Skipper leads Magpie charge
AN inspired spell of seam bowling by captain Tom Mathieson spearheaded North Geelong’s six-wicket win over South Barwon, underpinning the Magpies’ reputation as the pre-eminent team in GCA1.
In an electrifying 11-ball stanza, the left-arm dynamo claimed 4-5 to rip the heart out of the Swans batting as they were reduced from 1-45 to 5-51, eventually dismissed for 146.
“There were no demons in the wicket, but I think it suited me as it was fairly dry but every now and again, when I changed up, it would grip a little bit,” Mathieson, who finished with the outstanding figures of 5-21, said.
“I knew that their top five was the key, so I was happy to get rid of them early.
“I thought it was a really good cricket wicket, there was a little bit in it for the bowlers and a nice bit of pace for the batsmen as well.”
Swans’ openers Leigh Lorenzen (13) and Nick Butters (20) had started brightly before the collapse, although the flurry of wickets saw the recovery mission to set a competitive score fall on the shoulders of captain Pat Richards (59) and veteran Brad Hauenstein (40).
“To get the openers before they really got going was a key to keeping them to a lower score, while we knew that Pat and Brad are two really smart batsmen who would really dig in,” Mathieson said.
“Pat, at the end batting with Nick Platt, was annoying to watch but it very smart batting by him.”
The Magpies’ batting depth was further evidenced in the chase, after Casey Meehan (28), Ned Cooper (21) and Layton McCann (20) all got starts without going on.
“Those 140-150 chases can be quite tricky but to be able to chase that 146 down losing only four wickets, with Andrew Fergusson and Adam Costello getting it done, was really good,” Mathieson said.
Fergusson (43 not out) and Costello (23 not out) combined for an unconquered 66-run stand, with the Magpies reaching the target with more than 11 overs spare.
The win came without star opener Sam Hall who missed with a hamstring strain sustained at training.
“It was disappointing to have the Grovedale game washed out but to beat finals sides like East Belmont and South Barwon, and to be three and zip, we feel that we’re sitting pretty at the moment,” Mathieson said.