Mehta rescue mission
Cats topple Greenvale
IT WAS Daanish Mehta “to the rescue” on Saturday as Geelong picked up its first win of the Premier Cricket season over Greenvale.
Mehta's knock of 75 from 76 balls helped turn Geelong’s 5-66 into all out for 232, with the Kangaroos only able to manage 190 in response at Geelong Cricket Ground.
The star all-rounder teamed up with Hayden Butterworth (60) and eventually Tom O’Connell (51) to put on a 92-run seventh-wicket partnership in what proved to be a matchwinning effort.
“We were under pressure early, I think we were about four or five down for about 60 and I think (Hayden) Butterworth was trying to hold it all together and just looking for someone to jump into a partnership with him,” Geelong director of cricket Travis Agg said.
“Daanish was able to do that for a little bit and then … Tom O’Connell came in and they just made sure as close to 200 was going to be a really good total.
“I think the fact that both him and Daanish were able to go close to a run a ball once they got in turned the fortunes around and gave us a bit of momentum going into the bowling innings to be honest.”
Agg said Mehta has starred in his role down the order.
“Daanish sort of to the rescue again a little bit, he’s been just so good in that position for us for the last year and a bit,” he said. “It was just great that Tom was able to come in and play like a state player.
“I think what he did yesterday (Saturday) was exactly what we’ve been looking for him to do for a long time and, I guess, he found the right balance yesterday which was really important.
“That partnership was critical and probably the big reason why we won the game really.”
Mehta backed up his superb innings with 2-19 bowling figures from eight overs.
Brody Couch, Josh Garner, Josh Larkin and Vincent Huf each picked up one wicket in an even bowling display.
“He (Mehta) is such a talented player, he reads the game really well, he paces the game really well in his batting,” Agg said.
“He knows the right blend and he knows when to take the spinners on and he knows when to knock it around.
“Just a really good player and a really valuable player for us, to be honest.”
In Sunday’s clash against Prahran, the Cats were bowled out for 101 in chase of 6-274 at Geelong Cricket Ground.