By Jim Timberlake
Geelong Cricket Club has clawed itself off the bottom of the Premier cricket ladder with a solid victory over Frankston Peninsula last Saturday.
Resuming at 1/112 in pursuit of the hosts’ 151, the Cats didn’t lose a wicket until victory was achieved, Mark Pettini (39) and Eamonn Vines (71) were the stars in a comprehensive run chase.
The middle order then were given licence to have a dash, Josh McDonald the best of them making a brisk 34 from 32 balls before the Cats declared on 7/272 and asked Frankston Peninsula to bat again.
With hopes of an unlikely outright win in their minds, Tom Smith and Dylan Moroney got off to the perfect start with three quick wickets, but from there Frankston opener Matthew Gapes ground his way to a gutsy century and staved off Geelong’s push for maximum points.
With two games remaining, Geelong play their last home game of the season against tenth placed St Kilda.
While finals are out of the question, there is still much to be gained from a good performance here, and a good finish to this campaign will go a long way towards a positive mindset looking to next season.
In local action, the Geelong Cricket Association also has two games remaining, and while often at this late stage of the season the six finalists are set in stone, there is still a realistic chance for eight teams to take part in finals action.
Seventh-placed Geelong City face the tough task of needing to beat ladder leader Grovedale to keep their hopes alive, while eighth placed South Barwon will fancy their chances of beating St Peters.
But the game that might have the most impact on who could be the eventual premier may well be at King Lloyd Reserve where Murgheboluc host St Josephs.
The Frogs have been the quiet achievers so far in a season where many thought they would struggle after the loss of star all rounder Glen Talarico.
But two wins on the trot, and a focus on a more even spread of contributors, has seen them a realistic chance of not only contesting their first ever division one finals series, but perhaps going all the way to holding the cup aloft.
Batsmen Greg Holmes and Andrew Murden are both in the top eight run-getters for the season, while Dan Grozdanovski, Matt Tarbett and Terry Hill all boast 13 or more wickets.
While all those statistics point to a team on the rise, they will have their work cut out against St Josephs, who have been going about their business well, winning their last three games in style as they push for their third flag in four years.
If Murgheboluc want to be taken as a serious threat of holding the cup aloft this season, a top notch performance here will go a long way to not only satisfying onlookers that they are the real deal, but will perhaps help to convince themselves of the same thing.
Murgheboluc v ST JOSEPHS, Geelong City v GROVEDALE, LARA v Leopold, EAST BELMONT v Bell Post Hill, Newtown & Chilwell v NORTH GEELONG, St Peters v SOUTH BARWON.
In division two, Alexander Thomson went into the Christmas break in familiar territory, languishing in the bottom half of the ladder with just two wins to its name.
Fast forward two months though, three wins on the trot has rocketed them into finals contention, and with a very winnable game against St Albans Breakwater this round, the Vikings may well find themselves in the top six next Saturday night if they can take the points here.
The key to their success has undoubtedly been the form of Englishman Sean Tindale. The gun paceman was a key member of the GCA’s succesful Country Week campaign. He showed no ill-effects from a tough week in Melbourne though, returning on Saturday with the tough task of helping his side defend a modest 158 against Torquay.
But like every challenge put before them recently, a new-found confidence helped the side rise to the occasion, bundling the Tigers out for just 128, Tindale the star taking the remarkable figures of 7/34 from 11.3 overs.
The efforts of Jay Dunstan didn’t go unnoticed either, the opener chipping in with 3/27 of his own, to see an excitement build around Highton reserve not seen for many years.
But as expectations rise, so does the level of pressure, both from outside and within, and if the side can embrace the challenge rather than shy away from it, they could finally realise what they are capable of.
HIGHTON v Newcomb & District, THOMSON v Guild Saints, Modewarre v GEELONG WEST, ALEXANDER THOMSON v St Albans Breakwater, BELL PARK v Torquay, MARSHALL v Manifold Heights.
