Home side claims outright win

Buangor-tatyoon achieved the first outright win of Grampians Cricket Association A Grade competition at the weekend.

Playing at Buangor, the home side dismissed Halls Gap for 71 after posting a huge firstinnings total of 255.

The follow-on was enforced and the Gappers fared little better, dismissed for 106 to lose by an innings and 78 runs.

The main destroyer was Michael Harricks with 8-37 and 3-25, giving Buangor-tatyoon its first win.

Charlie Mcintosh was the best of Halls Gap’s batsmen with 39 in each innings.

Youth Club retained its ladder-leader status by exceeding St Andrews’ 199 and finishing on 7-232.

Hero of the Clubbers’ innings was Cam Kimber, who amassed 124 not-out in an innings that included 17 fours.

It was Kimber’s maiden A Grade century and could not have come at a better time. The Saints were best served by Tom Mills, who took 4-64 from 24 overs.

Pomonal managed to bat for most of the day to record 7-196 and a win against Aradale.

Luke Jordan led the Tigers’ innings with a half century. Jordan was assisted by Clayton Mackley, 36, and Luke Roberts, 31. The best of Aradale’s bowlers was Haider Ali who netted 4-35.

It’s been a long time since Youth Club and Pomonal have featured in the main match, but this will be the case in round three’s two-day fixture when the undefeated clubs face off at Pomonal.

Youth Club is on top of the ladder, while the Tigers are third.

So far the Clubbers have produced a centurion in each of their innings and if they repeat the feat in this game it would be a big blow to Pomonal’s chances.

Pomonal will be looking for a team effort with the bat to challenge the Clubbers.

Halls Gap will host Swiftsgreat Western on the turf at Central Park.

In the corresponding match last year, the Combine overwhelmed the Gappers to record an outright result on the first day.

In the other match, St Andrews takes on Buangor-tatyoon at Alexandra Oval, Ararat.

Early games at Alexandra Oval traditionally favour the bowlers, so this will be an intriguing battle, with Buangor-tatyoon’s captain Harricks likely to have an impact on the result.

Winless Aradale has the bye and the complimentary six points to get its season going.