LIAM DURKIN
CRICKET
LVDCL By LIAM DURKIN ROUND 10 results of the Latrobe Valley and District Cricket League proved the race to this season’s premiership is still wide open. Results from the weekend meant winners did a favour for not only themselves but for a number of other teams, which keeps alive any number of possibilities in the weeks ahead before there is a clearer picture of just who will take up the four finals spots on offer in either the Premier A or A Grade division. TRARALGON West could be daring to dream after a heart stopping victory over traditional powerhouse Latrobe on their home deck. In what may well be the Eagles most memorable victory in recent history, the visitors defeated the Sharks via Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method – surviving a couple of near death experiences toward the end. Before that though, everything Traralgon West touched turned to gold after winning the toss and electing to bowl. Wickets tumbled at Peter Siddle Oval, as virtually every chance created by the Eagles took the edge and nestled into the hands of gleefully awaiting fielders. With the scoreboard reading 5/35, one can only imagine Latrobe players were thinking “gee we’re in a bit of trouble here”. There was surely no doubting what they were thinking when it got to 8/42. Sharks heart and soul wicket keeper Adam Duncan put up admirable resistance at number nine, batting for two hours in a stoic hand of 34 not out. The veteran partnered with youngster Izayah Terrick, who himself saw out 58 balls in helping Duncan get the team to something of a competitive total. Duncan and Terrick put on 39 for the ninth wicket, and then another 36-run partnership between Duncan and Tyron Gamage meant Traralgon West had a tricky 117 to chase. The Eagles bowlers could hardly be faulted, and all chipped in with wickets. Salman Rasool, Tim Fitch, Hayden Kimpton and Ben Edebohls each took two in a great display of partnership bowling. Persistent rain at the innings break meant the calculators came out to determine the required total needed for Traralgon West to win under DLS. A target of 59 runs in 30 overs was established. Although this seemed relatively straightforward for Traralgon West, it needed to be cautious of the number of wickets it lost, as under DLS, the loss of too many wickets would hand Latrobe victory even if the Eagles got the required runs. The stage was therefore set for a grand stand finish. In an attempt to go for quick runs, Traralgon West sent attacking players Ihraam Zafar and Hayden Kimpton out to open. The Eagles best laid plans backfired when Kimpton was caught by Duncan and Zafar was trapped leg before by Jamie Brierley within four balls of each other early in the piece. By the ninth over Latrobe captain Benn Zomer saw the back of his opposite number Rob Wilkie and Traralgon West was 3/17. Fitch and Josh Monacella then got together, and set about stabilising the situation. Monacella batted over two hours, while Fitch batted close to three as the pair took the chase right to the death. Not only did the pair have to bat under the duress of time, they also had to do it knowing that just one wicket could have been enough to tip the scales back in Latrobe’s favour – possibly enough for a win. Fitch was able to score the winning run in the last over, completing the job in a partnership of 47 with Monacella. While numerically Fitch’s score might have only been 22 not out, in the context of the match it may well have been the equivalent of a century, and could be rated by the man himself as highly as any other time he has made a big score. CENTRALS had an equally nerve-killing win against Mirboo North. The Lions took the points for the win, but needed to rely on a man who hadn’t scored a run this season before last Saturday to get them over the line. Electing to bowl first at McGregor Reserve, Yallourn North, Centrals struck at semi-regular intervals to see the Tigers bowled out for 141. Opening batsman Zach Hollis did the bulk of the scoring, making 61, with his knock featuring seven fours. South African spinner Reghard Hefer tore through the Mirboo North top order, taking 4/18. Tye Hourigan and Corey Pollard also helped the cause, nabbing 3/13 and 2/30 respectively. Centrals looked in control after a steady start, and had no reason to panic at 3/86. However, Mirboo North refused to go away, and a few wickets against the run of play all of a sudden had the game delicately poised at 5/104 after the dismissal of Sam Gray for 25. From there, Centrals slipped to 8/116, and the Tigers, with their tails up, had the match there for the taking. Another wicket left the situation 9/133, meaning Centrals needed