Local Cricket, by Jim Timberlake
Geelong Cricket Club has its first win on the board for the season after defeating Casey South Melbourne by 29 runs last Saturday.
Batting first, the Cats’ top-order did the job. Tim Ludemann (63) got them off to a great start before skipper Eamonn Vines (85) top-scored at number three, with Josh McDonald (72) providing valuable at number four in a 121-run partnership.
Despite being all-out in the last over, a score of 284 would always take some running down.
The bowlers didn’t have it all their own way early, as the visitors put on 98 for the first wicket before reaching 3/200 mid way through their innings.
However, Angus Boyd (3/69) and Hayden Butterworth (2/40) and Joel Blain (2/48) all played pivotal roles as the Cats managed to close the game out.
Another one-day game is scheduled for tomorrow, with the side travelling to the Albert ground to take on Melbourne in what should be a ripping game.
Geelong Cricket Association moves into two-day cricket in division one and, in what looms as a very early crunch game for two winless sides, St Josephs takes on South Barwon at the college oval.
South Barwon pushed Grovedale all the way in round one but hardly fired a shot against East Belmont last week, so it desperately needs to find some form or the season could slips away before it really begins.
South Barwon will hope Joel Davies can return from a back injury and look for more from other established stars, like Ryan Gibson and Nick Lynch.
St Josephs has also struggled to get going, losing to North Geelong and Newtown & Chilwell so far.
Matt Tarbett has been good with the ball and Luke Ibbs made a decent 80 last week but their team’s leaving too much to too few and needs a lift from their entire 11.
While St Josephs has some talented players, South Barwon was touted as a dark horse for the premiership this season and should just be too strong in this one.
Other selections: EAST BELMONT v Murgheboluc, North Geelong v NEWTOWN & CHILWELL, LARA v Leopold, GROVEDALE v Bell Post Hill
In division two, Torquay looks to have put the disappointment of losing last year’s grand final behind it, jumping out of the blocks this season with two impressive wins.
Tom Dunn (59), Dale McDonald (55) and Ash Russell (64) were in the runs against Highton on Saturday as the Tigers posted 5/232.
In reply, only James Gillard (60) offered much with the bat for the Heat, while Russell (5/27) wrapped up man-of-the-match honours as the Tigers romped to a 49-run victory.
Torquay takes on Geelong City in Saturday’s one-dayer, which promises to be about as good as we’ve see in division two for many years with some seriously good players going head to head.
Torquay’s form is impeccable, so they deserve to start very slight favourites, but only just.
Other selections: St Peters v HIGHTON, BELL PARK v Modewarre, MARSHALL v Manifold Heights
In division three, a round of two-day games is scheduled, with Corio hosting Bannockburn in a game the Devils look well-placed to win.
They played Lethbridge at home last week, with Dylan Shelley making 218 off just 149 balls to post his club’s highest-ever score in the First XI as he led his side to 7/357.
In reply, Lethbridge’s many players in their first game of turf cricket struggled to make just 111 in reply, with Brodie Coon (4/27) the chief destroyer.
Corio will hope it can make it back-to-back wins against the two hard-wicket clubs in the division, although Bannockburn has an extra season under its belt and might just be a little bit too strong.
Other selections: ALEXANDER THOMSON v Geelong West, St Albans Breakwater v THOMSON, NEWCOMB & DISTRICT v Waurn Ponds-Deakin, Guild Saints v LETHBRIDGE.
