By JIM TIMBERLAKE
CRICKET returns tomorrow after a two week Christmas break, with the Geelong Cricket Club well placed at the mid-point of the season to make a charge towards finals action.
The young Cats squad played some excellent cricket in the first half of the season, and although they let some points slip in December throughout the Twenty20 part of the fixture, sixth place on the table is a fine effort thus far.
With just five two-day games scheduled to complete the home and away season, Geelong travels to Greenvale tomorrow to take on the 13th placed Kangaroos.
A win here could really set them on the right path, and with the two-day format appearing to favour them, the Cats should be hungry for success.
The Geelong Cricket Association also resumes tomorrow, with a round of one-day matches scheduled, before the four remaining two-day games prior to finals.
The season has been fairly tight so far, with only North Geelong appearing certain to play finals.
While a few other teams should make it, they still have some work to do, starting with second placed St Joseph’s hosting sixth placed Newtown and Chilwell in a very important game for both sides.
Joeys can really cement their spot near the top of the table with a win here, something the likes of star players Daniel Fanning and Leigh Kentish know all too well.
Conversely, the Two Blues will be desperate to bring their best to the table, with a host of clubs nipping at their heels just outside the top six, hoping they falter here.
Justin Maher and Cam Alford have had fine seasons thus far with the ball, but Newtown and Chilwell’s lack of batting depth could be the telling point in this one, as St Joseph’s will go in favourites.
Geelong West v EAST BELMONT, NORTH GEELONG v Highton, Murgheboluc v GROVEDALE, Geelong City v SOUTH BARWON, Leopold v LARA
In division two, the top six is starting to break away from the rest, with only seventh placed Torquay appearing a realistic chance of sneaking into the top six.
The Tigers will get a good chance to do just that when they travel to Guild St Mary’s tomorrow, as the Saints are having a poor season, languishing in eleventh spot.
For Torquay, Thomas Dunn and Andrew Murden have lead the way with the bat, while Callum Harding and Terry Hill each have 14 wickets to their names so far.
The one man that stands in their way is Jeewan Desilva, the Guild St Mary’s spinner who is leading the league wicket tally with 21 scalps already.
Still, it may be too much for one man to do it all, and Torquay should win.
Alexander Thomson v BELL POST HILL, Waurn Ponds v NEWCOMB & DISTRICT, MANIFOLD HEIGHTS v St Peters, St Albans Breakwater v THOMSON, Modewarre v MARSHALL.
In division three, the race for the flag is wide open, in one of the most even seasons in years.
While Teesdale, Shelford and Inverleigh look to have enough points in the bank to be finalists, only one game separates fourth placed Bell Park from eighth placed Meredith. Throw in Bannockburn only one game further back, and it looks like being an exciting ride into the finals.
This makes the clash between fifth placed Corio and Bannockburn virtually a mini final. Corio has been more consistent, which indicates it will go in favourites, but this division can throw up some strange results and with a number of outright wins expected between now and the end of the season, the finals jigsaw is far from complete.
LETHBRIDGE v Shelford, MEREDITH v North Shore, CORIO v Bannockburn, Bell Park v LITTLE RIVER, Inverleigh v TEESDALE, Winchelsea bye.
