Local Cricket, by Jim Timberlake
Despite a gallant performance with the bat last Saturday against Prahran, the Geelong Cricket Clubs season has continued to spiral downwards.
To their credit, the side showed great application in the face of diversity, making 383 in reply to 6/489.
Tom Treble set the tone early, compiling a patient 61, but when he fell at 6/189 it looked like another collapse was on the cards.
However, Brenton McDonald and Liam Buchanan combined for a gutsy rear-guard action putting on 165 for the seventh wicket. Buchanan was desperately unlucky not to be rewarded with a century, being adjudged LBW for 99 off just 101 balls. McDonald was also outstanding, making 75 from 115 balls. But when the pair of them fell, so too did the tail, the team all out 106 runs short of their target.
On Sunday, the Cats had another chance to get some points on the board in a one-day game against Monash, but again, gave up too many runs, being belted to the tune of 293 from the 50 overs.
In reply, again too much was left to too few, and despite a breezy 43 to Tyler Larkins at the top of the order, they could manage a measly 138.
While coach Andre Borovec may not have the cattle he would like at his disposal, he would be loathe to make excuses or shy away from the challenge, and he will make sure the team regroups for tomorrow’s first day’s play at home against Casey-South Melbourne.
In the Geelong Cricket Association, the match of the round between South Barwon and Bell Post Hill looks to be slightly tilted in the Swans’ favour after they made 245 last week.
Luke Ford continued his excellent start to the season, making 80 at number three, while Phil Lang with 37 and David Linke made 34, his highest first XI score in many years.
For Bell Post Hill, Jason Grozdanovski returned the best figures, taking 3/37 from 26 economical overs, while Dylan Stojanovski took 2/73.
While the Swans will be confident with 243 on the board, they won’t have it all their own way tomorrow, as the Panthers possess some serious batting depth with the likes of Grozdanovski, Rhys Burke and wily veteran Tim Sells in the line up.
One would think the first hour will be crucial, and if the Swans don’t take some early poles, it will be game on, on a deck that will harden up as they afternoon wears on.
In division two, Bell Park look like continuing their undefeated start to the season after knocking up 254 last Saturday, with the added bonus of a late Highton wicket to finish off a good day’s work.
Earlier, Highton won the toss and elected to bowl first, and when the Dragons fell to 2/33, it probably felt like they’d made the right call. But from there, the middle work got to work, Shane Lymer top scoring with 89, while Mitch Trask made 34.
At 8/214, honours for the day were fairly even, but Shane Bremner batting at number 10 made an invaluable 23 to see his side to a much more competitive total.
With eight overs to bowl, Jarrod Andrews removed opener Harry Purcell for a duck, before the heat regrouped to bat the day out, erasing 22 runs from the deficit along the way.
Highton certainly have enough talent in the batting line-up to ensure Bell Park won’t be counting their chickens just yet. But it’s rare sides successfully chase 250-plus, and the points look like heading to Hamlyn Park in this one.
