Staff Writers
CRICKET
VETERANS GIPPSLAND Goannas were well represented in last week’s Over 60s National Championships in Geelong. Ray Smith was Victoria’s leading batsman in the Victoria One team, which won the final against South Australia on Thursday. He top-scored with 43 in the first victory against New Zealand, 31 not out against Queensland, 21 not out against New South Wales, and finished with 35 in the Grand Final against South Australia. In fifth division, Ray Floyd, Neil Meredith and Peter Anton performed admirably in the Victoria Green team, which also won its four matches. Floyd made 30 and Anton 35 not out in the first game against ACT, and Meredith took three wickets. Floyd made 40 and Meredith took two wickets in the second game against Victoria Grey, while Floyd made 42 not out and Anton took two wickets in the third game against New South Wales. In the final game, Anton made 25 and Meredith 15 not out, and Meredith took a wicket in the team’s win over Victoria Blue. Back home, the Gippsland Goannas Over 70s lost to Glen Waverley in a tight game on Sunday. The Goannas were depleted in numbers, but managed to field a team. Both sides included a number of Over 60 players to enable the fixture to proceed. Goannas skipper Ian Southall won the toss and batted, with the side losing three wickets and being restricted to an inadequate total of 125 off 36 overs. Fill-in player Rob Taylor top-scored with an entertaining 26 off 15 balls at the end of the innings, while Ian Gibson (22), Andrew Smith (14) and Dick Noble (14) were the other main contributors. Glen Waverley lost five wickets in its chase, ending on 134. The wicket-takers were Noble with 3/24 off five overs of leg spin, while Southall bowled seven tight overs to take 2/18. Catches were taken by Derek Morris and Gibson. The Over 70s have a bye in the next round, playing their next game on January 8 as a home game against Mornington/Canterbury. The Over 50s game against Geelong, scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed until January 22 in Geelong. The next game for the Gippsland Over 60s is against Iona at Iona this Sunday, December 11.
