Combine strong in Central Park clash

Abattle at Stawell’s Central Park between fourth-placed Pomonal and second-placed Swifts-great Western has the Combine going into day two of competition in a dominant position.

7KH &RPELQH OHDGV E\ UXQV LQ WKH ¿UVW LQ nings with two wickets in hand.

Swifts-great Western won the toss at the weekend and put the Tigers in to bat and after 40 overs dismissed its opponent for 100.

The best Combine bowler was Matt Fitzgerald with 5-32, showing the value of a spinner in any team. Of the rest, Matt Heffer took 3-24.

For the Tigers, opener Clayton Mackley made 32 and Bailey Hosemans, 27.

The Combine responded with 8-190 at stumps, with the main contributors newcomer Nigel Sibson with 54 and Travis Nicholson, 33.

Pomonal’s Matthew Grinham did most of the damage with the ball, capturing 4-52.

The Combine now has to decide whether to bat on for quick runs or declare before Saturday’s play. In the back of their minds will be 10 points, which will bring them up to ladder leader Youth Club.

Aradale was in a similar position against the higher ranked Buangor-tatyoon at Ararat’s Alexandra Oval, where Aradale invited Buangor-tatyoon to bat and succeeded in dismissing its opponent for a paltry 47 runs.

Shan Chinthapalli took a match-winning 5-9 from seven overs and Travis Horvatek 2-10, while veteran Danny Dyer was the only batsman WR UHDFK GRXEOH ¿JXUHV

Aradale then went on to be 4-115 at stumps, with a lead of 68, with Mark Fulton, Horvatek, and Tyler Cronin all getting into the 20s.

Aradale is in a good position to push for the maximum 10 points, which would be a big boost to the club at this stage of the season and could catapult it into the four.

Buangor-tatyoon will have to knuckle down if it is to keep Chinthapalli and co out.

In a game at Halls Gap, St Andrews has the upper hand, having the Gappers 7-70 in a 136run chase.

Critically for the Saints is that the Gappers’ Charlie Mcintosh is out for 25. Mcintosh was the one player who might have got the Gappers over the line.

After winning the toss, the Saints struggled to reach 136. All Gappers bowlers took a wicket, with Faizan Butt lead the way with a tidy 3-14 from 11 overs.

Best of the Saints batsman was James Laidlaw with 41, supported by James Hosking and Aiden Moar. Not-out batsman Josh Leith, 9, and Riley Thomas, 16, will need to knuckle down and score most of the runs if the Gappers are to prevail.

Saints bowler James Laidlaw already has 3-10.

ACROSS CRICKET