COLLEGE is seeking to extend its undefeated start to the Hamilton and District Cricket Association A grade competition when the Eagles travel to Clem Young Oval to battle St Andrew’s today.
Currently College sits second on the one-day ladder, equal on points with Tyrendarra and Portland Colts with Portland Tigers a point ahead of the trio.
Tigers has the bye today and unless one the trio has a huge bonus point victory it will remain atop the ladder on net-run-rate.
This being round three its strange that one team is yet to hit or bowl a ball in anger, but that is the case for St Andrews which had the bye in round one and then a washout in round two, so the team is giving the visitors a huge advantage.
College thrashed Grampians last Saturday as Charles Murrie tore the Pumas bowlers apart in making 88 from only 55 balls with the ball crashing into or flying over the boundary from 14 of those balls.
It was the second half century for the opening batsmen in as many innings and he simply must be dismissed quickly if the home side is to contain the scoring rate.
Heath Schmidt had the best seat in the house as he watched the Murrie blitz from the non-striker’s end and he helped to add 107 for the opening wicket.
The Eagles are expected to have Lachie Brown and Hamish Bailey back for the game after they missed last Saturday, and they will only strengthen the side.
St Andrew’s is expected to unveil recruit Harry Price who is an all-rounder and will play a major role with both bat and ball.
Latham Wishart will lead from the front with the new ball, and he must dismiss Murrie, Bailey and Adrian Burn as the Drews seek to minimise the visitors impact with the bat.
The home side will look to Brendan Huf and Darryl Fry to post the runs, but Jacob Hill will bat well in the middle order while Russell Elton provides the attacking spin bowling that could undo the Eagles line up.
Pigeon Ponds v Macarthur
PIGEON Ponds Recreation Reserve will see a very attacking game of cricket this afternoon when the home side welcomes Macarthur.
Macarthur will come into the game raring to go after having its game against St Andrews washed out last week, and the Demons will want to keep up the momentum they created in round one against South Portland where they won by nine wickets.
The return of Simon Sharrock to the Macarthur team this season has given the side a huge advantage at the top of the order as he is a very attacking batsman who can take a game away from the opposition in the space of an over or two.
When his batting is combined with Michel Brilley, Ollie Wortley, Kyle Smitten, and Jeremy Sheehan it gives the visitors a potent top six in the batting order.
Josh Belleville has slotted back into the side like he’d never been gone, and he will take the new ball against Simon Close and Peter Staude for the Pigeons.
Close and Staude missed out last Saturday, but their class as opening batsmen is well known and expect them to bounce back today.
Noah Hildebrand and Ben Hanrahan dug deep after the loss of the openers last Saturday, but they will have to increase their strike rates, or the innings will get bogged down and Macarthur will hunt down the target very easily.
Casterton District v Hamilton
CASTERTON District returned to winning form against Tahara last Saturday away from home, but it will host Hamilton at Island Park 2 today looking to keep that form going against a team that is sadly lacking form with the bat.
Hamilton has clocked up the kilometres in the opening three rounds with away trips to Portland, Tyrendarra, and now Casterton all due to its home ground not being available, but the Blues will be back at Dahl Turf next round.
The team has yet to post a tall above 91 in its opening two games, but it has batted with an eye to the longer format games by trying to bat time rather than playing expansive shots and getting out quickly.
‘Hamilton has been hampered by having key players unavailable in both games to date and it’s hoped the side will be able to settle on a core group that will be there each week from here on.
Casterton District posted a bonus point victory against Tahara last Saturday after going down to College in the first round.
The Maroons did manage to knock up more than four-runs-per-over against the Eagles while they hunted down the Tahara score in only 23 overs.
The home side has Ben Holmes, Carey Megaw, Kaden Humphries, Jacob Edwards, and Logan Gibbs all in form.
Portland Colts v Grampians
HAVING started their season strongly with wins over Pigeon Ponds and Hamilton, Portland Colts have started their season on the front foot.
Colts have proved they have the capacity to win games while chasing or setting a total, but captain Luke Evans said he and his side were looking to step up their game ahead of the clash with Grampians.
“While we have started the season well with 2 wins, we have a big challenge this week against a strong Grampians side,” he said.
“We know we will have to go to another level if we want to stay undefeated after this weekend.
“The wins have come from two good team efforts so far, haven’t had to rely on just 1 or 2 players.
“Obviously James Chapple was fantastic with the bat in round 1 while Jak (Hotchkiss), Oscar Barbary & Matthew Payne have all been great with the ball
“Our bowling has been very good so far, I think our consistency with line and length has been the biggest factor.
“But there’s also the benefit of having so many different bowling options to choose from, which makes a big difference.”
English import Hotchkiss has impressed in his first two hit-outs in Australian conditions, the 19-year-old Englishman reaching the 20-run mark in both matches.
But it has been the young all-rounder’s economical bowling that has impressed teammates and has opposition batsman trying to work out how best to face his variations.
But his skipper said it was Hotchkiss’ mental fortitude and adaptability that has him most excited for what’s to come.
“Jak has fitted in very well to our side,” Evans said.
“His commitment and passion for the game has been fantastic.
“I think his on-field performance will only get better as he gets more comfortable with the conditions and the like.”
Colts will need to be at their best with ball in hand against Grampians, with a number of dangerous batsmen who can score at will including skipper, Donald Collins, and middle-order batsman, Zach Burgess.
South Portland v Tahara
WHILE South Portland have had a tough start to the year, facing two undefeated teams to kick off their season, they will now hope to end their winless start against Tahara this weekend.
Their third home game in a row at Cavalier Park, the Demons face the association’s newest members who are still looking to claim their first win since joining.
With just one week until the two-day matches kick off next weekend, getting a win could be the momentum maker that will get South Portland’s season back on track.
Harrison Dennert has been a shining light across the Demons two games, managing at least 25 runs against formidable bowling attacks, but it was skipper Scott Martin who stood out last weekend when he put together a 47-run innings.
The Demons will look to score quickly against the fresh Tahara side but will need their bowlers to step up and take wickets while also remaining economical.
Eamon Drew was the pick of South Portland’s bowlers last week, taking four wickets for 25 runs in his six overs at a rate of just over four runs an over.
Shaun Lench and Craig Cummins are two more who could make the difference, having the ability to take wickets when thrown the ball.
Luke Barnes is a dangerous bowler for Tahara, while Brad Gauci can punish poor deliveries and score quickly.
Gorae-Portland v Tyrendarra
GORAE-PORTLAND’s start to the season won’t get any easier this weekend, when they host reigning premiers Tyrendarra at Alexandra Park.
The task may seem even tougher for the Go Ports, with Tyrendarra likely to be at full strength having put their feet up last weekend when they had a bye.
Having not played last week, Tyrendarra are yet to have even lost a wicket after openers Lachlan Kirk and Mitch Arnold put together an unbeaten 92-run partnership in the tam’s 10-wicket win over Hamilton in Round one.
But Gorae-Portland captain Nick Wills proved a handful with the bat in both of the team’s matches this season, scoring over 75 in both matches without much support.
Vice-captain, Zac Duncan, will be keen to find some runs, while Raju Thing Tamang has proven to be a handy option with the ball.
