South Barwon knew that last season’s Geelong Cricket Association Division 1 wooden spoon was unacceptable and immediately went about strengthening the squad.
Young gun Harry Hauenstein committed for a full season, Armstrong Creek run machine Clay Mulgrew signed while all-rounder Gurpreet Singh crossed from Torquay and Tom Meredith arrived from Newtown & Chilwell.
It all paid off immediately as South Barwon defeated St Peters in round 2 on Saturday after round 1 was abandoned.
“We probably identified that we had a few holes in our list last year,” captain Nick Butters said.
“So we went out and tried to improve our list, which we think we have done.
And they all contributed. It was nice not to rely on one person or one player.”
On a good wicket at Reynolds Oval, Butters turned to pace off the ball after Brogan Hayman (45) and Matt Sorgiovanni (27) got St Peters off to a good start with a 66-run opening stand.
Leggie Sydney Ray (1/32 from 10 overs), Butters (2/16 from 10) and Mulgrew (1/37 from 10) all played their role in restricting St Peters to 9/190, although a nice 45 from Brad McMaster pushed the score close to 200.
“The pitch was really good,” Butters said.
“We probably felt like the pace was sliding on nicely onto the bat, so we just wanted to take a bit of pace out of it. And it was just the way it worked yesterday that we bowled a fair bit of spin.
“It’s probably not going to be the way every week, but it certainly worked yesterday.”
The Swans chased down the total with seven wickets and more than 15 overs in hand.
Hauenstein showed ominous signs with a classy 72 from 94 deliveries, Meredith made an unbeaten 47 from 64 and Singh was 25 not out off 18.
“It was good to see Harry get out there and spend some time,” Butters said.
“He probably had a bit of an interrupted year last year and we didn’t get to see the best of him. So it was good to see him and Tom bat for a long period there.
“We should be chasing 190, especially at South. It’s a good wicket, a smallish and quick outfield so 190 is definitely below par at South, but they’ve been the scores over the last couple of years that we’ve struggled to run down so that’s why we’re really pleased to do it so convincingly in the end.”
VISHESH Malhotra’s return to Bisinella Oval yielded a superb double century as Lara defeated Newtown & Chilwell.
Malhotra made a stunning unbeaten 209 from just 153 deliveries in a powerhouse innings that contained 25 boundaries and seven sixes as the Cats racked up 3/352 with skipper Dan Weigl getting 68 off 67.
The Two Blues responded with 210 all out with Tyson Windus making 58, but three wickets each to Rhyce Nolan and Luke Wilson gave last season’s Division 2 premiers a first-up win.
FORMER Premier Cricket opener Kane Keighran launched a blistering assault on East Belmont’s attack with a 53-ball 131 that contained 15 fours and nine sixes.
Joeys finished on 5/334 with Jonathan and Andrew Casey each getting half-centuries.
In reply, East Belmont champion Sean O’Neill showed that he hasn’t lost one bit of his ability with a century after having last season off.
O’Neill and James Lidgett (69) shared a 179-run partnership, but five wickets to Ollie King and three to spinner Luke Backhouse had East all out for 239.
ALISTAIR McCann led North Geelong to victory with a fine all-round performance. McCann made 50 and took 5/24 to earn player of the match honours.
Ned Cooper top scored for North with 78, but paceman Sam Coutts’ 6/43 kept Grovedale in the game.
Chasing 242 for victory, Grovedale was all out for 215 with Jordan Moran and Jack Wrigglesworth both passing 60.
GCA 1 ROUND 2
South Barwon 3/191 (H. Hauenstein 72, T. Meredith 47no, C. Bradnam 3/42) def St Peters 9/190 (B. Hayman 45, B. McMaster 45, N. Butters 2/16)
Lara 3/352 (V. Malhotra 209no, D. Weigl 68, A. Hughes 42) def Newtown & Chilwell 210 (T. Windus 58, R. Nolan 3/42, L. Wilson 3/37, K. Marum 2/27)
St Joseph’s 5/334 (Z. Keighran 131, J. Casey 68, A. Casey 50) def East Belmont 239 (S. O’Neill 103, J. Lidgett 69, O. King 5/52, L. Backhouse 3/56)
North Geelong 241 (N. Cooper 74, A. McCann 50, S. Coutts 6/43) def Grovedale 215 (J. Moran 65, J. Wrigglesworth 61, A. McCann 5/24, A. Cranny 2/41)
