Geelong Cricket Club kept its season alive by the skin of its teeth last Saturday with a thrilling last-gasp win over St Kilda.
Defending 333, the day’s play ebbed and flowed. Cats opener Jack Sheppard (3/66) struck early, while Corey Ogle (3/62) toiled hard throughout the day.
At the death, St Kilda needed five runs to win and when Saints batsman Lachlan Graf launched a massive hit off leg spinner Jeremy Hart the Geelong players had their hearts in their mouths.
But Eamonn Vines managed to hold on to a stunning catch for a thrilling four-run win.
That could be just the tonic needed for the Cats. Tomorrow they travel to Footscray, looking to continue resurrecting their season, with a genuine belief that form and luck are back on their side.
In Geelong Cricket Association, the match between heavyweights East Belmont and North Geelong looks to be tipped in the Lions’ favour after a blistering assault on day one saw them post 345.
Cam Alford (4/46) was the pick of the bowlers, looking dangerous early as he reduced the hosts to 2/6, but Mark Hanley (52) and Matthew Lineker (83) steadied the ship.
At 4/115 the game was evenly poised but Sean O’Neill (92) launched a vicious counter assault, hitting to all areas of the ground before Ben Spencer (56) put the icing on the cake with some lusty hitting late into the night.
While 345 is a good score, if anyone can chase that down it’s the Magpies, with the likes of Andrew Fergusson and Jake Thorne more than capable of making a big ton.
East Belmont will look to take a couple of early wickets but will need to get through plenty of economical overs to ensure victory.
In division two, St Alban’s Breakwater completely dominated day one of its match against local rival Thomson.
Bowling first, the Saints returned to top form, restricting Thomson to just 172 in 60 overs.
Chris Hester (3/29) starred, while Justin Miller (2/38) and Chris Jones (2/17) did their bit in a comprehensive display.
With 21 overs to bat, the Saints got off to a dream start, finishing the day at 0/54 as John Irvine (45 not-out) put his side in the box seat.
Thomson will need to dig deep and strike early to have any chance tomorrow.
In division three, Bell Park has put its season back on track while virtually ending Corio Bay’s with a ruthless display.
The Cobras won the toss and elected to bat, putting on 30 for the first wicket.
But from there on it was all Bell Park as its bowlers ripped through a brittle middle order to dismiss Corio Bay for a paltry 115. Chris Laurie (4/27) was at his destructive best, while Todd Smith (3/24) showed his class when it mattered.
But the Dragons weren’t finished there, rattling along to finish on 3/130 and claiming first-innings points on day one.
Jamie Spiller finished not on 55 and will be hoping he gets a chance to keep batting tomorrow to establish a handy lead before his bowlers get a chance to claim a rare outright win.
