GCA’S COUNTRY WEEK MIRACLE:
‘Some of the balls he hit for six were going 30 metres past the actual fence ...’ SEAN O’NEILL ON NICK BUTTERS’ 164
A TEAM batting performance helped the Geelong Cricket Association to a crucial win over Warrnambool in the Victorian County Cricket League opening round at Kardinia Park yesterday.
The GCA chased down the 358 runs required for victory in lethal fashion, reaching the total in just 47.1 overs.
The victory puts Geelong in a strong position heading into today’s clash with West Gippsland at Camberwell, needing to secure two wins from its three matches to score safe passage through to the finals.
“If you lose (your opening game) you are so far behind, but now not only do we have momentum and also the points to back it up,” GCA captain Sean O’Neill said.
“If you win (today) you really line yourself up for the semifinal.
“You want to be able to control your own destiny, that’s what we’ve been big on.”
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Warrnambool made the most of some terrific batting conditions.
Opener and captain Nick Butters stole the show, plundering 164 off 114 deliveries, including 20 fours and six sixes, to help Warrnambool race to 9-357 off their 50 overs.
“I said to him at the end, ‘mate that’s one of the best knocks I’ve ever seen’,” O’Neill said.
“You’ve just got to tip your hat sometimes and say ‘ yep, that’s just too good for us’.
“Having said that, I don’t think we bowled overly bad to him. He was able to manipulate the ball on both sides of the wicket.
“He hit it clean. Some of the balls he hit for six were going 30m past the actual fence, so it didn’t matter how many fielders we had.”
Pat Richards (2-55 from 10 overs) was crucial with the ball for Geelong, while Ryan Gibson (3-56) and Nick McGuane (2-50) also played a role.
In response O’Neill urged his batsmen to make sure they all contributed and he (60 off 48) and import Richie Oliver (66 from 41) got the GCA off to the best possible start.
That steadfast approach with the bat continued with Andy Hughes (74 from 54) and Gibson (61 of 46) all making the most of their starts, while Andrew Hodgson anchored the innings with an unbeaten 81 off 84 balls.
“I just said to the boys, that we got done today by a pretty special knock, but we don’t need to do that. We need four five blokes (to make runs),” O’Neill said.
“Richie got us off to an absolute flyer playing some unbelievable cricket shots. Andy took a little while to get in but when he got going it was great to watch as well.”