Openers Shaun Fankhauser and Dan Roddis combined for their third major partnership in a row to catapult Ocean Grove to an eight-wicket derby win against Collendina in round 10 of BPCA A2 Grade.
The pair added 118 in the match before the break and compiled 63 together during last weekend’s win and on Saturday 17 January at Ray Menzies Oval, they shared a 98-run union for the opening wicket.
Fankhauser and Roddis were faced with a relatively easy required run rate of four an over after Collendina made 7/162.
But the Cobras made their rivals work hard with Grove bringing up the winning runs with only two overs in hand.
Fankhauser, who was unbeaten on 65 at the end, said experienced bowlers Stan Grazotis and Corey Walter proved difficult to get away.
“They both bowl pretty good lines with pace off the ball and it’s hard to hit through our ground,” he said.
“It’s super, super slow in the infield, so you’ve got to whack it or take a risk. Stan and Corey were fantastic, being a bit older heads. I’ve played against Stan in the past when I was back in Geelong, so I knew what he bowled, knew what he does, so you just try and get the ones and twos when you can, but they don’t really give you options to hit boundaries.”
Roddis made 51 and, for a player who used to be a bit of a dasher, has really gotten his head down this season in a new role as permanent opener.
“He’s counting balls and things like that, so it’s actually really good batting with him,” Fankhauser said.
“He’s my best mate, so it’s just two mates having a laugh with each other and half the time we’re not worrying about the opposition, we’re just sort of taking the mickey out of each other.”
Fankhauser said Collendina’s 162 was “a little bit below par” despite the efforts of Walter (73 from 99 deliveries), who couldn’t get much of the strike towards the end of the innings.
“Especially on that ground,” he said.
“I think a lot of teams come to a big ground and they try to hit boundaries, whereas you can’t do that. So you’ve got to run your twos and threes.
“I think Corey only faced 26 balls after drinks or something like that. He was getting ones, but once we got Stan (Grazotis, 20 from 29 balls) and Tubsy (Nathan Frye, 33 off 38) out, the younger blokes were struggling to turn the score over and get Corey back on strike.”
Despite winning by eight wickets with 12 deliveries in hand, Fankhauser said it was hard work.
“I didn’t want to take it that deep to be honest, but they bowled well,” he said.
“Once they have the field back, you’ve got to take risks or you’ve got to run hard between the wickets. But it doesn’t really matter if you get them on the last ball or in the 40th over.”
The top of the ladder Grubbers take on Surf Coast for the first ever time during the next three weeks with a one-dayer at Banyul-Warri Fields followed by a two-dayer at home.
Collendina travels to Ervin Reserve to take on bottom placed Newcomb before heading to its temporary home at Ocean Grove Memorial Reserve for the return clash.
TROY GRIFFIN belted his second century of the season to lead St Leonards to a win against Portarlington. Griffin made 172 in round 6 and followed it up with an unbeaten 117 from 98 deliveries on Saturday. Port made 9/181 batting first with Cameron Gourley (47), Jesse Hunter (46 not out) and Paul McGrath (41) playing well while James Burns (3/29) and Oscar Cutajar (3/31) were on target for the Saints. Griffin then launched St Leonards to victory with help from Burns (31 not out) to reach the target in the 34th over with six wickets intact.
WALLINGTON moved into second place on the ladder at the expense of Winchelsea. Tom Spencer (42) and the consistent Richie Faust (40) got runs while Mitch Sleeman took 3/26 from eight probing overs. Baden Luppino (41) and Shane Currie (2/37) were Winch’s best performers.
SURF COAST arrested a five-game losing streak with a narrow win against Newcomb. The Suns attack was miserly with Blake Robinson’s 2/25 from eight overs a standout while James Claney made 41 not out for the Bulls. Surf Coast made the runs with an over and three wickets remaining with Akashvir Singh (23 not out and 2/23) capping off a good game.
