CRICKET
CRICKET LATROBE VALLEY
By LIAM DURKIN and BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
Premier A Grade
Raiders def by Moe by 1 run
MOE has had a few memorable days on the Yinnar Turf.
Last Saturday was another, as the Lions won an epic against Raiders by the grand total of one run.
Having registered 151 batting first, the visitors hung on for dear life, with a club favourite covering himself in glory.
With Raiders needing just two runs for victory, Moe pace bowler Robert Blunt sparked wild celebrations, knocking over Pasan Gunathilake to snare the winning wicket.
The man known as ‘Blunty’ rose to the occasion, and executed under a decent amount of pressure given teammates Keenan Hughes, Laytten Smith, Jordan Shields and Aaron Johnstone had all bowled out.
Such a finish appeared someway off earlier in the day, as Moe looked to build a formidable total.
A 52-run partnership between Ash Savige and Andrew Philip saw the Lions at 2/81, before the dismissal of Savige for a counterattacking 33 off 41 balls (five fours) triggered a collapse.
Philip was next to go for 30, and from 4/113, Moe lost their next two wickets without troubling the scorers.
The Lions were able to give their bowlers 150 to play with, thanks to a somewhat unassuming partnership between numbers 10 and 11 Blunt and youngster Ben McCartney.
While a partnership of 16 doesn’t normally elicit much fanfare, it ended up being worth its weight in gold the way the game played out.
Raiders used seven bowlers, with wickets shared throughout.
George Cheshire and Gunathilake took three each, while Harri McColl secured 2/11.
The Raiders innings mirrored Moe’s to some extent, with runs coming from the top order before wickets tumbled.
Cheshire put the home side into a healthy position, departing for 30 off 39 balls to see the scoreboard read 2/48.
He was undone by young gun Jordan Shields, who wrestled momentum back for the Lions.
After bowling Cheshire, the leg spinner then ran out Darryn Stares with a low direct hit from point, and trapped noted match-winner Rob Webber in front.Raiders were suddenly 6/94, although top order bat Akila Silva was still in and threatening to take his side over the line.
A precursor to Blunt’s heroics saw him bob up to take a crucial diving catch at short third man to see the back of Silva for a smashing 44 runs.
Raiders then snicked and fought their way closer to 150, but were 9/135 after Jesse Pheeney superbly ran out Tim Hutchinson with a direct hit – Moe’s second for the day.
An epic finish was now set up, with Raiders needing 15 runs off 24 balls with one wicket in hand.
Some chaotic moments followed, not least a direct hit that ricocheted away from any fielders backing up, allowing Raiders to sneak an extra run.
McColl and Gunathilake got it down to just four off 12 balls needed.
Moe captain and wicketkeeper Noah Kane had no choice but to bring the field in, and after two runs came off the first ball of Blunt’s fifth over, Kane might have just about been ready to take the gloves off.
A dot off the second followed, before the decisive third ball saw the timber disturbed.
Why can’t there be FrogBox at every ground.
Perhaps lost in Moe’s one-run victory was the fact it was the Lions’ first one-day win over Raiders when bowling second. The Lions remain without a blemish in the losses column to start the season, while Raiders (admittedly with plenty of time to make up), will hope to get on the board soon.
Changes to the order probably won’t make much difference, although seeing Webber batting as low as six has been an interesting sight in the early stages of the season.
Raiders captain Liam Maynard has also been opening the batting, whereas most would associate him with the role of middle order accumulator.
Discounting finals, this would have to rank as one of the most extraordinary wins in Moe’s history.
For Blunt, while he has certainly had more prolific A Grade games in terms of wickets, one would hope his efforts in coming up clutch on multiple occasions were appreciated.
In a game decided by one run, he not only took the winning wicket, but held onto a diving catch to dismiss the opposition’s highest scorer, and took the score past 150 with the bat.
You can rest assured the books would have added up as well.
Toongabbie def by Ex Students by 3 runs
WHAT a difference a week makes (sort of).
After looking the furthest thing from a cricket team against Moe, Toongabbie came within three runs of toppling reigning premier Ex Students.
The Sharks ended up defending their total of 160, but only after some late-day chaos at Roger Ries Oval.
