Local Cricket, by Jim Timberlake
Geelong Cricket Club finally claimed their first win for the season last Saturday against Greenvale, on the back of another splendid century from skipper Eamonn Vines.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Cats didn’t have it all their own way early, losing both openers with just 51 runs on the board.
Angus Boyd (37) joined Vines at the crease for an important 69-run partnership to get things back on track.
From there, the middle and lower orders all came and went, but it was Vines who stood tall, playing a fantastic captain’s knock to eventually finish on 121 not out in his side’s total of 9/264.
With the ball, Geelong were ruthless, knowing that a disciplined showing would see them claim their first points of the season, and that is exactly what they did.
Seven bowlers were used, with all of them picking up at least one wicket, Boyd (2/33) being the only trundler to claim multiple victims, Greenvale finishing on 8/188 at stumps.
The win was well deserved, as – despite a frustrating start to the season – it hasn’t been a lack of hard work that has been the problem.
The side heads to Casey Fields tomorrow, hoping to make it back-to-back victories in a one-day game against Casey-South Melbourne.
In the Geelong Cricket Association division one, round four kicks off tomorrow with another two-day fixture scheduled.
Lara host North Geelong in the game of the round, and the Cats will be looking to make it three wins from four starts, which would bring to an end the Magpies’ unbeaten start to the season.
Lara were excellent in the first two rounds, with wins against Leopold and South Barwon, before lowering their colours to Newtown and Chillwell in round three.
The return of former Jack Sing medallist Daniel Weigl from the knee injury that kept him out for all of last season has bolstered the Cats, but the form of Andy Hughes has been the catalyst for their rise thus far, the classy batsman racking up 147 runs already in the number three position.
North Geelong will be the perfect test to see exactly where they’re at though, with Magpies winning all their games so far, on the back of solid performances by all of their star studded line up.
Lara should give a good account of themselves, but they’ll need to be at their very best to push North Geelong here.
Murgheboluc v GEELONG CITY, South Barwon v ST JOSEPH’S, Leopold v EAST BELMONT, GROVEDALE v Newtown and Chilwell, Lara v NORTH GEELONG
Division two also have a two-dayer, their first for the season. All games this round look like being very even match-ups, and in what looks like being an extremely tight season, the move to red ball cricket will see the need for all players to lift their game if they want their teams to bank some crucial early season points.
ST PETER’S v Newcomb and District, BELL PARK v Highton, BELL POST HILL v Manifold Heights, Torquay v MARSHALL
In division three, Corio and Waurn Ponds-Deakin look to be the two sides that will struggle to make the finals, but for the other six teams, it’s going to be a great season, with every game of the utmost importance to try to snare a spot in the eventual final four.
Guild Saints are hanging in there, but a tough game this round against Thomson could see them fall behind their immediate rivals if they can’t cause a big upset.
Alexander Thomson v ST ALBANS BREAKWATER, Guild Saints v THOMSON, Corio v GEELONG WEST, Waurn Ponds-Deakin v MODEWARRE
