Firsts’ season washed away
MELBOURNE’S inclement weather washed away Maccabi AJAX’s last home-and-away game for the year, and with it, the side’s hopes of making the finals.
MELBOURNE’S inclement weather washed away Maccabi AJAX’s last home-and-away game for the year, and with it, the side’s hopes of making the finals.
The First XI required a win in its home match against Middle Park to have any chance of finishing in the top four, but the wet and windy conditions saw the game peter out in a draw, leaving the Firsts stranded in sixth position on the ladder.
“Look, I guess at the end of the day I think we showed we could match it with any other side,” skipper David Majtlis told The AJN.
“[But] a few of our better players didn’t play in games, and at this level you need everyone out on the park to win, and you can’t just rely on seven or eight.”
The wash-out brought to an end a disappointing campaign for the Firsts, who had a horrific second half of the season.
After being relegated to the South A1 competition at the end of the 2010/11 season, the side won four of its first six games and was firmly entrenched inside the top four. But the First XI lost all momentum in the second half of the season, failing to win another match.
“It was last week’s game that we probably needed to win, and we didn’t win that,” Majtlis said.
“If we had won last week then we’d probably be playing in finals, so that was the game.”
The skipper led from the front this season, starring with both the bat and ball, recording 324 runs and 28 wickets for the year, taking him to more than 2000 runs and 115 wickets in his stellar career.
“Yeah it [this season] was reasonable for me, but look, there is definitely room for improvement,” Majtlis said.
“I think in [my] batting, I had a really good start, and I didn’t sort of go on and make big scores like I should have.
“With the ball I bowled pretty consistently throughout the whole year.”
The Firsts have failed to make the top four for the second season in a row, and the skipper is unsure whether he will be back to lead the side.
“I’d love to play district cricket again with my brother, but we’ll wait and see,” Majtlis said.
The Seconds finished their season in ninth spot, after registering just two wins for the season.
The Thirds also had a season to forget, with only two wins on their way to the second-last position on the ladder.
The Silver Arc Fourth XI ended its year on a high despite finishing sixth, beating Parkville District by 25 runs. Nadav Greenberger (3-18) starred with the ball, while Osher Klein hit an impressive 51 not out.
ASHLEY SHENKER
comments