Blues get into the grind
WINCHELSEA kept itself in touch with the competition’s top-four after grinding out a five-wicket win over the Bulls at Barrabool Oval.
Chasing 148 for victory, it was opener Matt Partridge who led the way with a patient half century, as Winchelsea finished 5-153 (dec) to secure its third win of the season and move into sixth spot.
“It was a good win, we knew the ground was going to be slow there, so anything along the ground you weren’t going to get value for your shots, so we had to grind it out,” Winchelsea captain Daniel Johnson said.
“(But) we never really let them in, we were in control all day, so it was great.” Johnson was also full of praise for Partridge who provided the nucleus of the innings, batting almost the entire 71 overs.
“Yeah ( he was) really patient I haven’t really seen him play an innings like that before,” he said.
“He’s normally very attacking ... it was exactly what was needed and he played it, it was great.”
Earlier, the Blues started the day at 1-9, with Partridge and nightwatchman Dean Hampshire resuming after opener Ryan Tench fell late on day one.
Hampshire posted nine before Barrabool captain-coach Kane Pickering had him caught out, bringing Marc Carson to the crease.
The former Geelong Premier cricket champion combined with Partridge to accumulate a 41-run partnership before he was bowled for 26 by leg-spinner Tom Scott.
But sitting 3-69, Winchelsea was again able to string together a solid partnership as captain-coach Daniel Johnson joined Partridge to tick the score past the 100-run mark before Finn McCombe knocked over his stumps for 20.
Requiring just 38 more runs for vic- tory, Partridge brought up his second half century for the season before Finn Peel finally struck to remove the opener, leaving Sean Doyle and Dillon Campbell to pick up the remaining few runs.
Peel finished the only Bulls bowler to take multiple wickets claiming 2-35 from 12 overs, with Barrabool now sitting in ninth position heading in to the Christmas break on two wins.