Not for the first time, Ex Students took Rick Battista out from the break glass in case of emergency window, and his 77 not out off 103 balls was very much welcomed after the Sharks found themselves 2/23.
Battista and Mitch Harris put on 73 for the fourth wicket, with the former making 35.
Gayashan Munasinghe led the charge for the Rams, taking 3/36.
Victory looked assured for the Sharks when Toongabbie was 8/98, however, a scarcely believable cameo from number 10 Sam Moran very nearly snatched an incredible win.
Moran blasted two sixes and was 44 not out when the final wicket fell at the other end.
His effort was only bettered by first-drop Amal Athulathmudali, who scored 45 off 48 rocks.
Andrew Matthews proved a handful, taking 3/5 off five overs, while Adam Brady (2/16) and Lee Stockdale (2/34) both chipped in.
Glengarry def Morwell by 8 wickets
GLENGARRY was too strong for Morwell.
The Magpies won with relative ease at home, getting the job done by eight wickets.
The Tigers used their allotted overs, and closed at 8/141.
After slumping to 3/12, Tim Ford and Jordan Campbell set about rebuilding the innings.
Ford played a patient hand, and remained unbeaten on 58 off 116 balls, striking at exactly 50.
New ball operators Cam Graham and Nat Freitag did most of the damage for Glengarry, taking near identical figures of 3/27 and 3/28 respectively.
Ford knocked over Magpie openers Al Jenkin and Frank Marks early in the reply, but Freitag and Conor Robson were able to guide the team to victory from there.
Freitag walked off with 57 red to his name, while Robson also raised the bat.
Ford bowled out, taking 2/14 off his 10 overs with four maidens.
Conditions were clearly tricky at Fred King Oval, with a player the calibre of Freitag even taking close to 100 balls to reach 50.
Centrals v CATS – Abandoned
THE match between Centrals and CATS did not get a start.
A Grade
FOLLOWING the downpour that inflicted the Moe Cup on Friday, cricketers across Latrobe Valley rejoiced as the weather cleared up (although wind was still a factor) for A Grade action to return.
Round 3 featured cross town rivalries going head-to-head, close calls and a draw – however, one game was still canned, with Latrobe and Mirboo North getting the short end of the stick.
Willow Grove tied with Traralgon West
WHILE there was games decided by three runs and one run in Cricket Latrobe Valley Premier A, one was decided by even less in A Grade.
Willow Grove and Traralgon West could not be separated in Round 3 action.
In bizarre scenes at Willow Grove Recreation Reserve, the Eagles tied the match in the third-last over, only to lose their final wicket in the penultimate.
Chasing a total of less than 100 on a hard deck shouldn’t be too difficult in anyone’s language, although as they say: ‘never judge a game until both teams have batted’.
The Wolves were shot out in 35.2 overs, with Luke Payton the only player to make much of an impression, scoring 41 off 50 balls.
Payton blasted four sixes, but his dismissal at 6/71 saw the home side add only another 24 runs.
Hayden Kimpton provided a highlight in the field, with a superb flat throw from the boundary in front of the changerooms seeing Darcy Walsh short of his ground.
Jack Cooke and Reece Falla took three wickets each, the latter adopting the unusual method of bowling with his front foot landing parallel to the stumps.
Traralgon West had 10 overs to face before tea, with seemingly not an issue in the world.
By the time they were digging into the spread, there was plenty of issues, as the score read 4/23.
Sixty or so balls of mayhem ensued before the break – which it must be said was mainly self-inflicted by the Eagles.
Some very ordinary shot selection led to the demise of the top order, which suddenly heaped pressure on the batsmen to come.
A famous win was on the cards for Willow Grove, as Traralgon West looked dead and buried at 8/50.
Falla and Bryan Griffiths put on 37 for the ninth wicket, before Falla was bowled by Rob Fiddelaers.
This brought leg spinner Adam Thow out to the middle to face the music.
The Eagles only needed eight runs to win, but in the context of the game, and with a lush outfield to deal with, those eight runs may have indeed felt like 80, or even 180.
Thow and Griffiths scampered every run they could get, be it through hit and run or leg byes. A leg bye off the last ball of the 48th over meant Thow was back on strike with just one run needed to win.
Fiddelaers, who has probably played more games of football and cricket on Willow Grove Recreation Reserve than everyone present last Saturday, delivered the last wicket, trapping Thow in front to leave things all tied up.
