Seagulls bats give bowlers a chance
BARWON Heads has set Jan Juc 219 to win next week, with Jonathan Gill describing the contest as “evenly poised”.
The Barwon Heads coach is out with a hamstring injury and watched on as his side formed three valuable partnerships with the bat to see out 73 overs.
The patient batting was a vast improvement on last round’s disappointing return against Barrabool, allowing the Seagulls to post a defendable score against one of the competition’s best bowling sides.
A 64-run opening stand between Lewis Hyland (41) and captain Sam Schaller (33) set the platform, before a direct-hit run out cost Hyland a bigger score.
“Sam (Schaller) and Lewy Hyland formed a really strong partnership,” Gill said.
“We’ve had two direct-hits in two weeks at crucial times.”
The starts continued for Barwon Heads, with Lachlan Campbell making 21 before Dylan O’Leary notched his first half- century and highest score in Agrade with an impressive 51.
O’Leary was then bowled by Jordan Graham moments after raising his bat, but had ensured his team’s total would be above the 200 mark.
“He (O’Leary) batted really solid and was important through those middle part of the innings,” Gill said.
Michael Fallon (32) chipped in with a respectable lower-order knock as Jan Juc bowlers Nick Smith and Josh Norman grabbed a pair of late wickets.
Wickets were shared across all five Jan Juc bowlers, with Iva and Lyle Priest snaring two scalps for their services.
Gill said both sides would be reasonably happy with the position they were in going into next week, but believed his side had the bowling calibre to grab a fourth win from six matches.
“We’re happy with runs on the board, which is what we probably lacked in the last game,” he said.
“It’s evenly poised, but we probably think our bowling has come on and is pretty steady.
“(Ben) Grinter’s probably the key.”