Teams snare points as rain plays a part

The weather had a big influence on Grampians Cricket Association at the weekend, with most fixtures affected.

At Stawell’s Central Park in a twoday battle between Pomonal and Swifts-great Western, the Combine chose to bat on and reached 217 before being dismissed.

Matt Grinham was the Tigers’ best bowler with 4-52, but his team started its second innings shakily with both openers out and the score at 2-2. Pomonal advanced to 2-19 when rain ended the match.

Swifts-great Western took six points from the game, when perhaps they were expecting 10.

Halls Gap failed to reach the 137 needed for victory against St Andrews, dismissed for 98.

Both Adam Haslett, 4-34, and James Laidlaw, 4-11, shared the bowling honours.

The Saints’ second innings had reached 2-61 when weather forced the teams to abandon play. Tom Mills had scored 36 up to this point.

Alexandra Oval proved unfit for play after rain, leaving Aradale with six points from a first-innings win over Buangor-tatyoon.

This is the second time this season the weather has come to Buangortatyoon’s rescue.

The next round in Grampians association is a one-day fixture, split over two days, with two games before Christmas and two in the new year.

The matches before Christmas feature Halls Gap against Pomonal at Central Park and Aradale taking on Swifts-great Western at Alexandra Oval.

Youth Club, St Andrews Buangor-tatyoon have byes.

While both matches are important to their clubs, the contest between last round’s winners will be the highlight.

Both Aradale and Swifts-great Western had good wins last round and will look to back up strongly.

Aradale’s batting has been spasmodic and the side will need all batsman to contribute to post a reasonable score. Tyler Cronin, Corey Taylor, Mark Fulton and Scotty Turner must get runs against Matt and Heffer, Jayden Mccartney spinner Matt Fitzgerald.

A similar score to the team’s last innings would be a big boost to its chances.

For its part, the Combine will rely on proven batsmen – Sam Cocks, Travis Nicholson, Tom Eckel and newcomer Nigel Sibson – to give them the edge, while Aradale will look to Shan Chinthapalli to repeat his heroics of last round.

Halls Gap hosts Pomonal at Central Park, a ground that has not been kind to either team.

Pomonal desperately needs the six points on offer, while the Gappers are still searching for that first win. Halls Gap batting is patchy to say the least, but its one shining light is Charlie Mcintosh, who is third in the runs aggregate and will need to mainstay the innings.

He will be the prize wicket for either Matt Grinham or Lee Oliver to chase.

Pomonal has openers Clinton Mackley and Luke Jordan as well as Matt Peel. The Tigers have more at stake than the Gappers and this could be the difference. and