Although it was a limited overs game, there are no provisions for a Super Over in league rules.
Fiddelaers had to make do with figures of 2/11, while Ben Edebohls must have had one eye turned to the sweet taste of victory against his old side, after taking 4/17 off 10 overs with three maidens.
Alas, if there is an Edebohls Cup, it remains at the trophy shop, or split in half.
While both teams might feel as though they escaped with a tie following poor batting displays, it may heighten the need to address some issues with the stick.
A couple of Wolves players went out to poor deliveries towards the end, while the application of the Eagles’ top order left a fair bit to be desired.
Traralgon West will need to sure up its batting, as it appears Tim Fitch is done for the season following hip surgery, while wicket-keeper Josh Monacella is still some time off.
What a way to spend a Saturday – play more than 80 overs and end up with the same number of points as a team that gets washed out and goes to the Caulfield Cup.
Imperials def Rovers by 3 wickets
IMPERIALS staved off Rovers out at Catterick Crescent.
Imps won the toss and elected to bowl as Rovers opening pair Liam Little and Tyler Pearce arrived on deck.
Little tempered with only 14 runs off 51 balls before being sent out off a high ball in the 14th over.
Pearce was their true goer, finishing with 36.
Enter captain Ewan Williams, by far Rovers longest stanza, who made 49 off 82 as many of his teammates came and went with only 23 runs compiled by the remaining seven batsmen.
Scott Aitken was the man for Imperials with five wickets across his nine-over stand.
Imperials began their chase with captain Ryan Morley starting proceedings strongly for his side with 32 runs out of the gate.
Fellow opener Brad Sizeland was dismissed after 11 balls with just nine runs, before Brett Chapman arrived, making an impressive 24 off 36.
While Morley stood strong, James Skingle (34 off 58) and Todd Mann (24 off 44) were left to get the winning runs with under four overs remaining.
Singh took three wickets for Rovers.
Gormandale def by Churchill by 2 wickets
CHURCHILL continued their hot start to the season, taking down Gormandale out at Andrews Park West.
The Tigers opened up proceedings with the combination of Callum Polo (16 runs) and Campbell Peavey (17), but were both kept at bay off the back of trading Cobras bowlers Nathan Heard and Patrick Brooks.
Each were eventually dismissed – and while they did have a consistent output from their list, no one produced a stand-out performance, with Yohan Soyza (19) and Nick Scammell (18) best for Gormandale.
Steve Warr and Ross Whelpdale finished with three wickets each for Churchill.
The Cobras then began their march, pushing for a third win from three games to start the season.
The chase was less than straightforward, and Gormandale very nearly pinched it, getting within two wickets (effectively seven as there was only two to get when the eighth wicket fell).
Brae Kelly made 29, yet Ryan Harvey was the highlight of the day with 56 off 107 balls that included 5 fours.
Nathan Heard finished with four wickets for the Tigers.
Latrobe v Mirboo North – Abandoned
Lower Grades
Premier B Grade (Round 3): Glengarry 6/240 (P Henry 87, A Hodson 44*, J Hodson 32, A Newton 28, B Wilson 2/36) def CATS 203 (R Hare 85, L Pass 45, V Penrose 33, M Anthofer 26, A Hodson 3/17, A Newton 2/27, J Hodson 2/37, J Porter 2/40); Morwell 8/101 (H Stockdale 43*, K Fortuin 26, N Thomson 2/16, K Duncan 2/18) def Ex Students 99 (A Jaensch 38, B Reside 3/9, N Day 2/18); Traralgon West 77 (R Johnson 3/4, J Dunn 3/10, A Norman 2/22) def Churchill 52 (S Cooke 4/15, B Lever-Makin 2/12); Jeeralang-Boolarra vs Thorpdale (abandoned); Mirboo North vs Toongabbie (abandoned).
