LIAM DURKIN
CRICKET
CLV A GRADE
By LIAM DURKIN
RAIN did not stop winners being crowned in Cricket Latrobe Valley A Grade.
Round 6 matches were completed at the weekend, with all games being pretty one-sided.
TRARALGON WEST got back to business.
The Eagles easily defended their first innings total of 257, knocking over Centrals for 137 at Jack Canavan.
The home side backed itself in on Day 2, opting not to bat on, instead giving them more time to take all 10 wickets.
Centrals got off to a steady start, before off spinner Ben Fleming was brought into the attack.
Fleming, new to the Eagles this season, took the big wickets of Rob Webber for 30, and then Lions captain Tye Hourigan for a third-ball duck, to see the visitors with two fresh batsmen at the crease.
Fleming added a third some time later, and then a fourth as Centrals fell to 5/91.
Mark Rawson proved something of a roadblock for Traralgon West, getting himself to 35 off 40 balls.
However, as always seems to be the case with Rawson, he was dismissed after making an attractive score in the 30s, falling lbw to Darcy Cooke.
From there, the rest of the batting failed to come together, and Traralgon West was able to raffle off the remaining wickets.
Some moments of pure defence threatened to force a draw, yet these only delayed the inevitable.
Fleming led the way with 4/40, ably supported by Harvey Bright (2/4) and Ben Edebohls (2/12).
IMPERIALS finally found their feet.
After a few average batting performances, Imperials were able to put together a decent first innings total of 249 against Gormandale.
Taking to Catterick Crescent, the home side was well served by Dilshan Thilakarathne, who made 68, along with Anu Meenakshi (51), Scott Aitken (43) and Kaveesha Jayasuriya (31) on the first day.
The Tigers found success with the ball from skipper Matt Hibbs (3/33) and Yohan Soyza, who gave very little away in his 3/36 off 21.5 overs.
Come Day 2, Hibbs was again the man for Gormandale, scoring 32 in the middle order.
Others to make runs were Dylan Freitag (36 not out), Nat Campbell (28) and Campbell Peavey (24), yet unfortunately for the Tigers, they ended up being one more decent score or partnership short, and were bowled out for 173.
Thilakarathne could not be denied, and completed just about the perfect game, taking 6/46 (including four unassisted) to go with his 68 from the previous day.
Dom Thompson was forced to play second fiddle, and took 2/40 off 13 overs.
THINK Pattto might have been a bit too quick for some of these blokes.
Rovers speedster Lachlan Patterson tore through Willow Grove, as Rovers completed an outright victory at Duncan Cameron.
Patterson set up victory by taking the first five wickets on Day 1, bowling three, before coming back and claiming two more in the second innings.
In an unfortunate sight following a confidence boosting reverse outright win the previous round, Willow Grove was bowled out for just 26 in their first innings, in response to Rovers’ 230.
That English import Luke Payton scored 18 of those 26 runs perhaps said it all.
Coming into Day 2 a mammoth 188 runs behind, not even a 90 minute rain delay could save the Wolves from losing maximum points.
The second innings fared hardly much better, this time, Willow Grove was bowled out for 62.
Patterson took 2/8 to go with his 5/16 from the first dig.
Stefan Sbaglia nabbed 4/20, while Dougal Williams did his average no harm, taking 2/0.
Having achieved two wins in succession leading into the game, a loss of this magnitude will more than likely be viewed as one step forward and two giant steps back for the developing Wolves in their second season of A Grade.
Coach Todd Mann kept his side out in the middle for what seemed a long time after the game, and a few players could have learnt a harsh lesson in not getting ahead of oneself.
LATROBE had the bye.
CLV PREMIER A
By LIAM DURKIN
RAIN caused some havoc in Cricket Latrobe Valley Premier A at the weekend.
The first day of Round 6 saw the diversity of Gippsland weather on full display, as showers hit some areas more than others.
Contests remain very much alive however, as all four games got a start, meaning intrigue now surrounds just how respective captains will try and force results heading into Day 2.
EX STUDENTS and Churchill are locked in a pretty good battle.
The Sharks are 7/171, having faced 56 overs at Terry Hunter Oval.
All players in the top order got to double figures for the home side at the weekend, with Mitch Harris the one to make the most of his opportunity, scoring 44.
Others to chip in were Matt Dyke (34) and Rick Battista, who will resume on 27 not out.
King Cobra John Keighran again showed his skill, taking 4/41 off 15 overs with five maidens.
Chris Williams proved to be a somewhat unassuming go-to man with the ball, sending down 19 overs and returning tidy figures of 1/59.
GLENGARRY has got itself into a decent position against Raiders.
The Magpies reached 3/104 at stumps at Fred King Oval.
Raiders liked conditions for bowling, and decided to inject their opponents in at the toss.
Things appeared promising when Al Jenkin and both Marks boys were back in the shed cheaply, thanks to some great bowling from Luke Thornton.
Glengarry steadied through the efforts of Nat Freitag and Chris Dunn, who are unbeaten on 48 and 35 respectively.
ONLY 17 overs were bowled up at Mirboo North.
The Tigers took on Moe, who are 1/40.
Team leaders Noah Kane and Andrew Philip will resume their innings this Saturday. Kane is unbeaten on 22.
Ironically, Evan Sheekey made his first grade debut for the Lions in a rain affected match.
Sheekey had previously been selected in washed out rounds, but was able to technically make his debut as this match had a start.
Officially speaking, a game of cricket only counts in records if there is a coin toss.
The Moe debut adds to Sheekey’s likely hundreds of A Grade games, with previous stints at Yallourn North, Latrobe and CATS.
CATS are already chasing against Morwell.
The match at Keegan Street saw the most amount of overs on Saturday, with close to 85.
The home side batted first and compiled 158.
CATS have made a strong start, and are currently 1/51.
TOONGABBIE had the bye.
