CRICKET
CRICKET LATROBE VALLEY
By LIAM DURKIN and BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
Premier A Grade
Centrals def Ex Students by 15 runs
AUSTRALIANS love an underdog victory.
The Australia Day weekend fittingly produced such in Cricket Latrobe Valley Premier A, with the promoted Centrals defeating reigning premier Ex Students.
For much of Saturday’s Round 11 fixture at Apex Park, it seemed a traditional batting horror show from the home side would lead to only one result.
But, while batsmen save games, bowlers win them, and the Lion trundlers did exactly this defending what appeared to be mirage total of 97.
From 2/40, the Sharks lost their next four wickets for just 22 runs, on the way to being bowled out for 82.
The 15-run win gave Centrals much reason to celebrate, not least the fact it had been 14 seasons since the Lions had beaten Ex Students.
Centrals veteran Corey Pollard enjoyed one of his finer hours, taking the last three wickets, while Jake Littleton opened up the middle order with just as many.
Ex Test quick Nuwan Pradeep took the key wickets of Matt Dyke and James Pryde, bowling out to finish with figures of 2/22 off 10 overs.
No one complains about imports when they deliver in big games – at least from the winning club.
While the Centrals bowlers collected most of the accolades, some of it should have also been directed Mark Rawson’s way.
The big hitter whacked 54 off 64 balls in the first half of the game, on a scorecard that featured just one other player reaching double figures.
Ex Students could not be faulted with the ball, as all five bowlers used took wickets.
The Sharks opened with spin, and Lee Stockdale (3/14) and Pryde (2/18) duly delivered.
Lakshay Panwar also had a productive time, taking 3/23.
Raiders def CATS by 71 runs
WHAT a difference a week makes.
Raiders gave themselves a much-needed confidence boost, defeating CATS on their home turf.
An SOS call answered by Raiders veteran Mick Higgins saw him slot into first drop and peel off a calm 34, helping push the visitor’s total past 200.
He partnered with George Cheshire (57 off 95) in a 101-run partnership for the second wicket, while skipper Liam Maynard led by example, making 40.
Burkeley Macfarlane was again reliable, remaining unbeaten on 36.
CATS called upon just about every player on the field to roll the arm over, using nine bowlers.
Tinashe Panyangara had some success with 2/26.
The two sides must have eaten completely different afternoon teas, as CATS pretty much had the game lost by the third over when the scoreboard read a staggering 4/4.
Cheshire and Ben Rivers ripped through the top order, taking five wickets between them, while Higgins cleaned up later in the piece with 3/44.
CATS captain Jamie Cochrane could not be blamed, as he made a sublime 84 which included three sixes.
That he made 84 out of a total of 152 on a card that featured five ducks would have given him every reason to be seething at the performance of his teammates.
His innings clearly illustrated the bowling or pitch was by no means unplayable.
The win was Raiders’ first since November, although in fairness their draw in the time between victories saw them play the top three sides in Glengarry (twice), Ex Students and Morwell.
More broadly, another club president heeded a call to arms to help make up a first grade side at the weekend.
CATS president Peter Duncan batted at 11 and was one of only two players not to bowl.
Hopefully it is not a sign of declining participation, but this season has seen a number of players coming out of retirement/semi-retirement to play.
Raiders president Jason Macfarlane had to play in the firsts a fortnight ago, while former Traralgon West Chief Sam Varsaci has been called upon twice since Christmas.
Add to that names such as Justin Vajler (Latrobe) and Shane Peters (Mirboo North), both champions of their respective clubs, but not ones that should probably still be required to play A Grade cricket.
To his credit, Moe coach Pat Spiteri has remained true to his word that he won’t be playing Saturday cricket this season, although there has likely been weeks where he could have justifiably been in a starting XI. (NB: Spiteri plays Over 50s for Gippsland Goannas on Sundays).
Morwell def Toongabbie by 111 runs
THERE are some serious 2017 parallels between Richmond and Morwell starting to develop.
The Tigers of Morwell won their fourth consecutive match at the weekend, just as the AFL team carrying the same moniker did toward the back half of its drought-breaking premiership season.
Granted there is still six weeks to go in the local regular cricket season, three of Morwell’s last four wins have been by convincing margins, which would surely give those with a foot in the Tigerland camp every reason to be confident.
