CRICKET
GCL
GIPPSLAND Cricket League players and umpires wore black armbands and observed a minute’s silence in memory of the late Australian batting champion Phillip Hughes during round three on Sunday.
Warragul 5/56 def Central Gippsland 55
A CALAMITOUS collapse saw Central Gippsland toppled for 55 batting first against Warragul at Maryvale Reserve.
The host managed to reach 2/40 thanks to veterans Craig Giddens (21) and Anthony Bloomfield (17), but disaster soon struck as Central lost 8/15 to be all out in just 27.3 overs.
Five Central Gippsland batsmen failed to score.
The destroyers for Warragul were Bryce Monahan, who claimed 4/6 off 8 overs and Jason Croft who chipped in with 3/9 off nine overs.
In reply Warragul only needed 14.1 overs to reach the target but lost five wickets along the way.
Corey Jagoe (23) and Nick Powell (17 not out) ensured the Gulls would move to second spot on the GCL ladder.
Anthony Bloomfield took 2/16.
Leongatha 199 def Traralgon 148
TRARALGON won the toss and sent Leongatha in at the picturesque Yinnar oval.
The visitors achieved a solid start with English import Christian Silverstone (46), Daniel Salmon (35) and Kit Rothier (34) all making valuable contributions.
After 49.1 overs Leongatha had reached a competitive 199.
Ross Whelpdale (3/25), Dylan Freitag (3/31) and Ben Julin (3/53) were Traralgon’s best bowlers.
Traralgon found runs hard to come by and lost wickets on a regular basis in the chase.
Jordan Gilmore (37) and Julin (27) were the only two Tornados batsmen to spend sufficient time at the wicket.
The home team was eventually dismissed for 148 off 45.2 overs giving Leongatha its first win of the GCL season while incurring Traralgon’s first loss.
Bairnsdale 5/128 def Sale-Maffra 125
SALE Maffra’s woes continued with a loss in the grand final replay against Bairnsdale.
The premier won the toss and elected to bat at the Lucknow Reserve, but never got on top of some fine bowling with Ben Saxton (41) a lone figure at the wicket.
Great bowling from Bairnsdale’s Nick Davies, who took 5/19 off his 10 overs, ensured Sale Maffra’s demise as they collapsed to be all out for 125.
Bairnsdale was untroubled and reached the target five down in 34 overs.
Hayden Erfurth (43) and Scott Davison (32) were the home team’s top contributors.
Bairnsdale remains undefeated on top of the GCL ladder and seems assured of another finals berth.
Sale Maffra is yet to record a victory.
The next round of GCL will be played on Sunday 14 December.
LADDER AFTER ROUND 3
1. BAIRNSDALE 18
2. WARRAGUL 12
3. TRARALGON 12
4. LEONGATHA 6
5. CENTRAL GIPPSLAND 6
6. SALE MAFFRA 0
