LDCA under 14s come up short in a close one

THE LDCA hosted Sale Maffra (SM) in our annual U14 match on Sunday at Scorpion Park.

This game is a great opportunity for the boys to gain experience on turf leading up to Junior Country Week next season.

With the pitch and outfield in fantastic condition Sale Maffra won the toss and elected to bat first, Archie Gannon (Nerrena) and Laighton Radford (Inverloch) opened the bowling with Radford claiming an early wicket, a good partnership was then formed between Macauley Pendergast and Blake Rowley. 

Pendergast, who’s a very nice player, played some great shots on his way to 64 before leg spinner Cooper Newman (Inverloch) was introduced into the attack and claimed Pendergast and Robinson’s wickets in quick succession to have SM 4/102. 

The LDCA boys then finished off the innings really well with all of the 10 used bowlers bowling well. 

The wickets were shared with Radford and Newman getting two and Gannon, Arceo, Gooch, McLennan and Brown all claiming a wicket to have Sale Maffra all out for 156.

The LDCA started the chase with Drew Fusinato (Phillip Island) and Yuthil Ratnaike (Town) opening up. 

Unfortunately, the top order boys struggled against some good bowling from Robinson and Cottrell and slumped to 4/29. 

At this point Cooper Newman (14) was joined at the crease by Max Carter (21) (Town) both boys really knuckled down with some tight defence and smart running.

They added 42 valuable runs before being dismissed, the lower order then batted with great confidence and freedom as Noah McLennan (15) (Inverloch) Archie Gannon (29no) Levi Gooch  (Korumburra) (18) all scoring at a fast rate.

These boys gave the LDCA a chance at victory, only to come up 10 runs short at 8/146 in a good game of cricket.