With Grovedale teetering at 5/40 early on day two chasing Lara’s 142, the match was tilted in favour of the bowling team.
Then at 6/80 with Michael McNeel gone for 38, 63 more runs for the Tigers still seemed a long way off as they searched for their first win of the Geelong Cricket Association Division 1 season.
Josh Windus strode to the crease to join his captain Jack Wrigglesworth still with a lot of work to do as the Lara bowlers sensed victory.
And that was pretty much the end of the contest. Batting with patience and maturity, the pair steered Grovedale past the required total and continued on batting.
When Wrigglesworth departed for 67 from 158 deliveries, the score was 7/165, but Windus was just getting started when Jake Alsop joined him in the middle.
The pair would combine for an unbroken 130-run eighth-wicket partnership to finish the day at 7/295 with Windus bringing up his maiden first-grade century, ending on 112 not out from 189 balls while Alsop was there on 50 from 80.
Wrigglesworth said he and Windus played “within ourselves” early in their partnership.
“We knew that if we could get to their bowlers’ second and third spells, it would get easier,” he said.
“And I guess that’s the joy of two-day cricket, just being able to bat for as long as we can and then reap the rewards later in the day.”
Wrigglesworth praised Windus’ knock, not just for the sheer size of it, but for digging in while the game still needed to be won.
“He really batted within himself while the game was still on the line and was really mature about it,” he said.
“And then just freed himself up after the game was over and he hits the ball as clean as anyone I’ve seen. He smacks them.
“Happy for him to get the three figures. He deserves it because he worked really hard. I think he would have been 30 or 40 when we passed them, which was pleasing.
“And Slop (Alsop) as well was awesome. He can really play and it’s good that he got some confidence coming in a bit later, but I would have had full faith in him even if he had to come in when the game was on the line as well.”
Wrigglesworth was also happy for 22-year-old pace bowler Riley Stone, who took 6/43 on day one.
“He’s a real asset for us with his pace and wicket taking ability,” he said.
“It’s important with two-day cricket since you have to bowl teams out. He works really hard, trains hard, always trying to learn and he’s going to be great for us, especially in two-day cricket.”
ST PETERS rocketed to the top of the ladder on the back of a magnificent century by captain Luke Ford. Newtown & Chilwell resumed at 8/224 and ended on 9/253 with Haydn Burke getting to 50 and Jack Trewin picking up a wicket to add to his four from day one. Ford was then in complete control of the situation with 117 from 176 balls while younger brother Billy Ford contributed 51 in a 107-run stand. The Saints ended at 8/268 with Jordan Lewis (3/45) the best of the Two Blues’ bowlers.
EAST Belmont chalked up a 123-run against South Barwon in a powerful all-round performance. Resuming at 6/249, Lachie Inglis took his score from 71 to 83 when East finished on 8/283. Sam Ellis picked up another wicket to make it five for the innings for the Swans. Speedster Jack Jenkins (4/49) and spinner Lachlan Molyneux (3/35) didn’t allow South Barwon any continuity in its run chase with only Harry Hauenstein (41) looking like grafting out some runs. South Barwon was all out for 160.
NORTH Geelong added another 36 runs to its day one total with Adam Costello finishing on 76 not out in a final score of 6/242 against St Joseph’s. At 7/118 in response, it looked like the Magpies were cruising to victory after Angus Cranny (3/58 from 19 overs) and Tom Mathieson (2/31 from 19) did most of the damage. With their sights set on a draw, Cooper Findlay hung around for 74 deliveries for four runs while Brandon Purcell (48 not out from 115 deliveries) and a free-flowing Ollie King (31 not out from 38) took the score to 7/184 from 85 overs and neither side got the points.
