Meraloma Cricket Club

Team lists are in. 🟧⬛🏏

We’re deep enough into the season now that selection is being held together by spreadsheets, WhatsApp replies, educated guesses, and the quiet hope that no one remembers a mystery injury at 10pm.

There’s plenty on the line across the club this weekend, with some teams wrapping up their regular seasons and others still pushing toward the finish.

Thanks to everyone who made themselves available, and to the captains and selectors currently pretending this is a normal administrative task.

Good luck, Lomas.

Don’t forget your kit. Or your availability. Ideally both.

Weekend schedule. 🟧⬛🏏

We’re getting to the pointy end of the season.

The IIs have their final regular-season game at Connaught on Saturday against Surrey Hawks, and it is very much in the “do the thing or don’t do the thing” category.

The IIIs, T20 side and U17s also play their final games of the season this weekend, with the IIIs at Connaught on Sunday, T20 at Newton Athletic West on Saturday morning, and the U17s at Westerman Elementary.

The 1s head to Sullivan on Saturday to face Surrey United, with two games left as they keep pushing to lock in a strong spot for the Elite semi-finals.

The IVs and Vs still have a few games to go, with the IVs away to North Van and the Vs taking on Surrey Warriors at NSCP.

Last games. Big games. Mild admin panic.

Good luck to everyone pulling on the orange and black this weekend.

200 games for Meraloma. 🟧⬛🏏

Congratulations to Stu Grills, who brought up his 200th game for the club this weekend.

Stu started with Meraloma back in 2012 and has been a familiar face around the club ever since. Across 200 games, he has scored 3102 runs, taken 114 wickets, and held 100 catches — a proper all-round contribution over a long period in orange and black.

But with Stu, the cricket has only ever been part of the story.

He helped lead the IIs to the Division One championship in 2015 and promotion up to Premier, and he has been involved in more club moments than most people could possibly remember. Though, frankly, who could forget the 2014 themed lunches — Mexican, Chinese delights, old English tea — back when cricket was good and teams had to provide tea for the opposition.

That may also have been the year of the inauguration of the Graham Wood Spit the Dummy Award. History is important.

Off the field, Stu has done a huge amount to help keep the club moving forward. He is always around the BBQ, helping with the pitch and grounds, supporting club events, and now sits on the executive team of the main Meraloma Club as well. Through Yard Ventures , he has also continued to support the club as a sponsor, which we’re hugely grateful for.

A family man with Laura, who continues to tolerate the amount of time he spends at the club, Stu is also proud dad to Syd, a volleyball star, and Macca, who missed his calling as a cricketer and is now apparently a sick DJ.

Away from cricket, there’s the birdwatching, the wilderness trips, the camera, the big white Jeep, the Geelong loyalty from way back, and the ability to spin a yarn at almost any length required.

Player, teammate, sponsor, BBQ regular, pitch helper, committee man, long-time Loma, and proper club supporter.

Well done, Stu. A brilliant milestone and a massive contribution to Meraloma Cricket Club.

Team lists are in. 🟧⬛🏏

A few moving parts across the squads this week, because apparently making team lists is meant to be a calm and straightforward administrative task.

Main headline: Hugo Ray is basically Lomas HQ on Saturday, with the IIs, Vs and T20 side all there at various points. Bring kit, coffee, and maybe a camping chair if you’re planning to settle in.

Elsewhere, the IVs are at Connaught on Saturday, the U17s are at Enver Creek, and Sunday brings the 1s at Sullivan and the IIIs back at Connaught.

Good luck to everyone pulling on the orange and black this weekend.

Selections are final until someone messages in the next five minutes.

Weekend schedule. 🟧⬛🏏

Plenty on this weekend, including what appears to be a full Saturday residency at Hugo Ray.

The IIs are there against West Van, the T20 side get the early shift against Chilliwack, and the Vs are also at Hugo Ray for an 8:30am 35-over special against West Van. Bring coffee. Possibly several.

Elsewhere, the IVs are at Connaught on Saturday against Surrey Stars, while the U17s are at Enver Creek against Stallions.

On Sunday, the 1s head to Sullivan to face Ind-Can, and the IIIs are back at Connaught against Abbotsford.

Good luck to everyone pulling on the orange and black this weekend.

And yes, that is Vir in the background. One more job before he goes.

Thank you, Vir. 🟧⬛🏏

Vir Khimji only joined Meraloma in 2025, but it did not take long for him to make a serious impact. Starting out in the IIs, Vir quickly worked his way into the 1s, and by the end of the season was helping Lomas win Elite championships.

Across two seasons, he played 34 games for the club, scoring 1200 runs at an average of 35.3 and a strike rate of 79.7, with 3 hundreds and 3 fifties.

Fast hands, big runs, signature thumbs up, and more than a little little-master energy at the crease.

He even picked up a wicket in the John Ross Robertson Trophy games, although we will not be reviewing the full over too closely.

More than the runs, Vir has been a brilliant teammate to have around the club — friendly, humble, thankful, and always part of the group. The 1s batting lineup, and the club as a whole, will miss him as he heads back to India for the next chapter.

Good luck, Vir. Hopefully we’ll see you back in Lomas colours soon.

Once a Loma, always a Loma.

Save the date 📅

Meraloma Cricket Club Awards Night returns on Friday 25 September at 6:30pm at the club.

Last year was one of the best nights on the club calendar, and we’re doing it again — a catered evening, awards, drinks, and a chance to celebrate the season together.

Bring your partner, bring your teammates, and bring your appetite.

Tickets will be sold in advance, with more details coming soon.

Watch this space.

🟧⬛🏏