Peake powers on in mighty charge
St Joseph’s v South Barwon 8-370
IN a day as remarkable as any seen in the Geelong Cricket Association, South Barwon turned a horror start into a powerhouse batting display, scoring 8-370 against St Joseph’s after being a precarious 5-38 earlier in the afternoon.
Hero for the Swans was the competition’s leading batsman, Clinton Peake, who made a stunning 167 not out.
Peake scored better than a run per ball and hit 12 fours and five sixes in his brilliant chanceless knock.
Following on from his 96 not out last week, the diminutive Peake has now scored 263 runs without being dismissed.
Not that he was a solo performer. Andrew Ross, batting at No.9, put on a club record 193 for the eighth wicket with Peake, making 80 in the process.
‘‘It was a very good effort to make 370 after being 5-38,’’ South Barwon captain Phil Halbish said.
‘‘We made around 3-330 from the last 55 overs or so, which was a fantastic turnaround after a bad start.
‘‘Clint never looked like getting out. He continued on from his good form from last week and is also incredibly fit.
‘‘Andrew Ross runs like a whippet, but Clint was also running his twos and threes with ease right through to the end of the day.
‘‘The wicket had low bounce but it was true, so Clint just got on to the front foot all day. With the short straight boundaries he seemed to be able to hit a four or a six just when it was required.’’
After an early tea break taken during a rain interruption, play continued until after 7pm as the Joeys bowlers battled to get through 76 overs using a wet ball.
Their frustration was evidenced by the 49 extras they eventually conceded.
It had been so different when Trent Walerys won the toss for the home side and sent South Barwon in.
‘‘ There was a bit of movement early, but the wicket was OK,’’ Halbish said. ‘‘Trent and Andrew Tozer bowled well and we got into trouble.
‘‘The rain came when we were about 5-50 and then, because the ground was pretty heavy, the ball had to be continually dried.
‘‘ They certainly had trouble at times controlling it. It was occasionally slipping out of their hand. They asked the umpire to change it, but although it was wet it wasn’t actually damaged or split.’’
Brad Hauenstein (22) started the South Barwon recovery with Peake.
They came together when the St Joseph’s bowlers had taken 4-7 to leave the South Barwon captain wondering if his team could make 150.
Their stand of 88 for the sixth wicket either side of the rain break took the total to 5-126 and paved the way for the later onslaught.