CRICKET

CRICKET LATROBE VALLEY

By LIAM DURKIN and BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

Premier A Grade

DEFENCE proved harder to beat than the rain in some instances on Day 2 of Round 12 in Cricket Latrobe Valley.

Outrights, draws, and even a reverse outright and a ‘winning draw’ made for something of a strange day, as not a single first innings victory was recorded.

 

Moe def CATS via outright by 42 runs

MOE kept its finals hopes alive with an outright victory over CATS.

The Lions resumed in a commanding position, having already won on first innings, and established a lead of 190 by the time CATS batted again on their home turf.

After being knocked over for 64 in their first dig, the team from Traralgon South at least doubled that effort second time around, but it still wasn’t enough to force Moe to bat again.

Ben Hagley chipped in with 25 down the order, while three other players who made scores in the 20s would have been disappointed to get out once set.

Keenan Hughes secured 10 wickets for the match, taking 4/58, working alongside new ball partner Clinton Taylor, who returned saintly figures of 4/39.

The Lions took 10 points for their innings win, moving them to fifth and just two points adrift of fourth-placed Centrals.

The Lions of Moe would have displaced their Traralgon Lion counterparts if Raiders could bat.

 

Centrals def Raiders via reverse outright by 6 wickets

CENTRALS won reverse outright at Yinnar Turf, amid a pretty confusing game all round.

Having seemingly done enough to at least ‘win’ the game on Day 1, Raiders resumed at 0/14 and with a lead of 73.

They added only another 44 runs to the total, and were inexplicitly shot out for just 58, as Centrals’ three pronged pace attack did the damage.

Marc Fenech took 4/28, Nuwan Pradeep 3/10 and Tyron Gamage 3/18.

The bowlers had done their job, now it was up to the batters, and they delivered for the Lions, losing just four wickets on the run to victory.

Jake Littleton (42) and Corey Pollard (31) set things up with a strong opening partnership, paving the way for Mark Rawson to come in and make 29 off 41 balls.

Rob Webber took 2/31 for Raiders.

Raiders at least got off the bottom of the ladder (swapping place with CATS), after taking six points for a first innings win, but it could be too little too late as far as relegation is concerned.

 

Ex Students drew with Toongabbie

WHAT are you prepared to do not to get relegated?

Make a 30 ball globe? Or how about 13 not out off 56 rocks?

Ex Students got some taste of their own medicine from last season’s semi-final block-a-thon, after Toongabbie batted the best part of 50 overs to force a draw on Day 2.

The Rams decided 350 was too much to chase – even at Terry Hunter Oval, and so set about doing their best impression of Rahul Dravid.

Toongabbie stalwart Rob Wheildon achieved ‘mad respect’ status from at least one local cricketer known to fancy front dog defence, batting all day for 44 not out off 146 balls.

The situation wasn’t enough to force Amal Athulathmudali into his shell, as he still clubbed 76 off 65 balls, sending three over the fence.

Splitting the points meant Toongabbie are now four points clear in sixth, which could be enough to keep them in Premier A, provided they defeat Raiders next round.

Can we foresee a change in two day rules next season…

 

Morwell v Glengarry match abandoned

STEVE McQueen would have been proud of that.

Morwell pulled off their own great escape, with the match at Keegan Street abandoned after the Tigers were eight down and heading for certain defeat.

Chasing 247 against Glengarry, semi-regular wickets stifled any momentum. Tim Ford (42 not out) and Fayaz Homyoon (27) were the only ones really able to make much of an impression.

Whoever did the rain dance for Morwell may well be thanked come finals time, as the Tigers remain in with a shot of securing a home final.

Wickets were shared in the Magpies camp, with Cam Graham, Max Merton, Brandon Mayberyy and Nathan Allen all taking multiples.

 

A Grade

IT may be apparent who’s destined to be promoted to Cricket Latrobe Valley Premier A by season’s end.

However, teams coming from below can still offer a fight against Churchill, particularly from Imperials and potentially Rovers.