Morwell added Toongabbie as its latest victim, gaining the points in a one-sided affair at Roger Ries Oval.
Officially Toongabbie’s mascot is a ram, yet a lamb would have been a more accurate depiction after what transpired at the weekend.
It was true lambs to the slaughter after Morwell posted 223 before skittling their opponents for just 112.
Toongabbie had a Nasser Hussain moment at the toss, electing to bowl first and seeing Morwell add 80 for the first wicket.
The Rams took just six wickets across 50 overs, as Tim Ford (55 not out), Fayaz Homyoon (44), Mark Cukier (41) and Jordan Campbell (26) contributed to the total.
Gayashan Munasinghe bowled well all things considered, taking 3/35, while spinner Matt Barry picked up 2/48.
Some games you just can’t put a foot wrong, and Morwell enjoyed such an occasion after tea, as the Rams fell to 2/2, with both openers openers in the shed for globes.
Wickets continued to fall from there, and at 5/41, the contest was effectively over.
Cukier nabbed 4/20, Brendan Brincat 2/20 and Ford (who might be a smokey for the league medal) 2/21.
Glengarry def Moe by 7 wickets
WHAT is even par at Ted Summerton?
Not 200, at least not against Glengarry.
The Magpies chased 194 against Moe, doing so with a whole 10 overs to spare.
The Lions got front pads mixed up with bats, as five players were dismissed leg before and only two made a significant impact on the scorecard.
Andrew Philip top-scored with 75, partnering with Benn Zomer who made 66 off 88 balls.
The pair put on 114 for the second wicket, before the dismissal of Zomer led to a steady procession.
Glengarry shared the wickets between six bowlers. Al Jenkin (3/27), Nathan Allen (2/37), and Nat Freitag (2/47) the multiple wicket takers.
Left armer Cam Graham however took the big wicket of Philip, nailing an off stump yorker from around the wicket.
Discounting a chop on, if you are bowling Andrew Philip it is either a very good ball or you’re a very good bowler.
Freitag guided the Magpies to victory with an unbeaten 115 off 125 balls.
It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for the left hander, who came in at 1/0 and was out in the middle when the score was 2/12.
Freitag and Ben Marks (63 red off 70) however wrestled back momentum, putting on a match-winning partnership of 148.
Hyperbole aside, it wouldn’t be totally out of the question for someone to make a double ton in a one dayer at Ted.
Freitag probably would have got there if it was the old Central Gippy days where you had to keep playing in one dayers even after a result had been reached.
You play to the rules of course, but just think how many players would have inflated statistics from this time.
A Grade
THE last round of one-dayers before finals came and went in Cricket Latrobe Valley A Grade at the weekend.
Churchill still holds a commanding lead on the ladder, and there’s as much separating second-placed Imperials from the rest of the pack.
Rovers def Latrobe by 10 wickets
ROVERS made it look easy against Latrobe, as they leapfrogged the Sharks into third after winning at Duncan Cameron in Round 11.
Latrobe had first hit and struggled to keep anyone in for a significant period of time, with Cameron Freshwater (24), Jamie Coltman (23) and Sam Wilson (20) the best contributors in a total of 117.
Rovers eliminated Latrobe in just over 40 overs, with Lachlan Patterson taking 3/32 and Ewan Williams 2/20.
By the time the field flipped, Rovers couldn’t be stopped, as a wicket wasn’t even sustained in their winning span.
Williams knocked an unmatched 68 not out at a 90 per cent strike rate, with Simon Duff 24 not out and Tyler Pearce retiring on 22.
Churchill def Mirboo North by 6 wickets
THE Cobras rallied against Mirboo North to continue their dominance over the competition.
The Tigers started off at Mirboo North Turf after Churchill elected to bowl, and showed good signs early on led by Iain Allan (32). However, a sustained crippling stretch came with six successive maidens.
Churchill bowled 15 maidens, with John Keighran taking 2/25 and Matthew Harvey 2/26.
It wasn’t a cakewalk for Churchill once they had bat in hand, but it was still done in a timely manner across 24.4 overs.
Brae Kelly made an unbeaten 74 off 54 while Brendan Mason (27 not out) and Keighran (21 not out) also contributed.
Imperials def Willow Grove
BACK to their winning ways.
Despite holding a three-game lead still for second on the ladder, Imperials secured a welcome victory over Willow Grove by 15 runs.
