Dell bowls for Victoria National Championship

OMK Cricket Club legend Peter Dell recently represented Victoria in the Over 50s National Championship.

Dell played a pivotal role in taking Victoria’s Division 1 side to the finals, falling short to Queensland on the fourth day of the carnival.

Opening the bowling attack, he was the leading wicket taker for Victoria, and finished fifth overall. 

He took eight wickets at 14.25 and made 30 runs with a top score of 24 not out.

The championship took place across Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs, culminating in the final played at Junction Oval.

The carnival was initially delayed due to a wash out, which saw all games played out over four days straight.

Victoria went up against Western Australia in its first match and won convincingly.

Victoria batted first and ended the innings 7/172. 

The score was defended when Western Australia was bowled for 153.

Dell claimed 4/19 off nine.

Victoria secured another after playing ACT.

ACT batted first and made 167.

Victoria passed it with only three wickets down.

Dell continued his run, taking 4/14 off seven. 

The Wednesday match saw Victoria face off against New South Wales, which would go down to the wire.

New South Wales accumulated 150 runs, and quickly claimed eight Victorian wickets.

However, the effort wasn’t enough to secure the match.

Sitting on 8/114, Dell and a teammate Alex Jesensek combined well at the end of the innings to make 24 and 17 respectively, not out.

The additional 38 runs within the last five overs pushed Victoria into the finals.

The final clash against Queensland saw a fatal early mistake that cost Victoria the win.

Queensland vice captain Chris Holding was bowled for a duck, which saw the entry of Andrew Kratzmann.

Kratzmann was dropped on a duck and continued on to make an impressive 128 runs.

Victoria held its own, making a respectable 227, but fell 12 runs short.

Queensland successfully defended its total of 238.

Dell said the carnival was a great experience overall. 

Training for the state side began in June, following a successful nomination process.

“I was encouraged to nominate by a couple of teammates – including a former teammate who is now the secretary of Victorian Veterans Cricket. He emailed me and made sure I nominated,” Dell said.

The process is similar for the Australian side, which Dell now intends to nominate for.

“There are three tours. One is in March to New Zealand, but I haven’t put my hand up for that one because of local cricket finals,” he said.

“They are going to England in June and October is the World Cup in Sri Lanka, so I’ll nominate for those.”

Dell has been a stalwart at OMK Cricket Club for 30 years.

He has played more than 400 games and taken more than 750 wickets, earning him many accolades on the cricket field. 

He is currently the senior coach, serves on the committee, maintains the ground and has been voted Best Club Person for his contributions. 

OMK has had a solid start to the 2023/24 season with A Grade sitting third, and both B Grade sides on top of the ladder.

Dell has also played an occasional game for the South Gippsland Kookaburras.

“It’s been really good because it’s guys that I’ve played with throughout my career,” he said.

The Kookaburras play in the Veterans Cricket Victoria Over 50’s Competition and are also on top of the ladder.