 

Churchill def Traralgon West via outright by 8 wickets

AFTER declaring for 189 at Jack Canavan, the top-placed Cobras gave bottom-ranked Traralgon West a chance to redeem themselves after being bowled out for 124 in their first innings.

While the Eagles made it past the target, they still ended their second innings with an average take of 110.

Josh Monacella made an unbeaten 49 but wasn’t supported much by any other. Chris Williams took 4/28 and Stephen Warr 3/21.

Chasing 45, it took less than five overs to take Churchill across the line to an outright.

John Keighran made 32 not out to lead the way.

 

Rovers def Willow Grove via first innings by 61 runs

MAKING a comfortable 206 in their first innings, Rovers look set to etch closer to Imperials over the next four weeks with a win over Willow Grove.

At Joe Tabuteau (Moe Racecourse), the Wolves began their chase with Kyan Mulley making a solid 48, which was followed by Nathan Wheildon (29), Luke Payton and captain Josh Hammond (both 20).

However, the back of the order were stopped in their tracks and Willow Grove were ultimately done for 145.

Simon Duff starred for Rovers, taking 5/37 and Ewan Williams 3/22.

 

Mirboo North def Latrobe via first innings by 95 runs

GETTING through to stumps making 205, Mirboo North gained confidence against Latrobe at Mirboo North Turf.

The Sharks then push forward and began their run – but couldn’t get any traction across Day 2.

Captain Steven Freshwater (38) did his best but was left bereft of much support.

Will Lawrey took 3/27 and Dale Banks 3/8 to help bowl Latrobe out for 110.

 

Imperials def Gormandale via first innings by 71 runs

IMPERIALS continued on their merry way, easily surpassing Gormandale at Stoddart Oval.
Imperials already past their target on Day 1, but bumped up to 186 for a 90-run difference against their opponent.

Nick Bulcock made 49 followed by James Skingle (39) and captain Ryan Morley (35).

Lasting most of Day 2, Imperials handed the reigns back to the Tigers with little left in the day, with them only making 2/19 in their second innings before the match was over.

Imperials however, still trail Churchill by four games with just two matches remaining before finals.

 

Premier B Grade (Round 14, Day 2): Ex Students 5 def 303 (H Canny 111, C Potalej 111, N Farley 3/79, M Cooper 2/60) def Toongabbie 105 (Z Bastin 3/26, J Zappulla 2/1, D Churchill 2/10); Thorpdale 208 (Z O’Connell 55*, M Graeme 38, K O’Connell 36*, B Reside 4/57, N Day 2/28) def Morwell 113 (R Semmler 29, Z O’Connell 4/18, K O’Connell 3/37, M Powell 2/20) & 3/151 (R Semmler 51, H Stockdale 46*, S Gniel 34*); Mirboo North 5d/333 (A Scicluna 121, R King 43, C Schellekens 42, M Daly 40, B Lever-Makin 2/55) def Traralgon West 82 (B Howe 26, R Hughes 6/37, G Walker 4/43) & 6/254 (C Glynn 94, S Varsaci 51*, S Cooke 37, T Basarke 2/52); Glengarry 0/72 (P Henry 36*, A Newton 31*) drew CATS 334 (R Hare 171, T Hagley 42, C Wilkerson 32, J Bellingham 32, G Waack-Hawkins 4/46, D Cochrane 2/56).

B Grade (Round 17): Centrals 7/193 (D Rode 75, S Gray 53, S Sandhu 3/39, J Berryman-Lambert 2/42) def Raiders 107 (A Joshy 38, H Rai 27, B Ould 3/9, J Downs 2/36); Latrobe 8/126 (G Hebbard 44, J Mooney 26, S Dawson 4/29, M Failla 2/31) def Willow Grove 124 (S Dawson 36, P Grima 25, K Hebbard 5/20, M Lawrence 2/6, A Antony 2/20); Imperials 3/83 (J Anderson 36) def Gormandale 82 (P Shrubb 34, D Loots 4/15, B Sizeland 2/0); Moe 5/234 (K Micallef 52, J Atkinson 50, J Pheeney 28) drew with Rovers DNB.

