Headwinds fail to slow Blues’ advance up ladder
A PAIR of hard-working bowlers going into the wind helped Winchelsea close in within striking distance of the top four.
Thanks to skipper Adam Korth’s unbeaten 129 on the first day, the Blues were in the box seat when play resumed on Saturday, but the breeze at St Leonards forced three bowlers to put on workhorse performances.
Opening batsman James Stephenson said Ray Edwards Jr (2-47) and Matthew Partridge (4-86) were given the honours of running into a strong wind, bowling a combined 44.4 overs in the tough conditions.
In simpler conditions mostly from the other end, Shane Mitchell (2-86) bowled 21 overs himself to help knock over a gallant Saints batting line-up 28 short of the target of 285.
“It was a very strong wind, so you couldn’t bowl spinners from one end,” Stephenson said.
“There were different stages of the game where they were on top and we were on top, so it was tight.”
In-form batsman Andrew Spengler (87) led the way in the resistance for St Leonards.
He was ably supported by Taylor Bonner (57), who recorded his second half-century of the season and a breakthrough innings from Richard McCarthy (44).
The victory closed the gap on the top four for the Blues, who now sit just three points behind Little River in fourth spot.
Stephenson said the result could prove crucial in the new year.
“It was definitely a really important win to stay with the top four,” he said.
Nic Fairchild’s golden run of form has continued, with the all-rounder smashing his first century since returning to Little River. The club skipper has taken 11 wickets in his past two matches — including 6-51 on day one against Armstrong Creek — and completed the perfect game by belting an unbeaten 105 to steer his side home on Saturday. Daniel Welsh (69) supported Fairchild as Little River cruised to victory.
Wallington’s batsmen did enough to blunt Drysdale’s outright attempt. The Hawks took just 18 overs to claim firstinnings points thanks to Bailey Sykes (33 not out) and David Hambrook (31), leaving the Wallabies to negotiate 43 overs to stave off the outright. Calvin O’Brien (22) and Damien Biemans (20 not out) did the heavy lifting.
David Peel fell for 96 as Inverleigh extended its lead on the top of the table by inflicting Newcomb’s second outright loss of the season. Peel succumbed in the pursuit for quick runs before the declaration. Jasper George (3-27) led the way with the ball on day two, while Matthew Spiller (2-37) took his match figures to 9-81.