nine to win with number 10 Bohdi Bright and the ultimate number 11 Marc Fenech at the crease. Fenech, who hadn’t scored a run in three attempts so far this season, held the fate of the Lions hopes in his hands. The left arm bowler was able to open his account courtesy of a free hit, which he struck for two, and followed by another double to see out the 41st over. Nerves were evident from the Mirboo North players as well, with three no balls and one wide tallied while Fenech and Bright were at the crease. As they say, every tail-ender has at least one match winning innings in them, and on this day, Bright was able to scamper the required run in the 43rd over, netting a huge sigh of relief from all wearing the Lions colours. Hudson Kerr took 3/19 for Mirboo North, while Will Lawrey (2/22) and Jesse Giardina (2/40) also featured in the wickets. IT was a Maynard Masterclass at Ted Summerton Reserve, as Raiders skipper Liam Maynard virtually single-handedly saw his side to victory over Moe with a sublime unbeaten century. The need for an innings of such substance appeared light years away when Moe sank to 5/26, as Raiders went to town on the Lions top order. Young quick Harry McColl continued his amazing knack of getting wickets, grabbing three of the first four poles to fall, taking his season aggregate to 20. With Raiders dominating, and Moe 6/49, the Lions needed a saviour, and found one in Sean Spiteri, who came to the crease at number seven – a spot made famous by Adam Gilchrist. Spiteri proceeded to produce a Gilchrist-like innings, torching 93 not out from 89 balls, with seven fours and two sixes. A purist in the truest sense, the left hander with an ‘easy on the eye’ technique combined with Ash Savige, who contributed a fine 56 not out, to take Moe to 6/203 at compulsory close. Having let the Lions off the hook, and having going for 62 off 10 overs himself, Maynard put all that behind him, and in a show of true leadership, went out to open the batting in pursuit of victory. Taking on the new ball with Chris Stanlake, the pair put on 42 before Stanlake was dismissed for 28. Joining Maynard at first drop was Mick Higgins (44), who batted with the skipper in a 129-run partnership. Maynard continued on, and fittingly, made it a double celebration as he brought up his century at the same time the winning runs were hit. In the wash-up, Maynard ended on 101 not out from 140 balls, with 11 fours, to see Raiders win by eight wickets. Clinton Taylor was the most successful bowler for Moe, and ended with figures of 2/42. CHURCHILL made short work of Jeeralang-Boolarra. The Cobras batted first after being sent in, and compiled 136 on the Yinnar turf. Brendan Mason top scored with 33 from 42 balls, while a few other players got starts. All bowlers for the Panthers took a wicket. Stan Urbanic led the effort, taking 3/27, while Hasitha Hewawasam (2/15) and Ossy Brennan (2/36) also had success. The bowling side of the scorebook is where the joy ended for Jeeralang-Boolarra, as the batting innings turned into an absolute train wreck. Chris Williams had the ball on a string for the Cobras, and took the first five wickets to see the scoreboard reading 5/32. The Panthers never recovered from there, and things only got worse as Churchill wiped out the tail. Williams ended with 5/13, Ijaz Ahmad 3/6 and Steve Warr 2/16 to see all 10 wickets fall with Jeeralang-Boolarra only able to muster up 54. Churchill has secured a bonus point in all seven games it has won so far this season, the result of which has meant it has gone to the top of the ladder. CATS and Trafalgar was the only match that didn’t see a winner. Slippery conditions pushed the start time back one hour at John Black Oval, before play got underway with the Ships electing to have a hit in a match reduced to 41 overs-a-side. Aiden George and Rhys Holdsworth negotiated a tricky period from the six to 12 over mark as the effects of the roller started to wear off and CATS new ball operators Tinashe Panyangara and Cal Stewart had the ball darting in all directions. George played a busy hand of 76, with his innings featuring three sixes. On a day of firsts, Aydan Connolly nailed his maiden career six with a lofted drive over mid-off, as he made 32 from 45 deliveries. Amazingly, the maximum was the only boundary he hit in his innings. Trafalgar closed at 5/144, before showers came at afternoon tea, forcing the covers to be placed on the strip. With rain continuing to fall, players were forced to play the waiting game until the drizzle completely stopped. Unfortunately that time never came, and the decision was ultimately made to split the points and call it a draw. MORWELL had the bye.
