Gappers maintain winning run
Halls Gap maintained its winning run in Grampians Cricket Association action, with a narrow 12 run win against Combine2 at the weekend.
Batting first, the Gappers recorded a midrange score of 5-144.
Best of the Gappers’ batters were Luke Stevens, 46, and Josh Leith, 45 not out.
No Combine bowler took more than two wickets.
The Combine decided to give youngster Tom Collins a go at opening the innings, to judge his ability to play that role in the future.
Collins showed all the concentration and patience necessary in an opener, with the under-16 competitor scoring 21, however, he lacked the experience necessary in rotating the strike and the Gappers opening bowlers Jade Mcmurtrie and Rikki Mcintosh were able to raise the run rate required by bowling six maidens between them.
With the run rate required rising to over a run a ball, Combine accelerated its scoring, but the Gappers bowlers stood firm and Combine finished 12 runs short. Lue Stevens completed a fine match with 3-24.
The other matches were clear cut, with the Saints easily defeating Rhymston2 and Rhymston1 suffering the same fate against Combine1.
Chalambar once again forfeited, this time to Pomonal.
The Saints won by nine wickets against Rhymston1.
Toss-winning Rhymston2 batted first and with just eight players, was dismissed for 48, leaving the Saints to run down the score in eight overs for only the loss of Ryan Skiller’s wicket.
Rhymston1, after some better efforts recently, crashed against Combine 1, losing by six wickets in a short 50 over game.
Batting first Rhymston1 succumbed to a Matt Heffer, 4-13, inspired attack to be dismissed for 85.
The Combine lost four wickets reaching the target.
This week’s key match is between the fourth-placed Tigers and Rhymston1, in fifth place on the ladder, where the visitors will attempt to keep in touch with the top four.
After last week’s round it is hard to see the Tigers going down at home.
Tigers Clayton Mackley, Lachie Green, Tyler Cronin and Corey Taylor will not let this one slip.
Rhymston1 has shown glimpses of good form during the season, so the Tigers will have to work for the win.
Another good match-up is between Combine2 and the Saints.
In their previous meeting, the Saints won in a high-scoring game.
Since then, I suspect the Saints have improved, while Combine2 efforts will depend on team selection and availability.
The remaining game is between top placed Combine1 and bottom placed Rhymston2 and its hard to state a case for Rhymston2. Results: Swifts-great Western1, 4-89 d Rymney-moyston1, 10-85; Halls Gap, 5-144 d Swifts-great Western2, 5-132; St Andrews, 1-55 d Rhymney-moyston2, 8-48; Pomonal d Chalambar on forfeit.