B Grade (Round 3): Moe 4/108 (B Finn 55*, J Atkinson 31*) def Imperials 105 (J Atkinson 4/35, D Farmer 2/8); Raiders 7/179 (Jock Macfarlane 49, A Joshy 45, T Darby 30, J Berryman-Lambert 26, S Carney 2/25, O Grant 2/34) def Rovers 97 (A Dodd 35, Z Quinsey-Munro 3/18, C Hill 3/23, N Sandhu 2/13); Willow Grove 3/84 (A Wilkes 44, W Darcy 26) def Gormandale 76 (H Crean 26, L Tumino 5/19, J van der Stoep 4/33); Centrals 4/124 (D Rode 57*) def Latrobe 3/122 (G Hebbard 36, M Zomer 32*, D Madathanapalli 27*).
Premier C Grade (Round 2): Centrals 7/126 (J Poursanidis 29*, Brad Howlett 27, H Pettie 27, T Kosterman 3/13) def Ex Students 123 (T Kosterman 52, S Rajapakse 3/50, C Perera 2/4, N Gamage 2/15); Mirboo North 116 (P Woodall 35, A Degennaro 26, D Shields 25, R Gray 3/6, J Sterrick 3/26, M Carstein 2/41) def Morwell 94 (K Collins 3/6, A Degennaro 2/13, D Calder 2/27); Moe 1/68 (K Micallef 25*) def Rovers 63 (B Donoghue 25, S Palmer 4/11, F Manduci 2/9, M Glibanovic 2/16); Glengarry vs Imperials (abandoned); Toongabbie def CATS via forfeit.
C Grade (Round 2): Willow Grove 2/85 (T Cotter 53*) def Raiders 81 (J Cotter 2/2, L Donoghue 2/15, R Archipow 2/15); Latrobe 9/108 (P Mooney 26, A Atkinson 25*, N Jenkins 4/9, B Klimisch 2/13) def Imperials 89 (T Beattie 25, P Moody 3/9, A Heatherington 3/24, R Borlase 2/10); Churchill vs Gormandale (abandoned); Rawson def Traralgon West via forfeit, Jeeralang-Boolarra – BYE.
Women’s Premier (Round 1): Raiders 2/74 (Z Quinsey-Munro 30 ret, J Sanders 21*, K Mann 2/11) def Willow Grove 7/61 (K Mann 32, Z Quinsey-Munro 2/3, H Baker 2/12); Churchill 4/86 (E Lugton 29*) def Imperials 3/83 (A Murtagh 21*); Latrobe 2/83 (S Rockliff 30 ret) def Centrals 6/68 (F Morrison 29 ret, E Doolan 2/4, S Rockliff 2/16).
Women’s Championship (Round 1): Willow Grove 0/88 (J Christie 33 ret, K Mitchell 31 ret) def Morwell 4/81 (R Ball 31 ret, N Freeman 23, J Christie 2/9); Mirboo North 4/86 (K Collins 33*) def Raiders 2/80 (T Hunt 30 ret, D King 25*); Ex Students 2/92 def Rovers 4/42 (R Adams 2/1).
Under 16s (Round 2): Centrals 3/140 (N Gamage 42, J Poursanidis 34*, H Leeson 22*, L Barnes 2/24) def Gormandale/Rovers 5/137 (C Boyes 40, R Farley 23, O Speairs 2/21); Toongabbie 114 (T Young 32, T Hood 24, B Cooper 20, D Walsh 4/22, Z Larkin 2/21, D van der Stoep 2/21) def Willow Grove 9/89 (N Sallee 22*, J Wall 2/8, T Young 2/16); Morwell/Latrobe 6/189 (J Mooney 51 ret, W Frankland 27, H McKay 25, C Gray 23, T Duff 3/19) def Moe 88 (B Cake 39, J Sterrick 3/27); Raiders vs Ex Students (abandoned); Glengarry – BYE.
Under 14s (Round 1): Ex Students 6/89 (B Bremner 2/4) def Gormandale/Rovers 9/42 (J Hazelman 4/2, R Clark 2/4); Morwell 5/120 (C Gray 29 ret, J Sterrick 22 ret, H Smith 2/9, B Duncan 2/13) def Latrobe 4/65 (B Duncan 27*); Centrals 4/117 (N Gamage 34 ret, J Poursanidis 30 ret, A Hurley 25 ret, C Stanton 2/3) def Jeeralang-Boolarra 3/84; Willow Grove 2/99 (N Sallee 30 ret, J Grima 23, O McCarthy 2/17) def Mirboo North 8/88 (L Chila 40*, J Grima 3/12); Moe – BYE.
