LIAM DURKIN
CRICKET
LVDCL By LIAM DURKIN THERE was no major turn-ups in Round 9 of the Latrobe Valley District Cricket League. Granted one day cricket can often return close results, matches were fairly competitive across the board for the first game of summer. Hopefully the English players in the LVDCL didn’t suffer too much in the heat. ANYONE reading this at Latrobe Regional Hospital might want to check to see there still isn’t 11 Trafalgar players choking. The Ships had their match against Centrals under control for 95 per cent of the day, only to lose off the very last ball of the game. It might not have been Corey Pollard’s match, but he made the most of his moment. Needing three to win off the last ball, the Lion’s all-rounder got the winning runs away, securing a quite memorable, and seemingly impossible, win. Not even half-an-hour earlier, a Central’s win appeared highly improbable – the Lions needed 47 off 30 balls to chase the Ships’ total of 197. This game was at Traf mind you, a ground bigger than the MCG – and there was five men out. But you can’t put fielders in the car park. With the game seemingly only going one way, South African Reghard Hefer decided to go down swinging. After getting his score to 22, he then went 6, 1, 6, 6, 2, 1, 6, scoring a half-century in the process. Some of those sixes were ‘big’ – clearing the football fence straight. His efforts backed up those of Rob Webber up top, who scored 58 off 77 balls, and Sam Gray, who played a very patient hand of 39 from 115. Trafalgar’s own batting card soon became ancient news. Rhys Holdsworth did make a fine 97 off 111, while captain Aydan Connolly and Aiden George contributed scores of 34 and 32. Pollard, having arrived late to the game, put down a sharp chance at catching cover, and gone wicket-less in his five overs, showed how cricket has a funny way of levelling out, by seeing the visitor’s over the line with an unbeaten 18 from 17 balls. For Trafalgar, the match evoked memories of the North Melbourne loss to Essendon after being 69 points up in 2001 – how could you possibly lose from that position? MORWELL got the job done against Morwell. Batting first at Ted Summerton, the Tigers compiled 6/235 from their allotted 50 overs. Skipper Jordan Campbell led from the front, making 95 after taking it upon himself to bat first drop. He received good support from Lachie Day, who made 52 – an innings which should give him a great deal of confidence. Sean Spiteri grabbed two wickets for Moe, on a pitch that as we all know by now, you nearly count dot balls as a moral victory. Lion leaders Noah Kane and Andrew Philip each went about chewing down the required total, putting on a 123-run partnership for the second wicket. Captain Kane scored 68, and Philip 80 off 91 balls. Their dismissals however triggered a collapse, and meant Morwell was able to run through the rest of the game as Moe closed at 9/218. Blake Mills took the new ball, and ended with 3/35, while Travis Pickering (2/32) and Steve Bilic (2/38) were serviceable. WILLOW GROVE showed good signs against Jeeralang-Boolarra. The Wolves had a bat, and made a respectable 7/156 on the Boolarra astro. Pete Grima was the mainstay, scoring 47, while a few others got starts. Ben Heath took three wickets for the Panthers, and Hasitha Hewawasam nabbed 2/12 off 10 economic overs. Jeeralang-Boolarra won the match in the finish, but were made to work for the points, losing six wickets in the process. Asanka Ranthilakage top-scored on 40, and was followed by Nila Thillekarathna (32 not out) and Kanishka Ranthilakage (31). Josh Hammond took 2/20 for the Wolves. RAIDERS won with a bonus point. The Tigers of the Yinnar variety demolished CATS, defeating the reigning Premier A premier by 109 runs. Batting first at home, Raiders made 6/218, led by an imperious 91 not out from Madura Perera, and scores of 29 from Alex Burcombe and 28 from Liam Maynard. Vaughan Penrose, playing his first A Grade match in two seasons, enjoyed some joy with the ball, taking 2/43 CATS never got going with the bat, and were bundled out for 109. Stand-in skipper Jamie Cochrane did his best with 41, but with the next highest score extras on 22, that was all anyone needed to know about the batting effort. Raiders put in an outstanding effort with the ball, with a quartet of players taking two wickets. Burkeley MacFaralane (2/3), George Chesire (2/11), Burcombe (2/28) and Perera (2/31) ran riot. LATROBE got on the winners list against Churchill. The Sharks were asked to bat first at George Cain Oval, and did a pretty job of it, closing at 8/186. Captain Benn Zomer top-scored with 53, and Lachlan Dobson made 41 as the pair put on 90 for the third wicket. Matt Harvey found success with his finger spinners, taking 3/38, and Ken Farnworth continued on his wicket-taking ways, grabbing 2/28. The Cobras threatened to press on and win the game with the bat, but were denied by the Sharks striking at semi-regular intervals. John Keighran made 43 for the home side, but the rest of the card struggled to convert, and Churchill was eventually rolled for 151. Tyron Gamage was superb for Latrobe, taking 3/17, while Dobson (2/13) and Izayah Terrick (2/40) chipped in. Zomer added three wickets to go with his half-century. TRARALGON WEST just keeps winning. The Eagles latest victim was Mirboo North, and they did so with a bonus point thrown in for good measure. Mirboo North Rec was the venue, and Traralgon West made 9/228 on it after being challenged to have a hit. Rob Wilkie led by example, scoring 53, while Tim Fitch and Rami Zafar did likewise, also posting half-centuries. Wickets were shared in the Tigers camp, although only a few were able to go at under four-an-over. Mirboo North made a promising start, with Brett Pedlow and Jed Alexander putting on 71 for the opening stand. After Pedlow was caught-and-bowled however, and Alexander bowled for 33, wickets tumbled, and the Tigers were all out for 157 in the 42nd over. Reece Falla took 3/33 and Darcy Cooke 2/10 to see the Eagles keep their unbeaten run alive. How big would the smile on Fitchy’s face be right now.
