A hat-trick and a steadying innings from Collendina captain Corey Walter propelled his side to within reach of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A2 Grade top four.
The Cobras are only percentage outside the four after an eight-wicket win against Surf Coast in round 9 on Saturday 10 January with two experienced players contributing heavily with the bat.
Walter took a hat-trick to end the Suns’ innings for 100 in the 35th over, but said it almost didn’t happen.
“I was going to bring Stan (Grazotis) back on and he told me I had one over left and to bowl out so I probably owe him a beer,” he said.
It was a superb team effort from the seven bowlers used.
Walter’s three in a row wrapped up the tail, but Grazotis, Zach Muir, Jude de Jong, Angus Peters, Jackson de Jong all took wickets.
Allen Antony ran out of partners and ended on 29 not out for the Suns while Thamal Ratnayake made 21 at No 8. Otherwise it was a disappointing display with the willow.
“The conditions were pretty tough with that wind pushing very strongly to one side,” Walter said.
“Zach’s been awesome all year for us. He just gives 100 per cent every single week. He doesn’t bowl too many bad balls and it’s a surprise when he does.
“He (Peters) gives us something a little bit different with a bit of extra pace to all of us medium pacers. He gives us a little bit of bounce, a bit of pace, a little bit taller, so we’re just asking him to run in and try and hit the deck for us.”
Small run chases can be tricky and Collendina found itself two down with only six runs on the board after the tea break with Akashvir Singh (2/18 from eight overs) giving the Suns a glimmer of hope.
But the experience of Walter (38 not out from 76 deliveries) and Grazotis (53 not out from 51) saw the Cobras to safety with eight wickets and almost 18 overs in hand.
“That’s probably been the story of our year – losing wickets early and being in a fair bit of trouble,” Walter said.
“For us to go anywhere this year or be really competitive against the best sides, we’ve got to click with our batting. It was a little bit disappointing to be two for nothing again, but I think when you’ve got Stan and a bit of experience with Nathan Frye in the middle and a couple of senior heads still to come in we never panicked.”
With relegation and promotion between A1 and A2 Grades, Collendina hasn’t been able to play a derby against Ocean Grove for several seasons, but finally the two rivals meet this Saturday at Ray Menzies Oval.
However, Walter said there was no extra meaning behind the clash between the cross-town clubs.
“We haven’t played them for a long time and a lot of the guys all know each other through the footy club and what not, but it’s obviously a really important game in terms of having a really good season,” he said.
“They’re (Ocean Grove) on top of the ladder and we’re fifth so every game is really crucial. We play them twice in the back end of the season so hopefully we can try and knock them off, but they’re going really well so it’s going to be hard work.”
OCEAN GROVE overtook Winchelsea at the top of the ladder with a thrilling win against a gutsy Newcomb.
Shaun Fankhauser (45) and Dan Roddis (41) again got the Grubbers off to a solid start with a 63-run opening partnership and Campbell Snookes made 38. Grove was 2/123, but lost eight wickets for 60 runs to be all out for 183 with Newcomb’s James Claney taking 4/38.
Singhara Kumar again threatened to take a game away from the opposition with 53 for Newcomb and Shane Healey made 28. The Bulls finished on 8/177 after 40 overs, giving Ocean Grove a narrow win with Connor Weidemann taking 2/22 and Snookes a miserly 1/12 from eight overs.
PORTARLINGTON champion Paul McGrath piloted his side to a four-wicket win against Winchelsea with another starring all-round performance.
McGrath took 2/41 and Brenton Toole grabbed 3/28 to help restrict the Blues to 8/190. Winch skipper Shane Murdoch top scored with 62 and Toby Furbush also batted well for 52 off 56 balls.
McGrath then made a typically stylish 93 and Jack Baldi chipped in with 32 to get the Demons home with a ball to spare. Ben Caldicott was Winch’s most successful bowler with 3/39. McGrath’s knock pushed him to 9144 A Grade runs, surpassing Drysdale champ Rob Malcolm’s 9140.
WALLINGTON brushed aside St Leonards by seven wickets and moved into third place. The Saints were 1/47 with Shane Cutajar (27) top scoring, but lost 9/50 to be all out for 97. Dane Wise-Graham had the stunning figures of 2/5 from eight overs and sent down five maidens.
The Wallabies chased down the small target with relative ease, being 3/98 with Richard Faust making a fine 53 not out while Will Stovell took all three wickets to fall for the Saints.
