CRICKET
CLV
By LIAM DURKIN
BOWLERS generally had more success than batsmen in Cricket Latrobe Valley at the weekend.
Across the two first grade divisions, there was five five wicket hauls taken on Day 1 of Round 8.
This was likely attributed to rust from most players, who hadn’t had a hit for the best part of a month due to poor weather.
MORWELL should wrap up first innings points against Centrals.
The Tigers are 0/100 chasing 174 at Keegan Street.
Blair Clymo has found form, and is unbeaten on 54 for the home side, partnering with Kris Fortuin on 39, in what could technically be classed as his 299.5th game.
The Lions’ innings was plagued by starts, as five players reached double figures.
Only Tyron Gamage (53 not out), who was dismissed off a no ball, and Jaxon Murdoch (32) were able to make an impression.
Morwell bowled well as a unit, with five of six bowlers taking a wicket.
Todd Dixon snared 3/9 and off-spinner Ross Whelpdale 3/41 on return to the club.
IMPERIALS hold all the aces against Moe.
The boys from Catterick Crescent have already won on first innings, and lead by 36 runs with three wickets in hand.
Imperials have the option of going for quick runs to set up an outright, or batting long enough to make the Lions shake hands at arvo tea.
Given Todd Mann is at the crease, with Aaron Johnstone to come, it appears a safe bet Imperials will hit out.
All this said, outrights are hard to achieve, and Moe could well shut up shop in its second dig if it doesn’t feel a reverse outright is worth risking.
Imperials off-spinner Charlie Pilling did the damage early in the day, taking 5/21 off eight overs.
Moe was cruising at 2/90 before collapsing.
EX STUDENTS batted all day.
The Sharks put up 7/261 against Glengarry, headlined by Matt Dyke scoring 118 in a marathon 252-ball stay at the crease.
The opener hit 13 fours at Terry Hunter Oval, but was mainly featured in application and deft touches to get off strike.
Ex Students can bat into Day 2 if they wish, although a score of 260 should be enough.
A few Glengarry players might have a light week on the track, especially Al Jenkin, who sent down 28 overs for 2/93.
TOONGABBIE might be staring down the relegation barrel already.
The Rams are 1/1 chasing 259 against Churchill at Roger Reis Oval.
Cobras skipper Ryan Ayres fell just eight runs short of a ton batting at four, backing up the good work of opener Brae Kelly, who made 68.
Ric Velardi featured in the side for the first time this season, and played his role with 29 off 94 balls.
Gayashan Munasinghe bent his back for 20 overs, and was rewarded with a five wicket haul.
TRARALGON WEST got past 200 against Latrobe in A Grade.
The Eagles were asked to have a hit at Jack Canavan, and responded through Hayden Kimpton (65), Alfie Peck (57) and Chris Glynn (42).
Of concern however was the number of bowled dismissals – six all up.
Rob Webber and Liam Duncan were the chief destroyers for Latrobe, taking eight poles between them.
The Sharks are 0/23 in reply, after negotiating 18 overs before stumps.
ROVERS declared at 8/254.
Travelling to Stoddard Oval, the team from Duncan Cameron made the most of the opportunity to bat first on Gormandale’s deck.
Openers Simon Duff and Tyler Pearce both registered half-centuries, paving the way for Darion Duncan to come in and make a run-a-ball 64 not out.
Yohan Soyza was the pick of the Tigers bowlers, saluting with 5/50 off 25 overs.
DOES this say more about Raiders or Mirboo North?
Raiders has already won on first innings, and is primed to roll the Tigers outright.
The team from Yinnar made 178 batting first at home, before left arm quick Keenan Hughes ran through the Mirboo North line-up, to see the visitors skittled for 40.
Hughes took 7/26, following the lead of his skipper, Liam Maynard, who made 63 earlier in the piece.
Raiders enforced the follow on, and Mirboo North will resume at 0/10, still 128 runs shy of even making Raiders bat again.
IF Willow Grove wins this, it will surely be one of the greatest wins in the club’s history.
The small town club has a fighting chance to beat the well-resourced CATS on their home turf.
CATS are 6/82 chasing 134.
Willow Grove captain Ben Edebohls has so far taken 3/16 and made 43 with the bat, and could hold the key to what happens this Saturday.
Equally however, CATS still have Cal Stewart and Tinashe Panyangara to bat.
If ever there was a reason to show why CATS recruit players of this calibre, now is surely the time.
Stewart has three wickets in the game, as does Dane Fawcett, who can certainly bat.
