CRICKET
CLV
By LIAM DURKIN
LEISURELY weather provided a clam backdrop for an afternoon’s cricket last Saturday.
With one eye on proceedings and the other on the Caulfield Cup, all players hopefully left their respective grounds with a win of some sort.
Some unfortunately lopsided games played out in both divisions for Round 3, in what was a Cricket Latrobe Valley round of genuine mismatches.
Mismatches are generally brought about by quantity more so than quality, and with the spring carnival in full swing, many players are feeling a twinge in the punting muscle.
A repeat of the “want a game this weekend mate?” message is sure to go around at some stage for Cox Plate weekend.
While unfortunate, it is simply the nature of park cricket. As is the quest for weekend supremacy for those who choose to stay behind.
Supremacy has seen some players overstep the mark at times.
Video circulated recently from the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association of a wicket-keeper shoving a batsman following a collision.
A seven week suspension, with four suspended, was the verdict handed down.
Leagues are clearly trying to stamp out poor behaviour.
In Cricket Latrobe Valley, a complaint from a lower grade game has already been lodged regarding poor player behaviour.
With a lack of umpires however, processes are sure to be compromised.
The situation is so dire, that clubbies have been doing A Grade games.
The league is trying everything to work around the situation, including holding umpire courses facilitated by Cricket Victoria.
Here at the Express, we are also facing challenges.
The third party responsible for supplying scorecards through PlayHQ has pulled the pin. At the moment, the only option is to manually enter full scorecards.
Much as this writer loves cricket, dealing with that many numbers every week would be enough to turn anyone insane.
Speaking of insane numbers, Mark Rawson hit up his second consecutive century at the weekend. He scored 107 not out for Traralgon West in B Grade. The next highest score after extras was 13, and the rest was single digits (any danger boys).
Rawson is playing in the twos in order to play alongside his son. He may need to play A Grade however, or agree to bat left handed in B Grade in order to even it up.
Elsewhere, Latrobe Cricket Club highlighted the weekend by playing a standalone Sunday game for its local derby.
Latrobe is fielding two C Grades this season, and used the weekend as a chance to welcome the whole club and wider cricket community to Maryvale.
THE standout match was between league heavyweights Morwell and Ex Students in Premier A.
The Tigers gained some street credit, winning by three wickets at home.
Chasing 165, the boys in yellow and black won with three overs to spare.
A high-standard game ensued, with momentum ebbing and flowing throughout.
Ryan Ayres showed he is worth whatever Morwell is paying him, getting the prized scalp of Lee Stockdale for seven, and then batting through to score 59 not out from number five.
The Sharks had contributors in the form of Rick Battista (38), Matt Dyke (33) and James Pryde, who made 27 not out batting down the order this week.
Morwell showed its bowling depth, with all six bowlers used taking wickets. Ross Whelpdale grabbed 3/32 with his off breaks, Todd Dixon 2/21 and Brendan Brincat 2/34.
The Tigers lost two early wickets, but recovered to put themselves on a path for victory.
Ayres did most of the scoring, but had a few players chip in with handy double-digit scores.
Mitch Harris took 3/44 for Ex Students. Pryde gave little away, bowling 10 overs, four maidens, 2/19. Andrew Matthews kept the game interesting with two late wickets to leave Morwell needing 13 to win with three wickets in the shed.
THE rest of the Premier A games were hardly worth writing about.
Churchill rolled Imperials for 58 after making 194 at Catterick Crescent.
Real wheelie bin cricket scenes saw the umpire in shorts and the keeper up to the pegs off seamers.
Little surprise came when looking who top-scored for the visitors. John Keighran made 65 off 63 balls, sending four of them over the fence. Kurt Holt hit a six over long on to bring up his half-century. He was out shortly after for 52, helping to get the score up near 200. Liam Urand chipped in with 25.
Tylah Donoghue returned good figures in the context (3/23). Scott Aitken also got out with 3/51.
Holt cleaned up the top and middle order, taking 4/13 off seven overs. Imperials were 5/31, and things only got gradually worse.
Jacob Dunn took 3/13 and Steve Warr 2/9.
GLENGARRY chased 162 against Moe with relative ease.
The Magpies lost five wickets on the way, but had plenty of time to spare at Fred King Oval.
In a strange scorecard for the Lions, where batsmen five to eight all made ducks, the visitors ended on 162.
Andrew Philip just did it again, making 62.
