Club post decent total on the road

A Grade, Divison 1

FOLLOWING the LDCA’s successful opening rounds in the one-day format, two-day cricket returned over the weekend with some interesting results across the board. 

Wonthaggi came off a resounding statement win and travelled to Nerrena to kick off their two-day fixtures for the 2023/24 season. 

Club won the toss and chose to bat first and did a solid job of taking advantage of it too, posting 7/272 at the conclusion of their 75 overs on the back of half centuries to Ben Walsh (74 off 178) and Joel Brann (52 off 33). 

Tim Wightman (3/74 from 19) was the best with the ball for the hosts, who’ll consider themselves a chance of chasing down the 273 required this Saturday back on their home deck to claim their first win of the season. 

Rogers restores Imps’ hopes 

FOLLOWING two hefty losses in a row, the Imperials were out to bounce back when they hosted the red hot OMK on Saturday. 

The Imps won the toss and chose to bat first and looked well on their way to a huge total, with an inspired innings from opener Luke Rogers (80 off 108), but the loss of his wicket started a collapse, where they lost 8/113. 

This sharp Diggers comeback was led by a vintage performance from club legend Peter Dell (4/33 from 22) and saw the hosts dismissed for 235, inside 70 overs. 

The visitors then went in to face five overs to end the day and lost no wickets, reaching stumps with seven runs on the board. 

Jake Cochrane (4*) and Ethan Lamers (1*) will resume the OMK chase this Saturday as they look for a third straight win. 

Stingas’ skipper shows out at home 

NOW having to survive the day without their boom international recruit Thilakaratne Dilshan, Korumburra hit the road to face Inverloch. 

The Cobras won the toss and chose to bowl first, but they succumbed to a vintage David Newman (105* off 121) performance. 

The Stingrays skipper capitalising on the superb foundation laid by his openers to reel off his first century of the season, bringing it up alongside his son Rhys (10*) and the pair remained unbeaten at stumps, Invy’ setting the visitors 232 for victory. 

Hemal Rathnayake (3/42 from 17) was the pick of the bowlers for ‘Burra, and his side will begin their chase when they return to Thompson Reserve this Saturday. 

Super six scalps for Shiran 

THE first Grand Final rematch took place over the bridge at the Newhaven Recreation Reserve as Town looked to rewrite the script and take revenge against Phillip Island. 

The Scorpions won the toss and chose to bat first, posting 225 after several of their batters got starts but couldn’t go on, and Amila Ratnaike (86 off 132) fell short of a big three figure score. 

Shiran Rathnayake (6/61 from 28) did the damage, tearing through the top and middle order to claim a magnificent five wicket haul. 

The Sharks will begin what shapes to be a relatively easy chase by their standards, this weekend back on the Island, as they look to get back in the win column.

Hull falls just shy of three figures

A Grade, Division 2

MDU welcomed Wonthaggi down the road to the Meeniyan Recreation Reserve to do battle in their first two-day fixture of the season. 

The Demons won the toss and chose to bowl first but the continued hot form of Club wicketkeeper Jy Hull (91 off 158) possibly made the regret that decision. 

The Wonny’ number four blasting an excellent half century, just falling nine runs short of the ton, putting together a 137-run stand with Jai Williamson (59 off 127) to push their score past 250. 

Heath Dobbie’s (38* off 31) late cameo saw Club finish 9/263 after their 75 overs. 

Mitchell Hoober (3/39 from 10) and Scott Browne (3/76 from 29) led the Dees’ attack.

Tigers and Cougars locked in battle 

THE WHITE-hot Foster hosted Koonwarra L/RSL who were after an upset on the road as the match begun last Saturday. 

The Cougars won the toss and made the call to field first and it paid off, removing the danger man Josh Toner for just 10. 

The Tigers did find contributors outside of their star skipper though, with his opening partner Jack Gay (63 off 142) and number four Jake Best (75 off 90) each posting half centuries. 

Joshua Thomas (4/37 from 12.4) was outstanding with the ball as his side dismissed their hosts for an even 250, setting up a blockbuster chase this Saturday. 

Dolphin culls the Sharks

KILCUNDA-Bass hosted Nyora in beautiful sunshine and windy conditions at the Bass Resreation Reserve. 

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat first and despite a decent contribution from Cameron Davidson (48 off 119) at the top of the order, things didn’t quite go their way with the bat. 

Henry Dolphin (4/25 from 17 & 5*) led his men beautifully and will look to continue to do so with the bat this weekend when he resumes with Daniel Esler (6*) after the pair survived nine overs to end last Saturday’s proceedings. 

Nyora require a further 143-runs for the win, after the Sharks posted 10/156. 

Donohue digs deep for the Alvie

GLEN ALVIE welcomed Nerrena down the road for a huge top three clash on the weekend. 

The Alvie won the toss and chose to bat first and looked well on their way to a monumental score, passing the 100 mark without losing a wicket as Matthew Donohue (68* off 120) and Scott Peatling (50 off 107) got to work. 

But the loss of Peatling at 1/107, sparked a full collapse, as the hosts lost 10/133, the shining light being Donohue who carried his bat through the innings. 

Scott Checkley (4/43 from 17) led the inspired revival for Nerrena, who were made to begin their chase of Glen Alvie’s 240-run target for six overs to end the day. 

Interestingly, the visitors lost a wicket in the process, and will resume their chase this Saturday at 1/8.