Josh Keyhoe gave CATS a good look at victory opening the batting, scoring 51.
T20s
THE last pool games of the Cricket Latrobe Valley Twenty20 competition have been completed.
Round 1 matches were rescheduled to Tuesday, December 9 after poor weather forced an abandonment of the original schedule.
The competition then moved into the quarter finals, played last night (Tuesday, December 16) after the Express went to press.
MOE went undefeated during its qualifying games in Pool A.
The Lions beat Morwell by four wickets and with seven balls to spare chasing 113 at Keegan Street.
Chris Robinson made a return to cricket, scoring 26 off 28 balls opening up for the visitors.
Ross Whelpdale (2/18) and Todd Dixon (2/25) were the multiple wicket-takers for the Tigers.
Leading lights with the ball for Moe were Ben Zomer (3/18) and Callum Grant (2/13).
Raiders easily accounted for Mirboo North.
The team from Yinnar posted 3/129 at home, before bowling the Tigers out for 60.
Harri McColl was given a licence at the top, and dashed to 53 off 56 balls.
Liam Maynard made a busy 39 not out off 32 balls.
McColl completed a productive Tuesday night, taking 3/17, while Keenan Hughes returned somewhat bewildering figures for a T20, taking 4/3 off four overs with two maidens.
Despite the margin of victory, it was not enough to propel Raiders into the quarter finals.
TRARALGON WEST accounted for Jeeralang-Boolarra to qualify in Pool B.
The Eagles chased the 96 needed on the Boolarra hard stuff.
Panthers veteran Glen Smith was his side’s top-scorer, noodling 35 off 44 balls.
Wickets were shared among the Traralgon West trundlers. Ben Fleming (2/13), Hayden Kimpton (2/17) and Jack Cooke (2/24) all chimed in.
Alfie Peck (43) and Josh Monacella (30) then did the work with the bat.
Young gun Cooper Stanton took 2/18.
No scores were published for the Toongabbie/Churchill game, which saw the Rams win with a handful of balls to spare.
EX STUDENTS defeated Glengarry in Pool C.
Matt Dyke led the way with 60 off 49 balls opening the batting at Terry Hunter Reserve, in a total of 132.
The Magpies used six bowlers, five of whom took wickets. Andrew Winter finished with 2/26.
Paul Henry again showed he is an A Grader playing B Grade on Saturdays, making 49 off 47 balls flaying the new rock to all corners of the oval.
Glengarry however fell short of the target, finishing at 6/118 after their 20 overs.
Michael Bentley took 2/24 for the winners.
Willow Grove had an easy win over Gormandale.
The Tigers were reduced to 5/14, and from there, scrapped to 68.
Rob Fiddelaers (3/15) and Ben Edebohls (2/6) ran riot with the new ball for the Wolves, before Nathan Wheildon (2/8) came into play later in the innings.
Luke Payton then hit five sixes at Stoddart Oval, making his half-century as the game wrapped up just after 10 overs.
Matt Dykes had some joy for Gormandale, taking 2/14.
ROVERS defeated Imperials by six runs in Pool D.
Batting first at Duncan Cameron, the home side closed at 6/126.
Skipper Dougal Williams made an unbeaten 58 off 48 balls.
As is the nature of T20 cricket, the match could have easily gone either way, with Imperials finishing at 8/120.
Leighton Shuttleworth batted the entire innings, making 65 not out off 54 balls.
Rovers threw the ball around to eight players. Liam Little nabbed 2/24.
Centrals defeated Latrobe in a low-scorer.
The Sharks batted first at Apex, but managed just 69.
Ed Hopper scored 26 not out, yet struggled to rotate the strike, chewing up 45 balls in the process.
The Lions got the points inside 15 overs.
Tye Hourigan played smartly, getting to 40 not out off 35 balls.
Express quick Rhys Noble provided an early hope for the visitors, taking 2/7.
Round 3 of Pool D was completed last Thursday (December 11).
Rovers defeated Centrals in a one-run thriller at Apex.
Defending 126, the visitors took a wicket off the final ball, with Alexander Rathbone executing under the most extreme pressure.
Ewan Williams had earlier made 38 against the new ball, as wickets were shared among the Lion’s line-up. Daniel Doble delivered a maiden in figures of 2/19.
Lachie Speairs registered a half-century up top, as he and Tye Hourigan (35 off 23) did all they could to see Centrals to victory.
Rathbone however enjoyed his moment of glory, finishing a two-over stint with 2/8.
