It’s not often that a top of the table clash just before finals turns into a lopsided contest, but Highton has already inflicted Bell Park’s first loss of the season and the game is only half finished.
Highton will now finish on top of the Geelong Cricket Association Division 2 ladder after an extraordinary day’s play at McDonald Reserve on Saturday 28 February.
Heat skipper Nathan McCoach won the toss and sent the Dragons in and it paid off with seamer Chris Young (4/17), spinner Isaac Bird (3/20) and paceman Darcy Elliott (2/19) running amok.
Only star all-rounder Nikhil Deep Pottabathini offered resistance for Bell Park with a classy 60 from 78 deliveries.
“It was a bit of a crazy day, to be honest,” McCoach said.
“Everything just seemed to go our way…we kind of had a day out and they probably had the opposite. They’re a pretty experienced team and going undefeated throughout the whole season, it was very, very surprising, but we were very pleased with the results.”
Highton then waltzed past Bell Park’s small total to end day one at 3/213 and in a position of complete control.
New Zealand import Bird is on 71 while James Gillard made 65. Bird has made 558 runs and taken 27 wickets this season while Zac Wills has compiled 561 runs and Gillard 488, giving the Heat some serious batting power.
“I think we have three that have scored over 500 runs, or close to it, so we’re not relying on one or two players,” McCoach said.
“And there are others who can make runs as well. We also have some guys in the twos who play a role and are in good form, so we’re never short of options.”
When asked what his plans were for day two this Saturday, McCoach said he was uncertain. With the minor premiership sewn up, Highton doesn’t need to win outright so giving his middle and lower order a hit might be the best plan.
“We’ll probably play them in the first week of the finals, and this was the first time we’d played them (this season),” he said.
“Our lower order hasn’t had much of a hit so it might be good for them to try and spend some time out there.”
McCoach said the return of Elliott after a lengthy hamstring injury was good for his side.
“He’s had injuries and I think this was his second game back,” he said.
“He got a hat-trick last week and he’s put in a heap of work to get himself right. It’s good to see him out there.”
Bird’s first season at the club has been bountiful. The Kiwi all-rounder spends half the year playing in Ireland.
“This is his first season with us and he’s a class above,” McCoach said.
“To make the amount of runs he has and to take the number of wickets, he’s been fantastic for us.”
LEOPOLD’S bid for a finals spot is well on track after a strong showing against Alexander Thomson. With less than a point separating Leopold (3rd, 51.28 points), Bell Post Hill (4th, 51.14) and Geelong City (5th, 50.58) going into the final day of the home and away season, one side will miss out. Seamer Declan Gibson (5/25) and spinner Hayden Butterworth (3/20) combined to have the Vikings all out for 113 with Zach Mevissen resisting the onslaught with a well-made 45 from 67 deliveries. In reply, Leopold is 5/108 with Sam Mitchell on 34 and outright points and a certain finals spot is a possibility.
BELL Post Hill is in control against Geelong West after making 9/274. Contributions from Ben Muir (66), Tim Hughes (56), Jason Grozdanovski (52) and Will Iles (44) gave the Panthers a big score to defend while new-ball pair Charlie George-Eldrigde and Rajasekhar Reddy Lankireddy each took three wickets for Geelong West.
GEELONG City faces a tough run chase against Torquay to stay in contention. Torquay was all out for 205 with Finlay Carter run out on 98 after going for a quick single, but Lachie Emmett threw down the stumps from mid-off with Carter just short of his ground. Paceman James Leather took four wickets for the Sharks, who must bat well this Saturday.
