By Jim Timberlake
GEELONG Cricket Club has leapt to fourth on the Victorian Premier ladder after a thumping outright win over Greenvale Kangaroos.
Declaring on their overnight score of 5/239 with a first innings lead of 119, the Cats bowlers picked up where they left of the previous week to again demolish their hosts.
In an eerily similiar scorecard, Greenvale could only manage nine more runs than its first attempt to this time be all out for just 129 from only 48.2 overs.
Jake Reed (4/33) was again the pick of the bowlers, taking his match tally to 10 wickets. Justin McPhee (3/26) and Luke Muller (2/56) leant valuable support.
With a victory target of just 11 runs, Geelong finished the game in nine deliveries to assert its dominance on the match.
This Saturday the Cats begin a two-day match at home against fifth placed Carlton in a game that will tell the young Geelong side exactly where it fits in the scheme of things.
Geelong West showed it is still a force to be reckoned with in Geelong Cricket Association’s top division with a stunning display to defeat ladder leader North Geelong on day one of their two-day clash at Osborne Park.
The Magpies have been enjoying plenty of media attention in recent weeks but the Rams put them back in their place.
Led by speedster Josh Vrboski (4/36), who returned to form, and with good support from Tim Wight (2/5), North Geelong was bundled out for just 80.
Veteran Brad Scown (2/14) did his bit after making 10 not out, taking some early wickets to have West reeling at 3/19.
But Damien Vassilou (29) and Matt Slater (30) steadied the ship to take first innings points and finish day one on 7/133.
West will most likely look to bat on tomorrow to ensure a backdoor outright is taken out of the equation.
In division two, the critical match between fifth placed Marshall and sixth placed Torquay is evenly poised after the Bears notched up 9/229 last week.
Englishman Jacob Waterson (45), who has finally arrived in Autralia after some visa issues, batted well at the top of the order.
But at 6/130 the game was in the balance, with Tom Dunn (4/93) claiming wickets.
Then the Marshal lower order stood up, with Troy Jones (40), Levi Cameron (31) and skipper Brad Greenwood (30) all making important contributions late in the day.
Early wickets will be the key tomorrow and, if Matt Bogan can produce something close to his best, Marshall should be able to defend its total.
Inverleigh made a mess of things last week in its last-chance match against North Shore, scoring only 152 from just 45 overs after at one stage falling to the shocking score of 6/37.
Conner Dillon (51) and Dylan Watt (42) combined for a 60-run stand but the Seagulls stuck to their task, Chris Stringer (four wickets) the main destroyer.
In reply, North Shore faced 16 overs and moved to 0/17 at stumps with a real chance of a morale-boosting victory if it can get the job done tomorrow.
Either way, Inverleigh appears to have done its dash as far as finals are concerned because an outright result in this game looked like being the side’s only chance of sneaking into the finals.
The finals of the Twenty20 format will be played at Osborne Park, North Geelong, on Monday.
In the division three final, Shelford will take on Bell Park, St Peter’s will play Bell Post Hill in division two and in the main game up-and-comer Murgheboluc will take on reigning title holder East Belmont in a cracking game to cap of an exciting day of cricket.
