Defiant late stand gives Modewarre hope
A GALLANT ninthwicket stand has given Modewarre hope against Geelong West, after the Warriors were earlier reduced to just 7-75.
Number nine and 10 batsmen Jackson O’Hanlon (40) and Nat Matthews (41) breathed life into the Warriors’ innings in a vital partnership that gives the Modewarre bowlers something to bowl to, after squeezing out a competitive 186 off 81.1 overs.
Despite O’Hanlon and Matthews putting on 60 together, on top of Darcy French (31) and O’Hanlon adding 50 for the eighthwicket, Geelong West captain Sam Allen believed there wasn’t much more his side could have done.
“Our bowling was very consistent, and even though we had them 7-80 we couldn’t do much more because we were still bowling the same as we were earlier and to the first six batsmen,” Allen said.
“I’m still happy we could get them under 190.”
On the ninth-wicket stand, Allen paid credit to the tailenders for the way they played, with O’Hanlon soaking up 98 deliveries and Matthews 70.
“It wasn’t too frustrat- ing, we still bowled good lines and lengths but they just played good cricket shots,” he said.
“I wasn’t too frustrated with that as captain, because we were still hitting our spots and doing the things we were doing consistently throughout the day.”
Earlier, Mitch Stephens made it 13 wickets in three rounds, with the ever-improving quick claiming 4-46 off 24 overs. He dismissed key Modewarre batsmen Luke Davidson (10 off 64), Justin Goonan (22 off 53) and Jack Hosking (8 off 25) in one searing spell to put West into a strong position.
“I said a couple of weeks ago he’s come a long way with his bowling … but he bowled one of his longest ever spells on Saturday,” Allen said of Stephens.
“He didn’t want to stop bowling — that’s (like) every quick bowler — but I was really impressed with him.”
Veteran Craig Allthorpe (3-16) proved tough to get away through his 17.1 overs to help Stephens and Noah Craven-Briggs (2-52) bowl the Warriors out for 186.
A successful run-chase would move the Rams inside the top four.
“We’ve still got to do a lot of work — 186 isn’t a small total. We’ll do a power of work and take our time through the day next week,” Allen said.