Premier C Grade (Round 13): Imperials 8/218 (R Martin 78, A Smith 33, L Sykes 31, N Findlay 2/28, D Brain 2/36) def Rovers 77 (R O’Donnell 25, D Morris 5/21, P Dunstan 2/14); Moe 3/109 (R Straughair 42, R Semmens 23) def Morwell 9/108 (T Key 26*, D Biggins 4/35, S Palmer 2/24); Toongabbie 5/213 (G McIllroy 105, J Wall 27*, D Millington 2/32) def Ex Students 6/212 (S Thomson 69, P Hennessy 45, D Millington 33, B Hood 2/44); Glengarry 7/112 (J Ponnattu John 27, L Gibbons 4/35, H Pettie 2/21) def Centrals 111 (A Foley 53, M Cochrane 3/42, D Roulston 2/9, R Rouse 2/12); Mirboo North – BYE.

C Grade (Round 13): Latrobe 0/82 (D Mcdougall 41*, R Borlase 37*) def Gormandale 9/79 (R Borlase 5/13); Rawson 0/32 def Imperials 28 (J Wiseman 4/7, B Brouwer 2/4, M Metcalfe 2/8, M Williams 2/8); Jeeralang-Boolarra 3/152 (E Stanton 69, N Spark 44*) def Raiders 85 (C Stanton 5/13, A Baker 2/16); Willow Grove vs Churchill (no score supplied); Traralgon West – BYE.

Women’s Premier (Round 14): Churchill 6/66 (D Cole 25, T Anderson 2/13, M Duncan 2/14) def Latrobe 4/64; Imperials 0/98 (R Reid 31*, K Morley 30*, A Murtagh 29*) def Willow Grove 3/78 (K Wheildon 23*, R van der Stoep 18, K Mann 17); Raiders 2/53 (Z Quinsey-Munro 28*, K Downes 2/24) def Centrals 5/51 (S Blines 2/12).

Women’s Championship (Round 14): Willow Grove 2/65 (H Ferguson 23*) def Rovers 4/64 (S Brown 22*); Ex Students 3/89 (R Adams 30*) def Raiders 5/79 (D King 30*, L Richards 2/14); Mirboo North 2/82 (K Collins 30*) def Morwell 4/77 (N Freeman 31).

Under 16s (Round 10, Day 2): Willow Grove 136 (D Walsh 43, L Dart 20*, W Frankland 2/8, C Boys 2/15) def Morwell/Latrobe 54; Ex Students 7/241 (R Conway 51*, M Cropley 40, L Henry 36, K Hart-Theissling 34*, K Micallef 3/17) def Moe 9/73 (K Micallef 24, M Cropley 3/14, F Graham 2/11, L Bastin 2/13); Toongabbie 6/270 (B Cooper 51*, T Young 50*, X Hurley 33, M Mayman 23, K Pritchett 23*, T Donoghue 22, S Darby 2/15) def Raiders 79 (A Ceeney 31, J Wall 3/8, M Mayman 3/9, J Hazelman 2/19); Gormandale/Rovers vs Centrals (no score supplied), Glengarry – BYE.

Under 14 Girls (Round 5): Willow Grove 0/60 (R van der Stoep 16*, L Blackshaw 13*) def Ex Students 6/59 (R van der Stoep 2/7); Traralgon West 6/76 (A Hodson 19, C Stockdale 3/10, G Cukier 2/8) def Raiders 2/73 (A Hodson 2/6).

Under 14s (Round 9, Day 1): Moe 5/49 (K Morrison 2/7, J Poursanidis 2/8) vs Centrals 9/70 (E Dissanayake 19*, A Nardone 2/3); Morwell 4/63 (W Frankland 17*, R Teagle 2/13) vs Mirboo North 2/127 (J Calafiore 50*, L Chila 29*); Ex Students 4/123 (B Cooper 52*, T Churchill 50*, N Sallee 2/8, J Grima 2/18) vs Willow Grove 3/93 (N Sallee 48*); Gormandale/Rovers vs Jeeralang-Boolarra (no score supplied); Latrobe – BYE.