Mallett mauls Portarlington
AN unbeaten century from batsman Jason Mallett has put Drysdale in the box seat against Portarlington, steering the side to a total of 265.
Mallett accumulated 153 runs for the innings and survived two dropped catches to form a crucial 132-run partnership with No. 6 Jarvis Durbidge (35 runs) after the pair came together at 4-133.
Portarlington was left to rue missed opportunities with Mallett sending an aerial ball to mid off after tea on two occasions, with both catches put down.
“We were looking to get early wickets, which we did, but then we missed a couple of opportunities and they capitalised,” Portarlington coach Tony East said.
“I though they batted very well and we just had to stick to our task and unfortunately downed a few chances late in the day. I guess we got a bit tired and a bit sloppy but I was really impressed with how they batted.”
Drysdale opener Jason Malcolm was the first to fall early in the day, with medium-pacer Harry Day claiming him lbw for a duck to bring Mallett to the crease.
Jason Peoples followed not long after, caught by Bradley Vagg to hand Day his second wicket and placing the side at what appeared an ominous 2-17.
But Mallett and Nick Hallam put together 84 runs, with the latter caught for 35 off the bowling of Nathan Deluca to again have Drysdale on the ropes.
David Handbook managed just 21 to bring the scoreboard to 4-133, but from there on in it was the unbeaten pair of Mallett and Durbidge who would guide Drysdale to a wellfought-out 4-265 at stumps.
Harry Day finished the pick of the bowlers with 3-49 for Portarlington, which will now be hoping to emulate Drysdale’s efforts with the bat on its home deck next week, with 266 certainly not out of reach.
“It’ll be up to us, the guys will just have to apply themselves and if they take a leaf out of Drysdale’s book, who knows,” East said.