Local Cricket, by Jim Timberlake
Geelong Cricket Club continued its late season run of form with a dominant win against St Kilda last weekend.
Playing at Kardinia Park, St Kilda won the toss on Saturday and chose to bat first and got off to a great start reaching 1/107.
From there though, the tide turned as Nathan Alexander with 2/51 and Brenton McDonald, who took 2/74, swung the game in the Cats favour.
Add to that some sharp fielding contributing to two run outs, and St Kilda slumped to be 8/193.
But a fantastic 79-run eighth wicket stand pushed the score to 272 before a late declaration.
In reply on Sunday, skipper Eamonn Vines showed why he is destined for higher honours, superbly crafting a glorious century at the top of the order, the emerging star showing maturity beyond his years to post an unbeaten 132.
With support from Mark Pettini who made 75, 28 to Angus Boyd and 27 by Mitchell Reid, Geelong cruised to a six-wicket win to consolidate last round’s win.
With one game remaining against Footscray Edgewater, coach Andre Borovec and Vines will be pressing home the importance of a strong finish to the season.
In the Geelong Cricket Association, the match considered by many to be the most important in terms of jostling for ladder positions going into finals, is balanced clearly in the favour of St Josephs, after a dominant batting display last Saturday against Murgheboluc.
Leigh Kentish continued his exceptional form, crafting a gutsy 147 not out on a day where all other batsmen struggled to find their feet.
The star all-rounder, batting at number four, notched up his fourth century of the season so far, to lead his side to a very healthy 271 all out at stumps.
Francis Gill chipped in with 47, while earlier Luke Ibbs made 38 at the top of the order.
For the Frogs, Nathan Baxter was the eighth bowler to be tossed the ball, but returned the best figures for the day with 4/47 from 17 overs, while Dylan Grozdanovski snared 3/42.
With much to play for tomorrow, Murgheboluc look to have a tough task ahead of them, and while their batting form has been excellent of late, St Josephs boast an experienced and disciplined bowling line-up, meaning it’s hard to see the Joeys letting this one slip.
In Division 2, the juggernaut that is Alexander Thomson continues to destroy everything in its path.
The success-starved club looks like roaring into this year’s finals after already claiming the points on day one of their clash with St Albans Breakwater, and will surely push for maximum outright points tomorrow.
The Vikings bowled first and didn’t have it all their own way early, the Saints reaching 55 before losing their first wicket.
But from there, a collapse of monumental proportions ensued, as all 10 wickets fell for the addition of just 39 more runs, a final score of just 94 the result.
Sean Tindale continued his good form with 3/23, but it was Sanjeewa Jayasekara who was the star, claiming 6/28 from 15 overs.
In reply, Alexander Thomson made sure an opportunity of first day points wasn’t lost, cruising to 6/162 at stumps, Michael Cox top scoring with 61.
For St Albans Breakwater, Sean Bogan did what he always does and bowled his heart out, taking 5/48 in a classy spell of bowling.
Tomorrow, the Vikings will most likely declare on their overnight score and push for 10 points, a feat that may well see them in the top six if they can pull it off.
