On Sunday the second game of Veterans Cricket Victoria's over 60s cricket competition saw the Iona/Koo wee rup team play the Eastern Dragons at East Burwood, falling short by just 17 runs.
The Eastern Dragons won the toss and batted as early success came to Iona/Koo Wee Rup in the fifth over with the score on 27, when Michael Walker (who was playing his first game of cricket for 20 years) took a great out-field catch off the bowling of Greg Watsford to dismiss David Jensen 10 (14).

Unfortunately, it was to be another 20 overs and 127 runs later before Iona/Koo wee rup were to take their second wicket after Michael De Memartinis 16 (18) was caught and bowled by Mick Scully.
During those 20 overs the following batsmen retired after facing 30 balls: Prasanna Perera 40, David Baker 10, Mike Grace 27 and Darryl Berg 22.
Iona/Koo wee rup bowlers had a purple patch, taking four wickets for 18 off 10 overs, after Andrew Patterson bowled Dimitrios Davatzis 17 (26) and Mick Scully took three wickets including two in two balls - Amerjeet Chamma 22 (22) bowled, Stewart Walker lbw next ball and finally Ray Miller 1 (8) caught by Ron Wernke.
After 40 overs the Eastern Dragons were 6/202 with Bill Davidson 10 (24) amd Trevor Roddam 0 (5) both not out.
Iona/Koo wee rup bowling: Mick Scully 8-4/26, Andrew Patterson 7-1/35, Greg Watsford 8-1/41, Graham Davey 8-0/27, Jim Gregory 6-0/22, Michael Walker 1-0/12, Jon Martindale 1-0/17, Ron Wernke 2-0/12.
Needing five runs an over Iona/Koo wee rup got off to a good start in scoring 35 runs off nine overs, before Ron Wernke - after hitting a four and a six in consecutive balls - was caught by Ray Miller off the bowling Prasanna Perera for 23 off 28.
A watchful inning by Greg Watsford saw him score eight from 30 before retiring. Also retiring after an aggressive 24 off 30 balls was Andrew Patterson.
Iona/Koo wee rup lost their second wicket in the 19th over with the score 82, when Mick Scully 17 (19) was bowled by Dimitrios Davatzis.
Michael Walker showed great form in his comeback inning in scoring 28 (29) before he was stumped by Bill Davidson off the bowling of Trevor Roddam.
Graham (Boycott) Davey retired after facing 30 balls to make five runs. The score was 3/129 in the 30th over, still needing 73 runs off 58 balls.
Russell Ferguson 23 (30) and Ross Farmer 21 (30) pushed the run rate along before they both retired in the second last over.
Jim Gregory 3 (7) and Jon Martindale 2 (2) batted out the overs and Iona/Koo Wee Rup finished at 3/185. John Moore was not required to bat.
The game showed that Iona/Koo wee rup are improving each game and are not far off a win.
The Eastern Dragons bowling: Prasanna Perera 6-1/37, Mike Grace 2-0/3, Michael De Memartinis 1-0/4, Amerjeet Chamma 5-0/9, Dimitrios Davatzis 6-1/22, Stewart Walker 2-0/20, Trevor Roddam 4-1/36, Ray Miller 8-0/22, John Garson 2-0/7, David Jensen 4-0/17.
This Sunday Iona/Koo wee rup play East Doncaster at Zerbes Reserve.
Tuesday was the second round of over 70s cricket, with the West Gippsland Wombats (from Iona/Koo wee rup) beaten by Warrandyte at Warrandyte as the home team won the toss and batted.
In the first over Jim Gregory bowled Norm Barnfield on one (4).
That was the only success the Wombats had for the next 23 overs, the following batsmen retired after facing 30 balls: Rod Dungan 13, Bob Rogers 24, Gary Charman 21, Robert White 34.
With the score on 106, Carl Muscat bowled Barry Johnson 8 (17).
Carl Muscat had more success in the 31st over when he bowled Steve Pascoe 19 (16). The score was 3/153 and in the remaining nine overs Warrandyte added 57 runs without losing another wicket.
George de Bondt 38 (30) and Ashley Lumsden 20 (30) both retired, Alf Neri 16 (12) and Warwick Davidson 5 (6) were both not out. After 40 overs Warrandyte were 3/210.
Wombats bowling: Jim Gregory 8-1/20, Carl Muscat 4-2/20, Russell Vincent 8-0/39, Graham Davey 8-0/42, Basil Kehayas 4-0/36, Jon Martindale 4-0/13, Russell Ferguson 2-0/15, Ross Farmer 2-0/16.
A run rate of just over five runs an over did not appear to be too hard a task on the fast Warrandyte oval.
In the sixth over with the score on 23, David Wells 8 (11) was bowled by Pascoe. The score had only doubled by the 12th over when Jeff Phillips 4 (22) was caught in spectacular fashion by Robert White off the bowling of Johnson.
Great accurate bowling & good field placing restricted the scoring rate.
The following batsmen retired after facing 30 balls: Carl Muscat 11, Russell Vincent 16, Basil Kehayas 15 and Graham Davey 29.
In the 27th over with the score on 97 Russell Ferguson 1 (7) was bowled by Pascoe.
Farmer 15 (30) retired before Jon Martindale 5 (13) was bowled by Robert White. The score was 4/116 in the 34th over this brought the last pair to the wicket.
They were able to add 44 runs off the remaining overs and they both finished undefeated, Jim Gregory 22 (21) and John Moore 15 (13). The Wombats' total was 4/160, just 50 runs short of Warrandyte's total.
Warrandyte's bowling: Steve Pascoe 8-2/13, Barry Johnson 8-1/44, Robert White 8-1/19, Ashley Lumsden 8-0/30, Alf Neri 6-0/22, George de Bondt 1-0/13, Gary Charman 1-0/10.
The Wombats' next game is next Tuesday against the Gippsland Goannas at Toongabbie.