By JIM TIMBERLAKE
Geelong Cricket Club’s season is in tatters, after two losses last weekend in the Twenty 20 format virtually closed the door on any finals hopes the club was clinging to.
On Saturday, in pursuit of Footscray Edgewater’s 7/141, Geelong somehow orchestrated a one run loss in a chase it would have been confident of successfully completing.
Then on Sunday against the Monash Tigers, coach Andre Borovec would have been tearing his hair out as his side managed to almost replicate the previous days result, this time finishing on 9/131 in reply to the Tigers 7/133.
A one run loss on Saturday, followed by a two run loss on Sunday, pretty much sums up what has been a campaign that started with much hope, but in reality, has been frustrating.
With another two days of Twenty 20 cricket this weekend, the side will be looking to snag a win or two, if only for their own belief and enjoyment.
Geelong Cricket Association plays a two day game this round, before closing the first half of the season with a one dayer in three weeks’ time. Some teams are sitting pretty, while for others, they need to get a serious wriggle on if they want to contest this season’s finals.
In division one, South Barwon have been the surprise packet thus far, sitting on top of the ladder with four wins and a draw. It takes on Geelong West in a match they will expect to win.
Phil Lang has been the standout contributor for the Swans with 315 runs already, while with the ball, evergreen star Brad Hauenstein tops the wicket tally with 11 scalps.
With some good young talent coming through such as Luke Ford and Hunter Kremer-Slevin, South look to have a good blend of youthful exuberance and experience, which should see it win this game easily.
BELL POST HILL v Leopold, Grovedale v EAST BELMONT, NORTH GEELONG v Lara, ST JOSEPHS v Newtown & Chilwell, Murgheboluc v GEELONG CITY.
In division two, while the top teams fight it out in the race to the finals, bottom teams Waurn Ponds and Alexander Thomson go head to head this round, with one team guaranteed of some rare joy.
It’s been a tough slog for both sides the past season or two, but with the sniff of a victory in the air, expect both sides to bring their A game.
Tom Stewart has led Alexander Thomson well so far this year, with a couple of narrow losses that could have gone either way, indicating that the Vikings aren’t far away, and will go in slight favourites.
St Peters v HIGHTON, Torquay v MARSHALL, THOMSON v Bell Park, ST ALBANS BREAKWATER v Manifold Heights, NEWCOMB & DISTRICT v Modewarre.
And in division three, a mouth-watering clash awaits between second placed Shelford and third placed Corio.
Shelford lowered its colours to Teesdale last round, while Corio enjoyed a solid win over Inverleigh.
With momentum key leading into the Christmas break, both sides will be desperate to take the points here.
While Corio has been the more consistent of the two, Shelford has a bit more class and should win, but only if it play at its best.
GUILD ST MARYS v Inverleigh, TEESDALE v Little River, Meredith v BANNOCKBURN, Lethbridge v WINCHELSEA, Corio Bay v Bye.
