By Justin Flynn
Anglesea seamer Ollie Huby has had to bide his time in a star-studded side, but bowled his team to victory against Ocean Grove in Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 Grade on Saturday February 24.
The 24-year-old picked up 5/25 from 14 overs pushing into the breeze in his best effort of the summer.
Needing 273 for victory, the Grubbers fell for 138 with opener Fletcher Long digging in for 47 from 124 deliveries and Mick Thornton 39 from 43 to continue his stellar season.
Huby made the crossover from St Joseph’s at the start of the season with his younger brother Will with persuasion from coach Bryan Thomas.
“Bryan coached me at Joeys and approached me about it and I was pretty set on staying at Joeys,” he said.
“Joeys has a great place in my heart and I’ve played all my cricket there and I still hang around a lot of people there. But Bryan sold it really well. I think his main selling point was it’s just lots of fun down there.
“And when we’re playing good cricket, we’re having fun. And when we’re having fun, we’re playing good cricket. So yeah, it’s fantastic.”
With captain Dylan Taylor looking after his troubled back, Huby took the new ball and pushed into the wind, but he has been far from frustrated at a lack of bowling opportunities. Before Saturday he had not bowled more than 10 overs in a match.
“It’s actually great,” he said.
“If you’re maybe not having the best day out or if someone’s not quite on, you know there’s about six other bowlers that come on and do the job for us.”
Like a lot of bowlers before him, Huby has found the transition from turf to synthetic pitches difficult.
“I think I’m still bowling that turf length and on the synthetic it they just wait for it to be back of that length and they cut it or pull it and just sit back on the short ball,” he said.
“So I think yesterday I was bowling a bit fuller. I usually get it to swing in, which gets a bit frustrating, to be honest with that two-piece ball. It’s a bit hard to control. For someone like me that just tries to be economical and put it on the spot, it doesn’t help when the ball’s actually moving a bit too much.”
BARWON HEADS had a percentage booster against Barrabool. Brent McMinn made 49 and then youngsters Taj Don (68 from 63 deliveries) and Harry Hyland (55 not out from 83) carried the team to 7/276 in reply to Barrabool’s 121 all out.
QUEENSCLIFF defeated relegation-bound Inverleigh with Hayden Illingworth making 48 not out from 157 deliveries. Matthew Spiller (5/59 from 29 overs) and David Peel (2/29 from 25) were superb for the Kookaburras. Inverleigh battled away and was 4/96 in its second innings at stumps.
ARMSTRONG CREEK declared at its overnight total of 4/233 with a lead of 158 against Jan Juc. The Sharks dug right in though, and were 0/24 from 24 overs when play was called off with Luke Edwards (16 not out off 76 balls) and Nick Hyden (1 not out off 71) leaving absolutely nothing to chance.
IN A2 GRADE, St Leonards booked a spot in the finals thanks to an unbeaten 220-run stand between Troy Griffin (120 not out from 148 deliveries) and Dinayadura nalaka De silva (101 not out from 120) against Newcomb. It was the second time this season the Saints had dual century-makers in the same innings.
Collendina secured the minor premiership by defeating gallant Surfcoast. Left-arm spinner Stan Grazotis was the star with 6/42 from 18 overs.
Drysdale could yet snatch a home semi-final after defeating Portarlington. Cameron Chisholm (90 off 79 balls) and opener Jason Malcolm (86 off 197) played different innings, but both were important in racking up 6/265.
Winchelsea knocked Wallington out of the finals race with skipper Shane Murdoch snaring four wickets to go with his 131 not out on day one.
