala (HWD 2022), Sam Mcleay (HWK 2013), Captain, Sam Wheaton (SCH2002), Chairman, Mike Cranmer (YNG 2006), Andrew Harvey (HWK 2007), Luke Minicozzi (MAC 2011)
Kneeling left to right: Harvey Brennan (YNG 2017), Yash Patil (WDK 2021) and Jett May (HWD 2019)

A special thank you to Bianca Harms from the Old Scholars Association who was instrumental in organising the event, we are very grateful for her assistance.

Sam Wheaton (SCH 2002)
Chairman, SPOC Cricket Club

Image: Sam Wheaton and Mike Cranmer