Local Cricket, by Jim Timberlake
Geelong Cricket Club finished their season on high last Saturday, winning its match against Kingston Hawthorn by a resounding 163 runs.
Having posted 8/337 the previous week, the bowlers got the job done in fine style, dismissing their hosts for just 174, Hayden Butterworth was the star with 5/45, while Corey Ogle finished with 2/31.
Having to bowl again to play out time, Tom Treble picked up 2/32 before stumps were pulled with Kingston Hawthorn on 3/133.
In the wash up, the Cats finished in 11th place on the ladder, which was probably a fair result. While they lost some games they should have won prior to Christmas, they stuck at it and showed much more promise in the second half of the season.
This will see them approach next season knowing that the building blocks have been laid for a prosperous future.
The club still has their Thirds and Fourths in the finals, and will hope to get some finals experience into their stars of the future.
In the Geelong Cricket Association, it’s Preliminary Final weekend, and in division one, the two scheduled games will be tight affairs.
Minor premier East Belmont clinically ended St Joseph’s hopes of a three peat last week, chasing down the Joeys 189 without too much fuss.
This week, they will take on South Barwon at Queens Park, the Swans going through as the highest ranked loser after putting in a shocker against Grovedale.
After having the Tigers at 3/5 early on day one, they couldn’t capitalise as Gareth Yelland made a superb though not chanceless 75 not out to lead his side to 9/226.
In reply, South Barwon were never in the hunt, capitulating to be all out for a measly 88, Chris Young taking 5/29.
The Swans will need to regroup quickly, but it will take a remarkable turnaround to beat an East Belmont side determined to get the job done this season.
That means Grovedales opponent this weekend will be Lara, who got over the line against Geelong City, in a tense game dominated by bowlers.
With the wicket looking like it would do plenty, the Sharks were asked to bat first, and battled to put together any meaningful partnerships to be all out for 116.
In reply, Lara didn’t have it all their own way, and at 7/89 looked in all sorts of trouble. But Andy Hughes stood firm with a gutsy 44 not out to guide his side home.
Both sides have a good number of experienced finals players, but it could be that whoever lesser players can play their part will get the job done here, and Lara appear to have a bit more X factor.
In division two, top side Highton will play St Peters in a game where the Heat will start heavy favourites.
Highton comfortably accounted for Bell Park last week, while the Saints were thrashed by Marshall after only managing 82 in their first dig, a score that Marshall chased down with a minimum of fuss.
It’s hard to see St Peters bouncing back in this one.
St Albans Breakwater ended Thomsons chances without even raising a sweat, Jason Murray hitting 89 on day one to see his team reach 262, while Justin Miller took 3/24 on Sunday to wrap up the Tigers for just 180.
So St Albans Breakwater will play Marshall in what could be the best game around town this week. The Saints have a star-studded line-up, but Marshall just continue to get the job done, and their more even spread of the workload could just see them win.
And in division three, Shelford still look the team to beat after a hard fought win over Teesdale last week.
Teesdale strangely chose to bowl first only to see the Bullants rack up 209 in a steady team performance where no batsman passed 50.
In reply, Teesdale battled hard but fell an agonising 11 runs short to bow out of the race.
Corio will be Shelfords opponent, progressing through despite losing narrowly to Little River, a game decided late into day two as the Redbacks chased down 171 with four wickets to spare.
While Corio have been gallant this campaign, this looks like being too much for them.
That means Little River will play Bannockburn who are in blistering form after piling up 326 last week, with Sam Hickleton the star on 125.
As expected, that was too much for Guild St Marys who could only manage 152 in reply.
Little River are not without a hope, but Bannockburns form is too good currently to imagine them letting this opportunity slip.
