Geelong drop third straight

GEELONG’S Premier Men Firsts have been handed their third consecutive loss after a tight one-day clash with Richmond on Saturday.

After winning the toss and opting to bat at Central Reserve, the Cats were unable to defend their total of 8/203, with the Tigers reaching the total with five overs and six wickets in hand.

Opening duo Nathan Caulfield and Ryan Aikman were dismissed early, leaving Geelong at a shaky 2/28 before skipper Joshua Larkin and Ashley Armstrong steadied to make a 97-run partnership. Larkin finished with 43 runs and Armstrong finished on 66.

Following this partnership, any momentum felt by the Cats was shut down with a Richmond wicket, leading them to finish the innings just past 200.

With the pressure on Geelong’s bowlers in the second innings to defend a relatively low total, the Tigers cruised to victory thanks to an unbeaten 67 from Jonathan D’Rozario and 53 from opener

Dan Scholz.

The loss sees the Cats drop to 11th spot after opening their season with two impressive wins. They now face the 1-4 Kingston Hawthorn at Walter Galt Reserve this weekend in another one-day clash that becomes season defining.

Richmond were also too good for Geelong’s Seconds, with the Tigers chasing down their total of 10/118 with eight wickets in hand. Cats opener Santhosh Ramireddy top scored with 33 runs as they move to 3-1 on the season.

The Thirds successfully defended their total of 3/221, holding Richmond off despite them facing the entire 45 overs. Lachlan Watson, Kyle Bienefelt and Sam Croft all took two wickets.

Geelong’s Fourths narrowly went down by one wicket, with the Tigers holding on despite Parth Patel and Jaryd Antonenko both taking three wickets.

The Seconds, Thirds and Fourths will all also play Kingston Hawthorn this weekend in one day clashes.