CRICKET
CRICKET LATROBE VALLEY
By LIAM DURKIN and BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
Premier A Grade
TRADITIONALISTS rejoiced as two day cricket returned at the weekend.
The first day of Round 5 in Cricket Latrobe Valley Premier A saw most teams use up their available batting time, with the challenge now moving to those in response to try and do similar.
Raiders 165, CATS 2/109
IF only he played every week.
An incredible bowling effort from Callum Stewart put CATS in the driver’s seat against Raiders.
The former English pro basically did it all, and took insane figures of 9/26 off 18.1 overs to see Raiders bowled out for 165.
Of the nine, three knocked over the timber and another was leg before.
Raiders figured their best approach was to score off the other bowlers, and they managed to do this to decent effect, only for wickets to fall once Stewart had the ball back in his hand.
Taking to Yinnar Turf, the home side actually got off to a magnificent start, thanks mainly to Rob ‘Barney’ Webber smashing 72 off 87 balls.
Akila Silva contributed 41 to the total, however, as has been an early season theme for Raiders, wickets were lost in clumps and the lower order didn’t put up much resistance.
Time was of no concern for CATS once Raiders had been bowled out, and they knocked off 109 runs in the 32 overs before stumps.
English import Owen Palmer fell just three runs short of a half-century, while Nathan Harrup (30 not out) and Eric Porigneaux (22 not out) saw the team to the end of the day’s play.
The visitors need 56 runs to win with eight wickets in hand.
Time will be of the essence if CATS wish to push for an outright. Given Harrup is more of an accumulator rather than a stroke maker, it may take another 30 overs for the visitors to get the required runs. That would then leave CATS around 50 overs to bowl Raiders out again.
Outrights are hard to come by, but with CATS yet to pick up points for a win this season, taking maximum credits here could really give their season an instant kick along.
Ex Students 187, Centrals 1/14
EX STUDENTS were asked to have a hit by Centrals, and finished Day 1 with a score of 187 to defend.
The league got its first look at Lions import and former Sri Lankan Test cricketer Nuwan Pradeep, who took the new ball for the visitors.
The Sharks curbed his influence as far as wickets were concerned, with Pradeep finishing with figures of 1/25 off 14 overs.
Jimmy Pryde and Hayden Richards negotiated the first session for the home side, making 46 and 24 respectively, before Jackson McMahon came in and scored 52 off 87 balls at first drop.
With no Lee Stockdale in the line-up, Ex Students showed they certainly aren’t a one-man show, and lasted the best part of 80 overs in their first dig.
Centrals were able to pick up wickets at semi-regular intervals, with poles tumbling the longer the innings went on.
Corey Pollard took 4/28 and Hiran Rajapakse 3/19, along with Will Littlejohn who chipped in with 2/28.
The Lions were given nine overs to survive until stumps, and will go into Day 2 with the score 1/14.
Toongabbie 194, Morwell yet to bat
TOONGABBIE batted all day against Morwell.
The Rams accepted the challenge of being sent in at Keegan Street, and finished on 194 after 92 overs.
Amal Athulathmudali was again the linchpin of the batting effort for the visitors, top scoring with 61 off just 55 balls – five of which went over the fence.
Daniel Barry played an opposite but equally valuable hand at number seven, making an unbeaten 51 off 199 rocks.
His stand with Matt Barry for the last wicket was just as valuable, with the young left arm orthodox hanging around for 71 balls.
Morwell didn’t do much wrong with the ball, evidenced by five bowlers all having economy rates with a one before the decimal point.
Pace and spin combined to good effect for the Tigers, as Todd Dixon collected 3/15 and Mark Cukier 2/33.
Moe 275, Glengarry 1/4
BOYS who bat left handed and bowl right handed.
A scintillating century from Benn Zomer helped Moe to a commanding total of 275 against Glengarry.
Leading by example, the vice captain walked off Ted Summerton Reserve with 146 to his name, the bulk of which was scored bating alongside skipper Noah Kane.
The pair put on 124 for the fourth wicket, with Kane making a timely 54.
His half century dug Moe out of trouble, after the home side had been reduced to 4/37. His effort also coincided with a personal landmark, going past 1500 first grade runs for the club.
Zomer meanwhile kept batting, and brought up his second first grade ton in as many seasons after joining the Lions from Latrobe two years ago.
In all, it was just about the perfect two day innings from the left hand bat, striking at 64.60, hitting 15 fours and three sixes.
The Magpies toiled well in the field, and were rewarded with flurries of wickets at both the start and end of the innings.
Nat Freitag took 4/54, Sam Marks 2/27 and Al Jenkin 2/66.
In what turned out to be a classic case of Catch 22, Glengarry was somewhat punished by taking the 10th wicket, meaning they had to bat four tricky overs before stumps.
