Oliver tells of freak innings
IT WAS chaos at one end and complacency at the other.
But not even Richie Oliver could have envisaged playing such a lone hand in Geelong City’s first innings against Grovedale.
Setting a competitive total of 252, captain Oliver delivered a scintillating knock.
But it was the contribution of his teammates that turned heads. When Oliver fell for a blistering 128, the Sharks were 137.
“I was just in a groove,” Oliver said yesterday.
“It was a good wicket and boys who were batting around me said ‘while you’re going like this, we might just try and hang in with you. We’ll just stick in and provide a bit of support’.
“It wasn’t well thought out, it just happened, really.
“I was more than happy to have a crack.”
Alex Inglis (0 from 7) fell in the third over and Ross Elliot lasted 26 balls for three.
Matt Elliot also dropped anchor for 20 overs, making one from 46 deliveries, as Oliver smashed the two- time reigning premiers to all parts of Richmond Crescent.
“There were three or four extras among the three or four runs the other boys scored,” Oliver said.
“I faced 110 balls out of the first 37 overs.
“So I faced less ball than the other blokes.
“I was just having a ball. I was loving it.”
The Tigers helped feed the run feast, with captain Barry Tsitas keen to attack.
“They were willing to keep the field up to get me out and I took advantage of that,” Oliver said.