CRICKET
GCL
By LIAM DURKIN
GIPPSLAND Cricket League had its own version of AFL Gather Round at the weekend (Sunday, January 18).
Representative cricket was played at Morwell Cricket Club, with two senior games happening at once.
Leongatha played Warragul on the football ground, while Latrobe Valley battled Sale-Maffra at Keegan Street.
Bairnsdale had the bye for Round 5.
Sale-Maffra 7/135 def Cricket Latrobe Valley 10/133
SALE-MAFFRA won a competitive game by three wickets, in what was also a precursor to the senior GCL final.
Chasing 133, the Sharks made life a little more difficult than it perhaps should have been, eventually winning in the 35th over.
Matt Dyke was the only Latrobe Valley batsmen to make much of an impression, scoring 43 at the top of the order.
He was forced to knuckle down while wickets fell around him, seeing off more than 100 balls before becoming one of Freddie Fellows’ two wickets.
The home side was in a strong position at 2/80, before Fellows swung momentum.
He finished with 2/20 from 10 overs, delivering four maidens as well.
GCL mainstay Jack Rietschel secured 3/34 with his left arm orthodox, while Mason Annear took 2/21 across multiple spells.
Sale-Maffra lost a few wickets on the run to victory, but got there thanks mainly to Jay Diamond (27) and expert stockist Ben Jones (26).
Latrobe Valley left nothing on the table, only using four bowlers, who all couldn’t be faulted.
Todd Mann used his experience playing against a few Sale-Maffra players from his time with Boisdale-Briagolong, taking the first three wickets to fall.
Keenan Hughes snared 2/34 and Adam Brady 2/39.
The two teams qualified for the final after finishing the regular season first and second on the ladder.
The final will be played Sunday, February 1, in a rematch of the 2023/24 decider.
Leongatha & Disctrict 3/98 def Warragul & District 10/96
LEONGATHA easily defeated Warragul on the other oval.
It was a relatively quick kill, after the Wild Dogs were routed for just 96.
Leongatha then took just 17.1 overs to win.
Leongatha ended the season with a win, while Warragul remained anchored and winless at the bottom.
This season of GCL was heavily compromised, as wet weather left many games incomplete.
The final ladder was: Sale-Maffra (18 points), Latrobe Valley (15), Bairnsdale (12), Leongatha (9), Warragul (6).
Senior women’s
GCL women’s played a T20 round-robin at Traralgon Showgrounds.
In Round 1, Bairnsdale easily defeated Latrobe Valley.
Batting first, the visitors compiled 4/139. Latrobe Valley was bowled out for just 56 in reply.
Emily Shaw had some success, taking 2/10 in a losing cause.
Sale-Maffra also easily defeated Leongatha.
The Sharks closed at 1/103 after 20 overs, and then restricted Leongatha to 7/59.
Megen Wrigglesworth played a captain’s knock of 35 not out, while Olivia Speairs also remained unbeaten on the same amount.
Indianna Coleman (3/7) and Zoe Hustwayte (2/7) were Sale-Maffra’s leading lights with the ball.
Sale-Maffra continued its winning way in Round 2, defeating Bairnsdale.
The Sharks closed at 6/113, with Kirrily Bruce (25 off 23) leading.
Chloe Lenehan then took 2/7, as Sale-Maffra held off a fast-finishing Bairnsdale, who made 7/102.
The next round will be played Sunday, February 1.
Under 18
THE under 18s played for the Cameron White Cup – a separate twenty20 competition named after the Bairnsdale and former Australian player.
Sale-Maffra defeated Leongatha at College Oval, after compiling 9/141.
Highest scorers were Monty Mayman (35 off 26) and Shevan Fernando (29 off 25).
Leongatha fell just shot in reply – 6/132.
The side did well in fairness to get as close as they did, after losing 2/0 before the game even had a chance to settle.
Campbell Moncrieff was the chief destroyer with 4/18, while Mayman and Ashane Fernando played a hand in the early chaos, netting a run out.
Latrobe Valley defeated Bairnsdale.
Chasing only 94 at Colin Wrigglesworth Oval, Bundalaguah, Latrobe Valley lost just three wickets in pursuit.
Sale-Maffra packed its bags and headed to Bundalaguah later that day (January 18) and defeated Latrobe Valley in Round 2.
Defending 145, the home side held on for dear life by three runs.
Moncrieff continued his good day, scoring 64 off just 41 balls, along with Tex Dyson, who played a busy hand of 28 off 25 deliveries out in the middle.
Jake Keily (3/30) and skipper Zac Bastin (2/27) were multiple wicket-takers for Latrobe Valley.
Jaxon Murdoch scored 32 off 23 against the new ball for the visitors, as the chase went down to the wire.
Mayman (2/23), Max Shaw (2/31) and Shevan Fernando (2/32) hit good areas for the Sharks.
Leongatha defeated Bairnsdale in the other match, 3/93 to 92.
Warragul had the bye.
The 18s will next play GCL on Sunday, February 1.
Under 15
SALE-MAFFRA lost to Leongatha in Round 5 of the 15s competition.
Latrobe Valley had the bye.
The Sharks were bowled out for just 75 at Korumburra, chasing 130.
The batting returned nothing special, although the bowling saw Shane Breddels (3/22), Mason Caldwell (3/25) and Hayden Outhart (2/15) successful.
Bairnsdale (5/76) defeated Warragul (75) in the other match.
Under 13
ROUND 5 last Sunday saw Sale-Maffra defeat Leongatha at Koonwarra.
The Sharks made 158, led by Robert Sullivan’s captain’s knock of 55 not out.
Wickets were shared, as Leongatha was then bowled out for 129.
Izack Massey had the most success, taking 2/23.
Bairnsdale beat Warragul in the other match by just seven runs.
Latrobe Valley had the bye.
