Hawks shore up top position
Buangor-tatyoon has firmed as Grampians Cricket Association A Grade premiership favorite after comfortably beating Swiftsgreat Western.
The Hawks can thank their bowlers for victory at Tatyoon on Saturday.
The line-up dismissed the Combine’s batsmen for the first time this season.
James Phillips maintained his good form for the winners, taking 4-15 off six overs.
He had help from Callum Baker and Zander Mcdougall, who took two wickets each.
Having dismissed the Combine for 114, with only Marc Collins, 30, and Tom Fitzgerald, 28, making a serious impression in the scorebook, the Hawks posted 5-118. The team passed the target with five overs to spare.
Main scorers were Riley Wood, 42, and James Phillips completed a fine double with 34.
A high point for the Combine was Collins’ double of 2-22 and 30 runs.
The result all but assured Buangortatyoon top spot on the ladder.
At Central Park in Stawell, Youth Club went a long way to securing a finals berth with a 32-run win over rival Halls Gap.
Batting first, the Clubbers reversed their poor batting form with an innings of 6-192. Jarrod Illig posted his second 50 with 52 in a knock including six fours and three sixes, and Matt Healy chimed in with 37.
The Gappers recorded 160 in reply, Charlie Mcintosh and Caleb Bretherton each with 32.
Pomonal has moved into the four by defeating Chalambar in a close game at Alexandra Oval in Ararat.
Batting first, the Tigers reached 109, with the main contributor Lachie Dalkin with 43.
The best of the Chalambar bowlers was Luke Walker with 3-9 from seven overs.
In reply, Chalambar’s cause was hindered by fielding 10 men and their innings closed on 92, with Reece Kettle, 25, and Guddi Sing, 20, producing the best results with the bat.
Clinton Mackley was the most successful Tigers bowler, taking 4-20 from his eight overs.
This weekend’s draw features Swifts-great Western up against Pomonal
at Central Park. The Combine will be anxious to return to the winners’ list and Pomonal needs the win to remain in finals contention.
Pomonal has the bowlers in Lachie Green and Pat Fraley to worry the Combine batsmen but so far the batsmen have rarely backed them up.
Last time they played Pomonal forfeited due to lack of players. Hopefully this will be avoided this time around.
Halls Gap hosts Buangor-tatyoon and will have the job in front of them to win against Riley Wood, and particularly James Phillips.
All Gappers leading players will have to perform at their best, but they can take heart in the fact the Tigers beat them just before Christmas.
Chalambar faces Youth Club at Alexandra Oval in a match where Youth Club would love to consolidate third position.
On Sunday, Swifts-great Western travelled to Dennington to face Mt Gambier team College in an inter-association T20 cup match.
College, 4-111, beat the Combine 9-109. This week: Halls Gap v Buangortatyoon, Chalambar v Youth Club, Swifts-great Western v Pomonal. Last week: Pomonal 109 (L. Calkin 43; L. Walker 3-9) d Chalambar 92 (R. Kettle 25; C. Mackley 4-20), Buangor-tatyoon 5-118 (R. Wood 42, JU. Phillips 34) d Swifts-great Western 113 (M. Collins 30, T. Fitzgerald 28; J. Phillips 4-15), Youth Club 6-192 (J. Illig 52no, M. Healy 37, T. Thulborn 25) d Halls Gap 160 (C. Mcintosh 32, C. Bretherton 32). Ladder: Buangor-tatyoon 45 points, 1.80 percent: Swifts-great Western 36, 2.30; Youth Club 24, 1.19; Pomonal 18, 0.49; Halls Gap 12, 0.55; Chalambar 12, 0.54.