Local Cricket, by Jim Timberlake
Geelong Cricket Club finds itself with one foot in the door of a long awaited finals appearance after posting a gutsy 8/312 against Dandenong last Saturday.
Winning the toss and batting, the Cats lost Tom Treble (4) early, but Mitch Reid (63) and Eamonn Vines (49) steadied the ship.
However, a flurry of middle order wickets saw the side slump to 5/161, and in desperate need of a substantial lower order contribution.
Enter Luke Inglis (53) and Brenton McDonald (85), who both batted resolutely to ensure the side had a competitive total.
So the batsmen have done their job, it is now up to the bowling unit to do theirs and propel the club into its first finals series in many years.
Geelong Cricket Association has one day of its home-and-away season remaining, and in division one, with the top four already known, it’s simply a matter of jostling for position now.
East Belmont look to have the toughest task to maintain its position as it attempts to chase down South Barwon’s impressive 304.
Joel Davies (100) set up the Swans’ huge total with a sublime knock, while Dave Lineen (4/55) toiled manfully for the Lions.
The home side’s run chase will be made even harder knowing that star batsmen Sean O’Neill and Matt Lineker are both not playing. But with a spot in the semi-final side up for grabs, expect some hungry batsmen lining up to prove they belong in the team.
In division two, Torquay looks to have sewn up fourth place on the ladder after making what looks like an unreachable 9/277 against Manifold Heights last week.
Joel Kitchen (103*) finally converted a good start to post his highest score of the season at just the right time. If the Tigers’ bowlers can live up to their end of the bargain they will have earned their spot in the finals.
Highton though will be clinging to the hope that the Tigers falter and that it can chase down Bell Post Hills 221. Both of these outcomes seem unlikely, though.
And in division three, the main highlight in a round of dead rubbers was Geelong Wests Sam Loftus’ incredible 222 from 223 balls against Waurn Ponds Deakin.
The veteran star showed he is still capable of plundering attacks, and while Thomson, and to a lesser extent Modewarre, have been taking all the headlines of late, the Rams have been quietly going under the radar and may just be priming themselves for a huge finals campaign at just the right time.
