Local Cricket, by Jim Timberlake
Geelong Cricket Club has set itself up nicely to secure a long awaited finals berth after a solid first day play at home against St Kilda last Saturday.
Winning the toss and batting, the Cats were well-served by Mitch Reid (19) and Tom Treble (47) but when the latter was run out the innings was evenly poised at 3/100.
But Josh Cobb (107) stood up at just the right time, the English import plundering a fine century, enjoying great support along the way from Angus Boyd (74) as the side posted an imposing 7/327 at stumps.
If the bowlers can back up the batters’ good work tomorrow then it just may be enough to ensure Geelong plays finals for the first time in a few years.
In Geelong Cricket Association, Newtown & Chilwell have laid down the challenge to top-of-the-table North Geelong, posting a very challenging 9/266 at Stinton Oval.
John Simpson (97) was the stand out for the Two Blues. Batting at number six, he fell just short of what would have been a well-deserved century.
Cooper Bingham (47) did his bit, while Yves Rousetty (43) also chipped in during his 100th First XI game for the club.
For the Magpies, ever-reliable Tom Mathieson took 3/79 but the rest of the attack lacked penetration, particularly after Shaun Kingwell was forced out of the attack early due to injury.
Tomorrow will present a good test for North Geelong because top spot on the ladder is on the line, while for Newtown & Chilwell a win will keep its finals hopes alive but a loss will end them for good.
In division two, just when it looked like this season’s finalists had started to clear away from the rest Highton appears almost certain to win outright against Newcomb & District and keep the intrigue alive.
The Dinos were bundled out for just 107 on day one, veteran Luke Daffy (3/9) the best with the ball.
Ben Dodds (60*) then went to work with the bat, helping his side to first innings points before declaring with 12 overs still to play.
Those 12 overs proved very fruitful for the Heat, which claimed 5/24 to almost guarantee claiming maximum points tomorrow.
The only downside for fifth placed Highton is that fourth placed Torquay also enjoyed a dominant day over St Peters, so much so that the Tiger may well claim an outright of their own.
Tomorrow could well be the day that most of the top sides in division two either set themselves up for a run at the flag or make it very hard for themselves.
And in division three, Alexander Thomson breathed a sigh of relief after narrowly avoiding an embarrassing defeat to Waurn Ponds-Deakin.
The Vikings batted first but could only manage 131 from just 38.5 overs, with Mayuka Perera (4/24) the destroyer for Waurn Ponds-Deakin.
In reply though, the Eagles fell an agonising five runs short of their target, dismissed for 127 including four ducks.
That means St Albans Breakwater simply must chase down Thomson’s 249 to have any hope of contesting the finals.
However, Thomson’s form with the ball has been impeccable so it’s hard to see that happening.
