First game of over 60 cricket

The first game of the new year for the Gippsland Over-60 cricket team was played on Sunday.

The Yarra Valley over-60 team came to Traralgon for the match which was held at the Duncan Cameron Oval.

The weather was fine with a westerly breeze making conditions ideal for the game. The pitch was good and the ground well prepared by the Traralgon Rovers CC as the Goannas commenced their innings after losing the toss and being inserted.

Ian Gibson and Graeme Freshwater started the innings carefully, and built a good partnership with Gibson being bowled by the change bowler for 32 in the 19th over.

After 20 overs the Goannas were 1/67 with Fred Debono joining Freshwater, who departed stumped shortly after for 35. Kevin Lanigan joined Debono and they increased the scoring rate before the latter was also stumped.

Lanigan retired on 40 while Murray Moore 15, Gordon Cowling 11, Val Popov 13 not out, Neil Meredith and Peter Dell, in his first game for the season, all added to the total as the Goannas reached 6/166 at the end of their 40 overs.

After the usual sumptuous feast for lunch during the innings break, the Yarra Valley team started their innings with Ian Southall and Cowling keeping them to 18 runs from the first 10 overs.

Moore and Meredith replaced the openers and Meredith hit the stumps removing one of the openers with his sixth ball. YV were 1/36 and continued to try to increase the scoring rate.

Despite a run out, inspired by an excellent throw from Lanigan, the YV team were 2/58 when drinks were called after 20 overs.

Opening bat John King retired, as did number four bat Trevor Selby, and the Goannas were under a little pressure as YV reached 2/99 in the 27th over.

Another sharp run out created by a Lanigan throw, an absolute blinder of a catch at short mid-wicket by Freshwater, an LBW decision, and all of a sudden the Goannas were back on top.

Debono took an amazing return catch in the next over before bowling the eighth YV batsman. Another run out, then Mr Fix-it Higgins claimed the last wicket, caught by Southall, to wind up the innings for 116 in the 35th over.

Lanigan and Debono each took two wickets, but the three run outs and the three excellent catches were the major difference between the two sides.

The Goannas now have a week off, with the next game being an away game at Geelong on January 29.

Meanwhile, Iona went down to Richmond in a closely fought match.

Iona posted 7/155, with Russell Ferguson and Alex Miller both retiring on 40. Ellinbank cricketer Peter Felstead chipped in with 26.

Richmond managed 5/175, with Bob Rogers taking 2/13 to be pick of the bowlers.