Local Cricket, by Jim Timberlake
Geelong Cricket Club has its season somewhat back on track, going down fighting last Saturday against Fitzroy Doncaster, before finally getting some points on the board on Sunday with a thrilling victory against Greenvale.
On Saturday, the Cats bowled first and chased leather to the tune of 5/275, four bowlers managing just one wicket each. In reply, skipper Eamonn Vines led the way with 88, but with not much help, saw his side fall 45 runs short.
On Sunday at Greenvale, Geelong bowled first again and it was the spin twins of Liam Buchanan with 3/39 and Brenton McDonald 3/13 who did the bulk of the work. McDonald’s spell in particular was a master class of leg spin bowling, as he helped restrict the hosts to 206 all out.
In reply, Buchanan departed early for a duck, but a series of starts to Vines 34, Josh McDonald 36 and Tyler Larkin 46 got things back on track. But after a flurry of wickets, 6/140 made victory look a long way off.
Tom Treble got the side back in it, making a gutsy 49 not out in fading light, and with two overs left to play, the Cats needed 11 more runs to win when the umpires called a halt to play due to bad light. That meant the calculators came out, and using the Duckworth Lewis method, Geelong were adjudged to have won the game, a deserved result for a weekend where the boys fought it out both days.
The game on Saturday 22 October is the last one dayer for the time being, and Geelong host Kingston Hawthorn in a game where they will hope to keep that winning feeling alive.
In the Geelong Cricket Association, two undefeated teams in Newtown and Chilwell and St Josephs take on each other in the division one match of the round, the first of the two dayers for the season.
The Two Blues have started the season brightly after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. Wins over Bell Post Hill and Leopold have been the perfect tonic.
Dom Manthorpe took a bag of five wickets last week to restrict Leopold to 9/136, while Tim Hosking top scored with 42 as they cruised to a five- wicket win.
St Josephs also had a great win, knocking off heavy weights East Belmont at Winter Reserve. Justin Foss was the star, making 91 at the top of the order in his side’s total of 5/201.
He then backed up with the ball, snaring 3/43 from 10 overs, while Trent Walerys showed his class to take 4/20 in a close 14-run win.
This game will be played at the St Joseph’s College Oval, and will be a real test for Newtown and Chilwell to see how far they’ve really come. While they have enjoyed a bright start to the season, Joeys look to be the early season premiership favourites, and should show it here.
MURGHEBOLUC v East Belmont, GEELONG CITY v Lara, LEOPOLD v St Peters, Bell Post Hill v GROVEDALE and NORTH GEELONG v South Barwon.
In division two, another mouth-watering clash awaits between two undefeated sides, when Newcomb and District host Bell Park.
Newcomb and District have been in blistering early season form, with Luke Slater leading the way with the bat, making 70 not out last week, on the back of 37 in round one. Josh Walker has been the mainstay in the bowling stakes, picking up 3/27 in round two against Alexander Thomson, as his side won by 60 runs.
Meanwhile, Bell Park had a stirring win over Geelong West in a high- scoring affair. The Dragons bowled first, but were put to the sword by veteran Sam Loftus who made 70 in his side’s total of 227. In reply, Bell Park reeled in the total with three balls to spare, and although the highest individual score was 43 to Jamie Spiller, skipper Michael Lymer would have been pleased that the job wasn’t left to just a few, rather the entire line-up played their part in a solid team victory.
It’s hard to pick a winner in this one, but Newcomb and District might just be slightly stronger at this stage.
HIGHTON v Alexander Thomson, THOMSON v Modewarre, Geelong West v MARSHALL, ST ALBANS BREAKWATER v Guild Saints and TORQUAY v Manifold Heights.
