PIGEON Pongs has thrashed the ball to all parts of the Pigeon Ponds Recreation Reserve, as Peter Staude, Simon Close, and Michael Close feasted on the South Portland bowling attack on day two of the Hamilton and District Cricket Association (HDCA) A grade round four games.

South Portland had posted a competitive 251 on day one and the side would have had confidence that the tally could be defended, but the Pigeons had other ideas, as Staude and Noah Hildebrand took strike to get proceedings underway.

The opening batsmen added 57 for the first wicket when Hildebrand (18) was caught by Eamon Drew off the bowling of Karsen Edwards in over number 15.

The fall of that wicket just opened pandora’s box as far as South Portland was concerned, as Staude, Michael Close, and Simon Close took the long handle to the bowlers by scoring at over eight runs per over.

Michael Close started the fun with a stunning 70 from only 34 balls with six boundaries and a further five maximums, combining with Staude to add 83 for the second wicket in only 53 balls.

This brought Simon Close to the middle and he was soon into his work with both he and Staude continuing to plunder the bowlers.

Both players raised their bat to acknowledge the applause for passing 50 and they carried on to, reaching three figures with Staude the first to do so.

Close was dismissed with 107 next to his name, with 13 fours and two sixes to his credit from only 84 balls, while Staude remained undefeated on 136 after spanking 15 boundaries and a six from the 146 balls he faced.

The fall of Close ended a brilliant partnership of 199 from only 27 overs, and Hamish McCrae called a halt to the innings by declaring with 3-339 on the board in an attacking manoeuvre to try and claim an outright result.

With a lead of 88, Ponds needed to claim quick wickets if it was going to have any chance of dismissing the visitors in the time remaining, but some stubborn batting ensured the visitors halted any hopes of an outright result with the final score being 7-97.

Scott Martin again top scored with 31 to back up his 98 from the first innings, with George Austin and McCrae each claiming two wickets.

Tyrendarra d College

SET the task of hunting down the 291 runs needed to claim the points from College at Monivae Turf, Tyrendarra used all its skill and knowledge of the pitch to claim victory with five wickets in hand.

In a stunning start to proceedings, Jordy Anthony claimed two wickets in as many balls, castling both Lachlan Kirk (two) and Ben Menzel (golden duck) with successive deliveries to hand the Eagles a massive start to their day.

This brought Cameron Mather and Jordie Withers together in the middle and the pair were happy to grind out the tough early period as the started to get on top of the bowlers.

They added 87 for the third wicket before Mather (41) was caught by Anthony, as the batsman tried to hit Adrian Burn out of the ground.

Jake Wilson (30) gave Withers great support, but it was Withers with 93 that was the backbone of the innings, while Sam Wilson (78-not-out) and Hamish Withers (31-not-out) carried the Darras to 5-293 when the result was achieved.

The home side did leave bonus points out in the middle though by calling a halt to the game with over three overs still to bat, which could have seen an extra 50 runs scored.

Macarthur d Portland Tigers

MACARTHUR ended the undefeated start to the summer for Portland Tigers, as the Demons dismissed their visitors at Macarthur Recreation Reserve for only 173 in defence of the 235 the home side posted on day one.

The result keeps the Demons undefeated and in third spot on the ladder behind Portland Colts and Tyrendarra, with the Tigers sitting just below in fourth.

Batting on the synthetic surface at Macarthur, Portland Tigers would have been confident of chasing the target, but Josh Belleville grabbed the game and handed it to the Demons with 6-34 from 19 overs.

Llewellyn Oakley batted at the top of the order, and was impervious to the new ball bowling of Belleville, as he ground out 66 runs from 169 balls with 12 boundaries to be the player the rest of the order batted around.

Paul Procter was really the only player to give him support with another fine knock of 34 to keep his early season form going.

With the score sitting on 4-140, and Procter and Oakley batting well, the dismissal of Procter by Belleville started the collapse as the visitors lost its last six wickets for only 33 runs.

St Andrews d Tahara

AT the start of the day the question of whether St Andrew’s would chase outright points after passing Tahara’s score was on everyone’s lips at Clem Young Oval.

Once the home side passed the 89 posted by Tahara on day one, the players chased quick runs, and the Blue Caps grabbed wickets as batsmen came and went.

The declaration came with the fall of the ninth wicket with 159 on the board and a lead of 70, with Brendan Huf (81) top scoring for the home side, while Taine Morris grabbed 5-51 against his old side.

Batting a second time looking to avoid an innings defeat, Tahara continued to bat in its usual fashion and wickets began to fall.

Morris ensured his team only lost on the first innings by making 70-not-out from only 74 balls, but the side lost seven wickets in making 151 in the time remaining.

Grampians d Hamilton

GRAMPIANS was far too good for Hamilton at Dunkeld Turf, as the home side easily defended the 223 it posted on day one.

The visiting batsmen appeared to be more interested in batting out time rather than scoring runs as the first wicket took more than 27 overs to post a modest stand of 38.

Of all the batsmen, only veteran Robbie Cook showed intent to score from most of his balls faced, as he posted 44 from 71 balls.

The final score of 6-159 from the allotted 75 overs showed that the batsmen can withstand the opposition bowlers, but this was a huge opportunity for Hamilton to win and it was allowed to pass the team by.

Portland Colts d Gorae-Portland

THERE was a reported sighting of a line of ducks crossing the field at Henty Park, as Portland Colts easily defended its large total from day one against Gorae-Portland.

The visitors were routed for only 67 in its first innings, as Nick Wills (40) was the only player to offer any resistance to the Colts’ bowling attack, as Jak Hotchkiss (4-20), Oscar Barbary (3-5) and Luke Evans (2-19) feasted on the seven ducks posted by the Go-Ports players.

Told to follow-on, Go-Ports ended the day at 5-87 after Wills (33-not-out) and Sam Roberts (22) ensured the innings defeat didn’t occur with Matthew Belden (3-24) being the pick of the Colts bowlers the second time around.