Game One Match Report Kim Hughes Shield 2025

Game One

26 February 2025

Bunbury Senior High School

Leschenault Recreation Park

Our Lady of Mercy College (OLMC) 2/134 defeated Bunbury Senior High School (BSHS) 10/131.

OLMC has continued to be a growing power in the South West cricket arena with our first-ever win over the Bunbury Senior High School first IX.

The pitch was soft, and when we lost the toss and our opponents chose to bat, the coach, Mr Jamo, was happy.

Our opponents had two classy men’s A-Grade batters open. However, our bowlers immediately caused them problems. Kalani Heal impressed with 48, but our team kept up consistent pressure and held our catches to remove the two danger players.

For the first time in our Kim Hughes history, we managed to bowl BSHS out. Vice-Captain Toby King and Harshaan Chahal both bowled extremely well to take four wickets each. BSHS reached a total of 131. A great effort by our team.

We lost a wicket in the first over with the opponent's captain having Monty Dallywater caught. Captain Rowan Jamieson and Sheldon Johnson steadied the ship and put on a 37-run partnership before Jamieson was also caught.

With the pitch still having some movement but clearly flattening out, Johnson and Brady Oxford began to chip away at the lead. Both players played with only two chances being given. Riding his luck, Johnson made a match-winning 70 runs not out, and Oxford batting solidly, also remaining not out on 32. Their partnership yielded 97 runs which has the record keepers searching for the record books as this is the biggest unbeaten partnership for the College.

Our fielding effort was notable, with some of our younger players doing very well with no fewer than eight catches taken and only two dropped. This ended up being decisive as our opponents dropped critical catches.

With the game over, discussions of improvement were positive. With Mr David Mazza’s dulcet tones ringing in the team's ears:

• "3 x 40 run partnerships.

• Hold our catches.

• 1-Percenters: Energy in the field, positive talk, backing up our players in the field."

Mr Jamo added a new focus “If the ball goes to the off side, EVERY player on the leg side moves. If the ball goes on the leg side, EVERY player on the off side moves”.

Next week, we take on our across-town rivals in Bunbury Catholic College (BCC) at Leschenault Recreation Park. Each year, we are closing the gap and 2025 could be our year to finally defeat BCC.

Good luck to the team.