LIAM DURKIN
CRICKET
LVDCL PREMIER A By LIAM DURKIN THERE would have been a few sore boys last Sunday. The Latrobe Valley District Cricket League returned at the weekend, playing two-dayers for the first time in nearly two years. Players settled in for the long haul, as the whites came out again along with the red ball. First innings points are already wrapped up in one Premier A match, while the chase is on in the other two heading into the second week. THEY don’t call him the King Cobra for nothing. John Keighran well and truly brought out the JK-47 for Churchill, smashing 109 not out from 79 balls to take his side to a lead of 89 at stumps against CATS. Before the assault, Churchill bowled CATS out for 75 at George Cain Oval. Apart from winning the toss, not much went right for the visitors, as only Josh Moore was able to make much of an impression in the scorebook with 26 at the top of the order. Kian Farnworth and Matt Harvey took two wickets each for the Cobras, bowling around Steve Warr who was at his miserly best. It was classic ‘Tugga’ lines from the medium pacer, and he finished with figures of 4/25 from 17 overs with seven maidens. With CATS bowled out halfway through the day, time was never going to be an issue for Churchill when they approached their batting innings. CATS found some joy with the new ball, and had the Cobras 3/21, but Keighran soon crushed their spirits as he whacked 14 balls into the rope and two over it. Moore made another contribution for CATS, this time taking 3/18. The home side ended the day 5/164, and with Keighran still at the crease, one would assume the skipper will bat on and eye off an outright going into day two. SATURDAY, January 7, 2023 shall now be known as the day Clancy Mills became a man. Raiders put up a great score against Morwell, making 277 at home. The innings was highlighted by a maiden Raiders century to Alex Burcombe, and an outstanding knock of 63 from young Clancy Mills opening the batting. Just one year out from Under 16s, Mills defied the premiership fancies, stroking half a dozen boundaries and seeing off virtually 30 overs worth of balls during his stay at the crease. His efforts helped Raiders immensely, and laid a solid base in which they could build. Coincidently, he faced someone with the same surname. The Morwell Mills, stand-in skipper Blake, ended the day with 5/85. If there was commentators in local cricket, they would have surely delighted in the fact they could have said ‘Mills dismissed by Mills’ when Clancy was eventually caught with the score 4/168. From there, Burcombe continued on, and went at a good clip as he made 116 off 124 balls, with 16 fours and a six, following on from the good work of Mick Higgins, who chimed in with 26 off 32 earlier in the piece. Greg Harvey sent down 19 overs for Morwell and took 3/49. The final wicket fell precariously close to the end of the day, so close in fact the Tigers were forced to face one over. Morwell survived six agonising balls, and will be looking to make sure their bats get a good hit at training this week as they prepare to chase the required total in what is wicket-keeper Scott Douglas’ 100th match. MOE played classic day one Test match cricket. Taking on Latrobe at Ted Summerton Reserve, the Lions finished the day with 226 on the board and four wickets in the hut. The unavailability of star batsman Andrew Philip on day one did not deter Moe at the toss, and they still elected to bat first, much to their credit. Knowing there was a good chance the Sharks would have sent them in regardless, it is likely the Lions were mentally prepared to bat anyway. Moe was in a spot of bother early, sinking to 3/17, before the wise heads of Rob Phoenix and Ash Savige put on 54 for the fourth wicket. Phoenix made 38, while Savige contributed a gutsy 46 off 135 balls. If Moe has a trophy for most reliable, Savige would have to be a strong contender. More often than not he just seems to do what is required for the team. Callum Grant and Jarryd Atkinson picked up the slack later in the day; Grant top scoring with 57. Atkinson is 37 not out, and has Royce Colgrave on 24 for company heading into day two. Moe can bat on if they like, and may just give Colgrave a licence to swing. If he connects with a few, the Lions could easily get up around 280-300. Latrobe’s bowlers did a good job all things considered, keeping the run rate hovering at 2.5 an over. Tyron Gamage was again the pick, taking 3/39 off 23 overs with 12 maidens, working in tandem with coach Lachlan Dobson, who snared 2/55 off the same amount. Spinners Hiran Rajapakse and Steven Freshwater also contained well; the former only going for 24 runs off 12 overs, and the latter, 33 off 15.
