Collendina’s hopes of playing in a Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association semi-final now rest with its batters after the bowling attack delivered on day one of the final round of the season.
The Cobras can wrap up a finals spot if they defeat Ocean Grove and they bowled the top side out for 143, albeit on a painfully slow ground at Memorial Reserve on Saturday 28 February.
Collendina spinner Jacob Gasior said the outfield was slow, but his side still performed well.
“It’s one of the slowest I’ve seen this year,” he said.
“We bowled alright as well, but it doesn’t help the batting side. I think we’re on top.
“They’re a pretty good batting side so when you keep them to under 200, even though it’s slow and small square, we’re pretty happy. It’s still that awkward score where a few quick wickets and you just never know.
It’s not like we’re chasing 70 or 80. We still have to make them and someone’s still going to have to step up and do the job.”
Three bowlers shouldered the workload for the Cobras, sending down 63 of the 73 overs for the day. Corey Walter (3/40 from 26 overs), left-arm spinner Stan Grazotis (3/26 from 22) and Gasior (3/43 from 15) operated for most of the afternoon while Dan Roddis batted well for Grove making 43 from 101 deliveries.
Gasior said with Grazotis and Walter not conceding many runs, it allowed him some freedom to be a bit more attacking.
“I’m not that sort of bowler,” he said.
“I’m more throw it up in the slot. I might get hit for a few more, so when there’s pressure on at the other end constantly, it makes my life a lot easier.
“There’s quite a few guys that didn’t get a bowl that have been bowling really well lately. It’s just getting to that pointy end of the season and we thought the slower types would benefit us more. It was a tactic on the slow ground.”
While Collendina will rely on Walter and Grazotis again this week, but with the bat, Harrisyn Wingrave found form last round with an unbeaten 70.
“I feel like he’s been just on the verge,” Gasior said.
“He started the season off pretty well, and then just lost a bit of confidence in the middle there and hopefully that (innings) brings it back because he’s got the game.
“He’s still learning his own game and how not to go out early, but once he’s set, he looks really good.”
Collendina can still make the finals with a loss providing Wallington defeats Winchelsea while Ocean Grove will finish top with a win and probably stay there on percentage even with a loss.
PORTARLINGTON holds the upper hand against St Leonards after making 230 all out with Joel De Bono (81) and Paul McGrath (49) getting runs. James Burns (4/53 from 21.2 overs) steamed in all day for the Saints while Seb Harrison and Brian White took three wickets each. The winner will play finals providing Winchelsea loses to Wallington. The Saints could lose and make it on percentage if they aren’t bowled out for a low total and Winch must lose.
WINCHELSEA on the other hand will need to defeat Wallington and hope one of St Leonards or Collendina loses. The Kookaburras were all out for 140 on day one with Jarrod Groves making 63 while Dane Wise-Graham took 4/26 for the Wallabies. In reply, Wallington is 1/27 and cannot slip any lower than second.
NEWCOMB posted 162 all out against Surf Coast with Shane Healey making 66 and Suns pair Akashvir Singh and Blake Robinson each taking five wickets. Surf Coast had six overs to negotiate before stumps and wiped off four runs from the target without losing a wicket.
