Wright steadies Crows as they battle Titans
Division four:
Season 2019-20 reached the midway point at the weekend with some low scoring matches commencing in division four.
Longwarry was the only side able to bat out its overs as Warragul and Jindivick were bowled out early by Iona and Hallora respectively.
Crows consolidate
Garfield-Tynong was made to work hard after electing to bowl first on day one of its clash with Longwarry.
Geoff Rumble and Joe Pullen (25) got the Crows off to a solid start with a 49-run opening stand before a flurry of wickets (including that of danger man Gary Kear) saw the visitors gain the upper hand with the score at 3-68.
Evan Wright steadied for the home side and, despite a lack of support from the middle order, the scoreboard continued to tick over.
Liam MacDonald (22) joined Wright to add 85 for the seventh wicket as Longwarry built towards a defendable total.
Closing in on a much-deserved century, Wright was the final wicket to fall, out for 90 in the closing stages of play.
Josh Evans’ second spell saw him claim the final three wickets to finish with 3-37. Erin Maxwell did the early damage, snaring 3-27, while Will Pickering kept things tidy during the middle overs to finish with 2-33 off 15 overs, which included four maidens.
Although only a modest target, runs on the board is always important. The Titans will need to draw on their experience and depth if they are to take the points in this one.
Iona in box seat
Iona has taken advantage of an undermanned Warragul, sending the Gulls in to bat and dismissing the visitors for a meagre 110.
Opening bowlers Michael Scully and Jarryd Bain were on top from the outset as wickets fell at an alarming rate.
Toby Shelton (32) helped stage a minor revival with Jack Buckingham chipping in with a handy 20.
It was all Warragul could do to keep the home side in the field for as long as possible, eventually running out of personnel after 52 overs.
Bain was the pick of the bowlers, grinding out 16 overs to snare 4/35. Scully turned the screws from the other end, delivering six maidens and claiming 2-27 off 15 overs.
In reply, Craig Lenders (24) led the charge for the Swamp Tigers as they finished day one in the box seat. Bain (0*) and Lachlan Howard (2*) will take up the pursuit when play resumes this weekend.
With almost half the target already erased, it’s hard to see Iona losing from here.
Kangas in control
Hallora has ended day one in a winning position after bowling Jindivick out for a below par total of 183.
Sent in by the visitors, Jindivick got away to a positive start with a 51-run opening stand. Aaron Larkman found some much needed form, dominating the scoring to finish with 67.
Hallora gradually took control of proceedings with regular wickets slowing the run rate. Kev Larkman battled bravely on his way to 35 but as the lower order fell away the Jumping Jacks were bundled out in the 53rd over.
Ross Donoghue took wickets at critical moments to finish with 4-32. Gary Donoghue bowled a tidy spell to claim 2-22, while Darren Humphrey chipped in with 2-34.
With 14 overs to face the Kangas raced away, reducing the deficit to 101.
Humphrey was the main aggressor, striking five boundaries and one six to end the day not out on 48. With Humphrey unavailable on day two, responsibility for chasing the remaining runs will fall to the likes of Daniel Sell and Brian McDonald.
Barring a major collapse, Hallora should come out on top.
A well-timed chase saw Neerim ease to victory over Drouin, reaching their target with two overs to spare.
Requiring just over 3.5 runs per over, the Stags set a good pace early on with Remo Graziotin (48) again leading the charge.
Quick wickets to Cameron Caddy (319) kept the game in the balance but the cool head of Anthony McCann (56 retired) kept the scoreboard ticking