Ocean Grove stretched its Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A2 Grade winning streak to three on Saturday and it was a young all-rounder who spearheaded the victory.
Fresh from an unbeaten half-century in Grove’s T20 win against St Albans/Breakwater during the week, Snookes made 66 not out from 71 deliveries and took 2/28 from eight overs to propel his side to a 44-run round 4 win against Wallington.
“It was nice to get a few away this week finally,” Snookes said.
“I was a little bit rusty at the start of the year. Probably was doing a bit more damage with the ball, which is unusual for me. It was nice to finally get a few and get the win for the boys.”
The 20-year-old left-hander has hardly played the past few seasons after playing for Barwon Heads and Geelong when he was a junior.
“I played three games last year with the Grubbers when I finished at Geelong, I think three years ago now,” Snookes said.
“I didn’t play any cricket over that period of time, but, I’m loving it. Such a good bunch of blokes down there and we’re really excited for the year.”
Ocean Grove made 4/185 batting first at Ray Menzies Oval and opener Dan Roddis continued his productive start to the season with 54 while recruit Connor Weidemann chipped in with 28 not out from 21 balls.
“Dan has been working really hard on his batting,” Snookes said.
“His body doesn’t really allow him to be a fast bowler anymore, but he’s huge for us and really sets up a good platform for the back end of our innings.”
One of Ocean Grove’s problems last season was a lack of batting depth that resulted in it being relegated from A1 Grade.
But with Snookes, Weidemann and Baljinder Singh Brar added to the line-up, the Grubbers now bat right down.
Snookes said it was “exciting how deep we bat”.
“It’s super handy knowing you have blokes in the shed that can come out and do the job,” he said.
“We genuinely believe we bat to, sort of, 10, with Corey Buxton being super for us as well, coming in and finishing it off.
“And then you got JT (Jake Taylor), who’s probably at seven or eight and he made a run a ball 50 for us (in round 2) and got us out of a pretty tricky situation.”
In reply, Wallington never got any momentum with Snookes applying the pressure along with fellow slow bowler Tom Kent (2/28 off eight overs) and quick Zac Jones going for just 21 off his eight overs. Roddis then chimed in with a two-wicket cameo to have the Wallabies 8/141 when the overs ran out.
“It’s quite a different group this year,” Snookes said.
“A few of the older boys are saying that bringing in a couple of younger boys like myself and Connor Weidemann, Baljinda as well, has been great.”
SURF Coast won a thriller just when it looked like a Portarlington father/son duo would take the game away. Richard Dawes (35) top scored for the Suns in a final total of 9/149, but accurate bowling from Tom Stewart (2/17 from eight overs) restricted Port’s run chase to four an over. At 5/40, the Demons were then thrust back into the contest by father/son pair Paul and Jackson McGrath. When the elder McGrath was run out for 59 with the score at 6/140, Port was still favourites. But the junior McGrath fell for 38 and with one wicket in hand, the Dees needed four for victory. But Blake Robinson (3/44) sent the off stump out of the ground and the Suns chalked up another win.
COREY Walter made a superb 96 for Collendina, but Winchelsea came away with the points. Jarrod Groves took 4/22 to restrict the Cobras to 8/158 with Nathan Frye (20) the only other batter to make double figures. Shane Murdoch again played an experienced knock to end on 53 not out as Winch got the runs four down with more than five overs to spare.
RAIN ruined a potentially close finish with St Leonards and Newcomb settling for a draw. Shane Cutajar (62) made runs with the Saints posting 9/175. When Mother Nature entered the fray, the Bulls were 4/88 at the halfway mark of the innings.