The Magpies were on a bit of a hiding to nothing when they went out to bat, and lost a wicket among the 24 balls.
A Grade
ROUND 5 of Cricket Latrobe Valley A Grade reintroduced two-day cricket back into the fold.
All sides at the weekend concluded their batting stand meaning the respondents would begin their stints prior to this coming Saturday.
Imperials 4/354 d, Traralgon West 4/94
AT Catterick Crescent, Imperials and Traralgon West took to the field for the first time since Round 1 in which the match was abandoned after the Eagles began their chase.
After a day’s work with only five batters stepping up to the task, Imperials declared at 4/354 during the 63rd over, headlined by a double century from Tom Starkey.
Skipper Ryan Morley and Starkey put the home side on their backs for a combined 205 runs during their opening partnership.
Morley made a cool 92, including 12 fours before being put to bed in the 44th over after being caught by Darcy Cooke.
Starkey meanwhile continued his rampage as Brett Chapman entered and finished with a solid 29 off 38 balls.
Ultimately, Starkey produced his 28th ball across the boundary and added one more run to bring him perfectly to the 200 milestone.
The proceeding ball saw Dilshan Thilakarathne dismissed and ended Imperials stint.
Ben Fleming took 2/65 including four maidens to be the best of Traralgon West’s bowlers.
Despite the damage Imperials sustained, the Eagles took it on in limited time to finish Day 1.
It didn’t start well for the visitors, with Freddie Bowser making a royal duck after the ball nipped the bat leg side and keeper James Skingle dived for an inspiring catch.
Fellow opener Hayden Kimpton responded however, and Luke Phillips eventually arrived to make 41 before being stumped by Skingle.
Kimpton was eventually ran out, finishing on 42 off 39 balls.
Bryan Griffiths and Cooke provided a handful of runs before play was halted for the day with a score 4/94 after 24 overs.
Churchill 226, Rovers 3/46
CHURCHILL entered at the weekend, starting the season with four wins out of the gate and looked to be the firing side in the competition coming up against Rovers at Duncan Cameron, finishing with a 226 total.
While Brae Kelly put up a noteworthy 76 runs including seven fours and four sixes, there was much inconsistency from the rest of the Cobras line-up.
Ryan Harvey gutted out 23 runs, facing 105 balls.
Joel Mason then entered creating the spark the Cobras needed, with him and Harvey stretching out Churchill’s longest partnership before Harvey was caught by Aaron Dodd.
Making 58, Mason lasted all the way through to the final ball upon being stumped by keeper Damien Quigley, putting the Cobras all out in 70 overs.
Simon Duff took 4/80, Navdeep Singh 3/50 and Mitch Leslie 2/24.
Once the field had flipped, Rovers couldn’t find their footing, only managing 3/46 after 24 overs.
Mirboo North 245, Gormandale 0/36
MIRBOO North finished with a respectable 245 against Gormandale at Stoddart Oval.
Skipper Ben Heath got things off right with 48 runs, but it was a showing for Zach Hollis who was first to come on after opener Logan Anders was caught by keeper Dylan Keyhoe.
Hollis poured 88 off 100 balls, giving Mirboo North the firepower needed to step closer to their second win for the year.
Iain Allan (28) and Cameron Schellekens (16) were additional contributors for Mirboo North.
Yohan Soyza took 4/66 and Patrick Brooks 3/39.
Gormandale lasted 12.5 overs before the day was done, making 0/36 in which Campbell Peavey started their chase with 22.
Willow Grove 74, Latrobe 9/109
WILLOW GROVE dropped the ball at Joe Tabuteau Reserve (Moe Racecourse), posting a bleak 74 in just 47 overs.
The Wolves had little room to move as Latrobe bowler Jacob Bloomfield ran to an epic 5/12 performance, including eight maidens in his 12 overs.
Darcy Walsh added 25 runs off 38 balls to perform best for the Wolves, but that was pretty much all she wrote.
Steven Hanning also took 2/7, Stacy Rockliff 2/10 and Salman Rasool 1/13.
Electing to bowl had proven to be the correct method for Latrobe, simultaneously finding themselves into the match and deflating their opponent after such a strong defence.
Once play was stopped for Day 1, the Sharks had already passed Willow Grove while still at the 44th over – currently at 9/109.
Hanning was the true stand-out so far, finishing with 52 which carried Latrobe over the line for first innings points.
To the Wolves credit, Nathan Weatherhead has taken 4/23 and Ben Edebohls 3/17.