Imperials won the toss and elected to bat first at Willow Grove Recreation Reserve, setting up a tough 186.
Nick Bulcock did the bulk of the work with 72, followed by James Skingle (24) and Tom Starkey (21).
Robert Fiddelaers was a beast with the ball, taking 5/33 with Darcy Walsh supporting with 2/29.
The Wolves knew what needed to be done and got started well enough.
Kyan Mulley opened with 46 and later down the order Luke Payton notched 64.
However, there wasn’t much else to come besides captain Josh Hammond (20), as after he departed Willow Grove fell short by 15 runs.
Starkey took 4/42 and Bulcock 2/24.
Gormandale def Traralgon West by 57 runs
GORMANDALE kept themselves in the mix with a comfortable defeat of Traralgon West at Jack Canavan.
The Tigers batted first, putting together 188 across 50 overs.
Captain Matthew Hibbs (55) and Callum Polo (41) put on a century opening stand.
Traralgon West’s Luke Phillips took 3/34 and Jack Cooke 3/39.
Gormandale was then able to hold the Eagles down, as Matt Griffiths was the only one to break ahead with 45.
Sam Varsaci finished with 18 not out but the rest of the order was blitzed, especially in the backend by the Tigers outfit.
Patrick Brooks took 4/39 and Peavey 2/21.
Premier B Grade (Round 13): Glengarry 5/172 (P Henry 77, J Hodson 63, S Freeman 3/24) def Churchill 7/169 (S Forbes 55, I Ahmed 28, L Urand 27, T Duncan 3/29, P Henry 2/10); Morwell 226 (C Giddens 56, R Francis 42, S Gniel 37, C Seymour 25, J Giles 2/35, B Bright 2/43) def Traralgon West 136 (D Cooke 37, J Giles 34, R Gray 5/28, C Monds 2/30, B Reside 2/43); Ex Students 5/233 (D Churchill 108*, M Stockdale 66, A Jaensch 26) def CATS 8/41 (C Potalej 4/10, B Lewis 2/13); Thorpdale 1/240 (K O’Connell 106*, L Morphett 80*, Z O’Connell 34) def Mirboo North 83 (C Schellekens 29, Z O’Connell 4/27, L Morphett 2/6, M Powell 2/25); Jeeralang-Boolarra 143 (J Brierley 32, L Smith 30, T Hood 4/28, H Broad 2/8, M Cooper 2/31) def Toongabbie 100 (T Hood 27, B McCormack 4/25, J Brierley 2/13, L Smith 2/13).
B Grade (Round 15): Imperials 7/129 (A Donoghue 28*, D Campbell 27, B Sizeland 25*, K Scott 3/27, A Van Zuyden 2/17) def Rovers 128 (H Dunstan 4/24, A Moss 2/26); Willow Grove 4/201 (H Phoenix 58, H Binstead 45, B Hams 45) def Raiders 181 (K Hutchinson 35, H Rai 35, J Varghese 25, M Falla 3/30, N Weatherhead 2/24, J van der Stoep 2/53); Centrals 2/101 (H Berry 47, A Slimmon 26) def Latrobe 9/100 (J Downs 3/16, Hiran Rajapakse 2/5); Moe 8/281 (A Savige 79, T Oakley 45, B Finn 38, M Whitney 38, J Atkinson 29, B Fulham 2/21, R Farley 2/29) def Gormandale 61 (R Blunt 4/22, B McCartney 2/0).
Premier C Grade, C Grade: League-wide bye for Australia Day weekend.
Women’s Championship (Round 12): Morwell 4/88 (C Mayberry 31*, A George 18) def Willow Grove 1/75 (K Grima 24*, N Savige 20*); Raiders 1/51 (T Hunt 18*, J Witney 18*) def Rovers 6/50; Mirboo North vs Ex Students (no score supplied).
Women’s Premier (Round 12): Imperials 2/82 (K Morley 32*, R Reid 30*) def Raiders 5/76 (R Leeson 31*, C Goodwin 2/6); Willow Grove 0/112 (J Christie 32*, K Mann 30*, K Wheildon 16*) def Latrobe 5/65 (T Anderson 32*); Churchill 1/21 match abandoned vs Centrals 6/52 (L Pettie 17, D Cole 2/4, D Van Vliet 2/5).
