BATSMEN across the Hamilton and District Cricket Association cashed in on Saturday, as the first day of round four was played in the A grade competition, as the players enjoyed the extended opportunity to bat in the first two-day match of the summer.
Three centuries and seven half centuries were posted, as the ball flowed to all parts of the grounds across the district, but there were also a couple of bowlers that managed to fly the flag with two five-wicket or more hauls.
Tyrendarra v College
COLLEGE was asked to bat first after losing the toss at Monivae Turf, as the Tyrendarra team had some of its best batsmen not listed to play the first day due to work commitments.
After Charles Murrie (37) took his attacking game to the middle with him, the hosts grabbed three wickets with only 57 on the board.
Adrian Burn and George Macdonald came together and needed to stop any more loss of wickets, and the pair did so brilliantly with a stand of 108 for the fourth wicket to grab control of the innings before Burn (58) was trapped LBW by Lachie Kirk.
Macdonald carried on and the rest of the Eagles batting order batted around their number five as he brought up his maiden A grade ton but was immediately out for 101 from 152 balls with eight boundaries.
Veteran all-rounder Lachie Brown posted a valuable 34 as the Eagles finished the day all out for 290.
“Tyrendarra bowled well to put us under pressure early on, but an important partnership from Macdonald and Burn was crucial to help us put up a competitive total,” College captain, Lachie Watt said.
“Congratulations to George (Macdonald) on making his first hundred, (he) batted beautifully from ball one and thoroughly deserved his moment.
“(Next week) we need to be as consistent as we can, bowl good areas and apply good pressure in the field.
“We know Tyrendarra will chase well, and we look forward to the challenge.”
Kirk took 4-59 with Darren Killmister offering good support with 3-90, as the Darras toiled hard.
St Andrews v Tahara
TAHARA is quickly learning that A grade is a step up from B grade, as the Bluecaps found the St Andrew’s bowling attack far too good at Clem Young Oval, as the visitors were restricted to only 89 after winning the toss and batting.
There were no demons in the surface for the batsmen to blame, but rather very good line and length bowling that caused the visitors to play false strokes in trying to score.
Only Harry Armstrong (41) could be happy with his innings as the batsmen failed to score in their quick manner that is a hallmark of the Tahara batting style.
From being 3-76 to all out for 89 is something that Tahara must rectify going forward as Latham Wishart (6-12) tore through the batting order with Bailey Walsh (3-20) bowling well in support of his skipper.
At the close of play St Andrews had posted 2-77 with Brendon Huf not out on 59 and eyeing a century next week.
“The wicket played very true and every week we turn up at home, we know it’ll always be a great surface to play cricket on,” St Andrews skipper, Latham Wishart said.
“All of the bowlers really stuck to our plan and kept it tight and made it incredibly difficult for Tahara’s batsmen to score more freely and rotate the strike.
“I thought Bailey Walsh was the pick of the bowlers for us, and we were able to keep it tight early on, and his over after tea with two wickets opened the game massively for us.
“It was great for him to see some reward for the efforts that he’s been putting in.
The home side will be thinking all week whether to declare early and chase outright points or bat out the day and give players time in the middle.
“All we’re thinking about is getting the 13 runs, (but) you never know early in the season with weather and potential washouts,” Wishart mused.
“Once we hopefully get those runs, then we can think next of what to do next.
“With such a tight competition, every point is going to be crucial to making finals.
“So, whether that is looking for an outright result or giving our players valuable time to bat in the longer format is something that needs to be considered.”
Grampians v Hamilton
GRAMPIANS batted out day one of its clash with Hamilton at Dunkeld Turf after being sent into bat by Hamilton at the coin toss and finished with 5-223 from its allotted overs.
The early wicket of Eddie McShane (two) to Hamish Kearney was reward for good seam up bowling by the new ball attack, but Donald Collins and Zach Burgess came together to ensure the visitors didn’t claim any more quick wickets with a partnership of 134 for the second wicket.
The Hamilton bowlers toiled hard but didn’t gain the rewards as Collins and Burgess ground out their partnership before Burgess was caught by Mitch Lang from the bowling of Anthony Read for 89.
Angus Heazlewood (25) was the only other Puma batsman to reach double figures as Collins brought up his century in the last couple of overs and finished not out on 102 from 203 balls with nine boundaries, while Read was impeccable with the ball in claiming 4-59.
The opportunity is there in front of the Hamilton team to chase down the target as the score posted by the home side is not that high for a long format game, it will just take some concentration and determination not to hand over the wickets cheaply for Hamilton to claim the points.
Pigeon Ponds v South Portland
PIGEON PONDS Recreation Reserve hosted this fixture and South Portland skipper, Scott Martin was in great touch with the bat as he scored 98 from 120 balls to drag his team back into the contest.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat on the synthetic surface but early wickets to Pigeon Ponds skipper Hamish McCrae had South struggling at 2-13.
Martin then combined with Karsen Edwards (55) to add 125 for the third wicket and then a further 54 for the fourth wicket with Tighe Warburton (44) before he was out only two runs shy of what would have been a deserved century.
From that position of strength at 3-192, the Demons fell away after Martin was dismissed to be all out in the last over of the day for 251 as the batsmen chased as many runs as possible.
The home side was well served by McCrae (2-32) and Noah Hildebrand (2-8) as the only multiple wicket takers, but with three run outs the fieldsmen backed up the bowlers.
Macarthur v Portland Tigers
AFTER having the bye last round, Portland Tigers travelled to Macarthur Recreation Reserve to battle the in-form home side, and the Tigers came away with honours evenly shared.
The visitors won the toss and elected to send the home side into bat on the synthetic surface in a move designed to put the opposition under pressure with early wickets.
The Demons are in form with the willow and Simon Sharrock (31) and Jack Wortley (19) added 43 for the first wicket before Sharrock was bowled by Shanaka Silva.
With the tally on 71, Macarthur lost two wickets as the Tigers roared back into the contest with Jack Wortley and Ollie Wortley (18) both out.
When Charlie Nield (duck) followed only eight runs later, Macarthur had slumped to be 4-79 and the Tigers had control of the game.
Kyle Smitten (32), Charlie Summers (28), and Sam Lambevski (77) halted the flow of wickets with some very sound middle order batting that allowed the Demons to post 235 all out but the team failed to bat out its overs and had to deliver eight overs to see out the day.
Silva was the pick of the Tigers attack with 5-37 and Llewellyn Oakley took 3-60 in support, but the Tigers will resume on 0-21 next weekend.
Portland Colts v Gorae-Portland
A CENTURY to James Chapple has put Portland Colts in a commanding position in their A grade match against Gorae-Portland.
Chapple, who started the season with scores of 58, one, and 78 across the opening three one-day rounds, cashed in during the first two-day match of the season, played at Henty Park.
Chapple scored 115 from 160 balls, in an innings that included 16 fours and one six.
Glenn Hollis (seven) and Alister Stannard (73) got Colts off to a steady start with a 31-run opening partnership, before Hollis fell to Raju Tamang.
Stannard and Chapple then put Colts well and truly in the box seat with a 165-run second wicket stand.
Chapple batted deep into the day and only lost his wicket as the home side put the foot down, with Colts eventually batting out their 75 overs for a commanding 8-322.
Stannard’s contribution of 73 from 154 balls was important, while skipper, Luke Evans, belted 68 from just 51 balls.
Gorae-Portland captain Nick Wills was the pick of the bowlers with 3-72 from 20 overs, while Thomas Roberts took 3-89 from 18.
