Grampians cricket starts heating up
Tatyoon has a chance to jump into the four, Pomonal and Buangor are locked in a battle at Alexandra Oval in Ararat and Aradale is facing a huge score to chase – that was Grampians Cricket Association A Grade in a nutshell on Saturday.
If results go its way, Tatyoon, which sits six points behind Aradale and 12 points behind Pomonal, can jump into the four at Aradale’s expense and find itself just two points behind Pomonal.
Tatyoon, at home, won the toss and batted, scoring 222 with Michael Harricks top-scoring with 112 at first drop.
Joe Gibson 50 not out, and Andrew Ward, 39, made runs down the order.
The best of the Gappers’ bowlers were Sean Mantell 6-49 and Gary Martin 3-49.
Halls Gap, after its turn at the crease, finished on a precarious 5-42, 180 runs behind with only the lower order to bat.
The Hawks will look to dismiss Halls Gap for under 100 on Saturday and put the visitors back in for maximum points. Halls Gap is in for a tough day.
Buangor still has a bit of work to do in its match against Pomonal.
Pomonal won the toss and batted after seeing Buangor had only nine players, but couldn’t take advantage and was dismissed for 103.
Only Jonno Johnston was able to score runs, and finished on 36.
Three Buangor bowlers each took three wickets – Paul Latham 3-19, Callum Baker 3-22 and Chris Jerram 3-21.
Buangor in reply is 3-49, losing Liam Jess on the last ball of the day. Despite being only 54 runs behind, Buangor has to concentrate to gain the points, as will Pomonal if it is to prevail.
Key players in this duel will be Shaun Allen, Tyson Carr, yet to bat, and Jim Fraser, still at the crease. Pomonal’s hopes rest with Lee Oliver and Matt Grinham taking wickets.
In the remaining game, Aradale, missing strike bowlers John Butler and Brent Tate, came up against a full-strength Swifts-great Western.
Aradale now has to score 341 to win, not impossible, but improbable.
Batting first, the Combine finished on 7-340, thanks to contributions from nearly every batsman, the best being Travis Nicholson, 71, Jamie Bach, 61 not out, and Rick Peters, 56.
Young spinner Tom Mccord will relish the number of runs he has to play with, and along with Jamie Bach, Marc Brilliant, Rick Peters and Jayden Mccartney, should be able to contain Aradale to a losing score.
Aradale will look for a good performance with the bat to maintain its percentage advantage over Tatyoon. It will be hoping Brent Tate is available this week.