New guns fire for Cats
Ludeman, Cobb chase down testing target
GEELONG had its first glimpse of electrifying strokemakers Tim Ludeman and Josh Cobb in full flight as the duo belted the Cats to an impressive T20 victory yesterday.
After going down to Kingston Hawthorn on Saturday, Geelong bounced back in emphatic fashion to overcome Melbourne at the Albert Ground.
Ludeman crunched his second half-century for the Cats and English import Cobb smashed his maiden 50 in blue and white to haul in Melbourne’s score of 3-156 with 13 balls to spare.
Cats coach Andre Borovec said it was a privilege to watch them in full swing.
“They give the ball an awful tap,” Borovec said of the pair’s power.
“It was also calculated and they trusted their strengths and played perfectly.”
Ludeman finished unbeaten on 55 from 45 deliveries, with three fours and two sixes.
Cobb made 50 from 33 balls, including two fours and three sixes.
“It was just a professional run chase,” Borovec said.
“‘Ludey’ used the first six overs with two men out really well. He played awfully straight and played the spinners well.
“He made himself hard to bowl to by moving himself around the crease but staying balanced at the same time.
“That performance, after keeping, should not be underrated in the sapping heat.
“Cobb was just outstanding. The ball striking . . . you had to see it, really.
“Having experience in Bangladesh on low wickets was critical.
“He was able to find the boundary with Ludey to take the sting off the chase.”
Earlier, veteran Cameron White gave the Demons a fighting chance of victory with 85 from 62 balls, including four sixes.
Borovec felt Melbourne’s total was “about par”, leaving a testing run chase on a wearing wicket.
“It’s a magnificent cricket ground, and Melbourne was 3-100 when the rain came yesterday (Saturday), so was a good pitch,” he said.
“Having said that, the fourth innings, and that was our chase, is always the hardest.
“The ball gets soft and the wicket gets tired and it started shooting through at the back end of our innings.
“Having Josh Cobb and Ludey anchor the innings was critical to the result.
“The clear game plan was for White to anchor the innings and for the others to chip in and pleasingly we were about to limit the damage around White.”
Cats spinner Brenton McDonald was brilliant on both days, claiming 1-19 against Melbourne and 2-12 against Kingston.
The Hawks made 9-158 at home on Saturday, restricting Geelong to 114. MEANWHILE, Geelong skipper Eamonn Vines has been rewarded for the early season form that has yielded more than 500 runs, named in the Victorian team for the Futures League clash against Tasmania.
Melbourne young gun Will Pucovski will lead the team for the four-day clash, which starts at Casey Fields today. it