Coutas on the charge
Gulls succumb to couple of Kidds
QUEENSCLIFF has retained its place inside the top three with a four-wicket win against Barwon Heads in A1 cricket on Saturday.
After winning the toss and batting, the Seagulls only managed 114 in perfect conditions at Queenscliff.
Lachie Kidd proved why he is one of the premier bowlers in the league, taking his second four-wicket haul of the season.
Kidd was well supported at the other end by his brother Tom Kidd, who snared three wickets of his own.
Chasing down the total set by Barwon Heads wasn’t an easy task for the Coutas, who found themselves in trouble at 5-67 with 44 runs still needed.
However, some impressive late-hitting from Tom Bakker (32 not out off 27 deliveries) and Nat Stephens (16 off 29) steered the home side to victory.
“We made hard for ourselves yesterday I think but managed to get over the line in the end,” Coutas skipper Frank Mileto said.
“We probably lost too many wickets early and they bowled really well, to their credit. We then had a few batters stabilise in the middle order with Daniel Stott managing to make 38.
“Tom Bakker then came in at the end of the innings and got us over the line like he has a couple times of the year.”
Queenscliff now sits one game clear of Jan Juc in third spot after winning its first three games back since Christmas.
After losing to seventhplaced Collendina the first time the sides met, Queenscliff will now be desperate to ensure it doesn’t repeat those mistakes in this weekend’s rematch.
“It’s a must-win for us to try and push for the top end of the ladder spot,” Mileto said.
“With only four games left in the season they are all mustwin games.”