Geelong Cricket club’s season looked like it was slipping away midway through the day’s play against Northcote last Saturday before a magnificent performance from the Cats’ tail-enders saved the day.
Batting first, Mitch Reid (63) looked in good nick at the top of the order but with wickets falling all around him things looked bleak at 7/141.
However, number nine Brodie Couch (73) batted out of his skin, and with important help from Joel Blain (21) and Jared Bailey (14) the side posted a very competitive 273.
With 17 overs to bowl, Dom McGlinchey (2/25) and Couch (1/11) got to work and put the Cats in a dominant position as Northcote limped to stumps at 3/45.
The game is far from over but if they can hold their nerve the Cats should claim a victory this Saturday and get back to their winning ways.
In Geelong Cricket Association the important game between Leopold and South Barwon is already over with a day to play after the Swans destroyed their host last Saturday.
South Barwon won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that paid immediate dividends as Kyle Bienefelt (4/24) ripped through the Lions’ top order before Nick Lynch (2/32) and Brad Hauenstein (4/15) did the rest for a final score of just 95.
In reply, South Barwon would have had a few nerves at 2/24 but when Josh Spence (34*) and Joel Davies (24) enjoyed a nice partnership the Swans eventually went to stumps at 7/127.
This Saturday will be interesting because South Barwon will most likely try its luck at an outright result, and with nothing to lose might be able to secure 10 valuable points and shoot up the ladder.
In division two there is two more one-day games remaining before the inaugural one-day finals, and if Torquay hopes to have any chance of competing on the day it simply must beat ladder leader Bell Park tomorrow.
The Tigers have had a tumultuous 12 months. The points cap saga somewhat derailed last season, and now with the recent resignation of coach Dale McDonald the club has been severely unsettled.
But with star all-rounder Ash Russell now taking the reigns, they will be hoping to right the ship and get some points on the board.
Bell Park defeated premiership favourite Geelong City last week though, so it goes in with some red hot form under its belt and will be hard to beat.
Selections: Manifold Heights v ST PETERS, BELL PARK v Torquay, Modewarre v GEELONG CITY, MARSHALL v Highton
In division three, Newcomb & District posted 230 in it top-of-the-table clash with Alexander Thomson before taking a late wicket on day one to send the Vikings to stumps at 1/13.
For the Dinos, star batsman Matthew Harrison (87) top scored, while Blake Ritchie (42) made some very important runs batting at number nine.
Jack Clapham (3/31) was the pick of the bowlers for Alexander Thomson.
Zane Richter (1/8) was the Newcomb & District bowler to strike late, and if he can pick up this Saturday where he left off then 230 will really take some getting.
With three rounds played in the Barwon Women’s Cricket Competition, Irrewarra finds itselfs on top of the northern division, while in the southern division Ocean Grove leads the way.
With two more rounds to play before the Christmas break, we should start to see the stronger teams emerge from the pack in the run-up to the grand final, which will be played mid-February.