Premier B Grade (Round 5): Morwell 184 (J Pullen 83, J Holden 4/7, R Johnson 4/50) def Churchill 7/145 (S Forbes 32, S Freeman 25, M Carstein 2/15, K Alam 2/25, B Reside 2/33); Toongabbie 6/161 (J Love 53, M Farley 39*, J Porter 2/25) def Glengarry 9/160 (S Saju 79, S Henry 29, T Hood 4/27, W Zalesiak 2/9, B Hood 2/40); Jeeralang-Boolarra 4/311 (B McCormack 163, G Smith 116, G Stephens 2/55) def Traralgon West 152 (J McMillan 43, B Howe 32, K Cordery 31, J Cecil 4/23, J Hoy 2/23, C Stanton 2/29); CATS 3/133 (R Hare 42, M Anthofer 25) def Mirboo North 6/128 (G Vanderzalm 40*, G Walker 31*, C Le Page 25, V Penrose 3/31, J Motta 2/8); Thorpdale 4/133 (K O’Connell 41, L Morphett 38, J Durkin 34, L Fernance 2/12) def Ex Students 9/130 (D Churchill 51, L Swain 3/22, K Dron 2/16, H Ferguson 2/18).
B Grade (Round 5): Imperials 3/166 (B Sizeland 49*, T Bell 39*, D Campbell 33, T Paulet 25) def Willow Grove 8/164 (B Hams 66, A Wilkes 46, B Sizeland 3/3, A Moss 3/30, L Rickwood 3/38); Moe 8/98 (D Briggs 33, C White 6/18) def Gormandale 97 (M Whitney 3/15, D Farmer 3/19); Centrals 5/240 (D Rode 135, H Berry 56, D Richards 3/39) def Rovers 49 (C Perera 3/9, Brodie Howlett 2/1, B Ould 2/7, Himesh Rajapakse 2/8); Raiders 9/163 (J Berryman-Lambert 45, Jack Daddo 35, H Rai 28, C Hill 26, V Peddinti 4/28, J Fourlze 3/22) def Latrobe 99 (R Hebbard 34, Z Quinsey-Munro 4/17, C Hill 4/20, N Sandhu 2/21).
Premier C Grade and C Grade: League-wide bye for Melbourne Cup.
Women’s Championship (Round 3): Mirboo North 1/118 (K Collins 34*, A Dean 23*) def Rovers 5/41 (S Minster 16*, K Collins 2/4, T McConnell 2/11); Willow Grove 5/73 (J Christie 34*) def Raiders 6/63 (D King 22, T Hunt 17, J Christie 2/3, H Ferguson 2/16); Ex Students 4/82 (D Godenzi 31*) def Morwell 4/78 (K Stockdale 20, N Freeman 19).
Women’s Premier (Round 3): Imperials 1/94 (K Morley 30*, R Reid 25*, P Wheeler 19*) def Raiders 4/89 (G Sanders 27*); Willow Grove 1/82 (M Donoghue 35*, K Mann 27*) def Latrobe 7/79 (S Rockliff 66*, K Mann 3/20); Churchill 4/68 (D Cole 19, K Downes 2/12, T Leahy 2/12) def Centrals 2/63 (K Doble 23).
Under 16 (Round 4): Ex Students 8/109 (F Graham 33*, L Bastin 20*, C Boyes 3/23, K Senthilkumar 2/12) def Gormandale/Rovers 8/37 (A Gore 2/4, R Clark 2/5, J Kee 2/11); Willow Grove 6/106 (D Walsh 38*, N Sallee 24, T Webber 2/13) def Raiders 7/104 (K Caldwell 32*, A Ceeney 32*, J Keily 2/17, M Edebohls 2/19); Centrals 3/104 (N Gamage 31*, S Rajapakse 29) def Moe 5/62 (K Micallef 32*, E Dissanayake 2/1); Toongabbie 2/173 (X Hurley 31*, B Cooper 29*, T Young 28*, M Mayman 27) def Morwell/Latrobe 14 (T Hood 4/6, J Wall 2/1, T Young 2/6); Glengarry – BYE.
Under 14 (Round 3): Gormandale/Rovers 4/102 (J Armstrong 21*) def Willow Grove 6/85 (N Sallee 33*); Jeeralang-Boolarra 5/126 (T Blake 19, O Stanton 19, B Fife 3/14, A Nardone 2/23) def Moe 8/49 (G Sanders 2/6); Ex Students 3/120 (L Mackay 30*, T Churchill 26*, J Hazelman 19) def Morwell 7/85 (A Shirreff 23*, T Casey 22, K Lang 18, A Panwar 3/9, H Outhart 2/4, J Hazelman 2/6); Centrals 2/125 (N Gamage 33*, K Morrison 18*) def Latrobe 4/103 (B Duncan 31*, A Madex 22, W Lambert 2/8); Mirboo North – BYE.