If he is a Bradman of the Bush, Nat Freitag is a Botham. The allrounder took 4/35 and then made 72 red.
Josh Moore took 3/26 coming over from CATS, and Cam Graham 36 opening the batting. Benn Zomer bowled well for Moe, finishing with 2/17 off eight with two maidens.
YOU really should win a premiership or finish on top of the ladder before going up.
Rovers again, through no fault of their own, were on the receiving end of a hiding.
It was a quick kill at least, with the game at Duncan Cameron over in time for The Everest.
Rovers lasted just 15.4 overs against Raiders pair Keenan Hughes and Will Robertson, who made sure their side only had to chase 24.
During the 1974/75 Ashes series, when Lillee and Thomson were hurling rockets at 42-year-old England opener Colin Cowdrey, the call came from teammate Doug Walters to skipper Ian Chappell to take them off before he was killed.
That just about summed up the carnage at Duncan Cameron, as some batsman looked genuinely petrified against Hughes’ pace.
Hughes took 5/13 and Robertson 4/9, before the reply needed only 7.1 overs.
A GRADE action was similarly uninspiring.
Mirboo North bowled first at home, and chased the 179 needed against Gormandale.
Cal Polo put up a strong rear-guard against his old side, making 52. Nimesh Soyza was set on 41, before being run out by Max Woodall of Mirboo North brilliance fame.
Ben Heath was a somewhat surprise taker of 4/18, adding to the work of Woodall up top (2/36). Luke Heath showed his class with 55 off 77 balls, as did his brother Ben (40 not out). Linc Chila again showed he will be a player for the future, making 29 against the new ball.
LATROBE responded with a resounding win against CATS.
Batting first, the Sharks closed at 7/227 off their allotted 50 overs at Peter Siddle Oval.
Who else but Anthony Bloomfield to do most of the scoring. The Latrobe legend didn’t muck around, smacking 58 not out off 38 rocks (three bombs). His long-time partner Steven Freshwater however top-scored, playing a captain’s knock of 65.
Bloomfield Junior, Jacob, made it 95 runs for the day in the family, hanging around for a patient 37.
Tinashe Panyangara (2/28) and Sam Gissara (2/57) were the multiple wicket-takers for CATS.
CATS were never really in the hunt, and lost wickets at semi-regular intervals, to eventually be knocked over for 150.
Ed Hopper got the big wicket of Panyangara for just two, and from there, CATS were content to play out as many overs as they could.
Chase Wilkerson made 42.
Wickets were shared among the Latrobe bowlers. Gareth Waack-Hawkins (2/19), Salman Rasool (2/23), Ed Hopper (2/25) and Izayah Terrick (2/30) all contributed.
THERE is a fair gap between the two divisions.
Toongabbie showed as much, annihilating Traralgon West.
The Rams finished seventh in Premier A last season, but easily disposed an Eagles outfit that played A Grade finals last season.
Toongabbie happily accepted an invitation to bat first at Jack Canavan, with skipper Kyle O’Reilly and Rob Wheildon putting on a century stand.
Wheildon’s experience and skill got him to 95, in a knock that featured 12 fours and two sixes.
Blake Cooper kept the runs coming at five, making 32 off 38, after O’Reilly had made an enterprising 43 off 47.
Toongabbie’s total of 9/229 was far too much for the home side, who were bowled out of 92.
Gayashan Munasinghe did damage with the ball, and finished with 3/18. Sam Moran (2/2) and Jai Hazelman (2/24) also took multiple scalps.
Ben Edebohls (3/33), Ben Fleming (2/21) and Harley Bright (2/44) had some earlier joy for Traralgon West.
Get Rawso in that team ASAP.
HE’S got more wickets than you’ve had hot food dinners.
A swing bowling masterclass from Marc Fenech blew Willow Grove off Apex Park.
The Centrals’ left armer bent the ball around corners, and finished with somewhat insane one day figures of 6/10 off 10 overs with seven maidens.
His effort meant the Wolves were routed for just 75, which took Centrals only 22.5 overs to chase (losing five wickets in pursuit of a bonus point).
Only Willow Grove captain Luke Payton (30) was able to make an impression. Fenech dismissed four batsmen for ducks.
Cameron Whitehead and Tyron Gamage took the remaining wickets, with figures of 2/26 and 2/27 respectively.
Darcy Walsh ended the game with some personal joy, taking 3/27 for the Wolves.
