Swans open up gap, Grubbers knock on the door of top four | GCA, BPCA cricket wrap

GCA1

SOUTH Barwon grasped a crucial six points over fellow Geelong Cricket Association division one firsts finals contender East Belmont on the weekend.

The Swans had multiple contributors with the bat, Brad Hauenstein (45* runs), Harry Hauenstein (44) and Kyle Bienefelt (42) all helping the side to a total of 7-185 off 49 overs. Skipper Luke Brown felt the total was slightly unders, but nonetheless his bowlers backed it up beautifully.

Bienefelt produced a stellar spell following his good performance with the bat, taking 3-6 off seven overs, bowling an incredible six maidens and he was well supported by his fellow bowlers. East Belmont dismissed for 137.

“Everyone really played their part, we fielded well as a group, we bowled well and we had plenty of contributions with the bat,” Brown said.

South Barwon now moves into third position, a game clear of fourth-placed Newtown & Chilwell and East Belmont.

South Barwon now takes on top six sides St Joesph’s, Lara and Newtown & Chilwell over the next three weeks, in a block of matches that could define its season. However, Brown said while the next group of matches were clearly important, there were no easy games in this competition.

“Being a game clear in that spot on the ladder is massive for us.

“The next three games, we probably need to win two of them. But we can’t go into the latter half of the season and think we’re playing the bottom half of the ladder we can take our foot off the pedal, we need to beat those teams as well.”

In other GAC1 matches, Lara defeated Murgheboluc by four wickets. But it could’ve been so much sweeter as Andrew Hughes was devastatingly run out on 99, nonetheless it was still an outstanding knock, along with Daniel Weigl’s unbeaten 74.

St Joey’s comfortably accounted for Leopold, chasing down the 8-152 total with eight wickets to spare.

An even bowling display saw Newtown & Chilwell knock over Highton for 130 runs, chasing down the score with eight wickets in hand. Grovedale claimed a 37-run win over North Geelong.

BPCA A1

OCEAN Grove kept itself in touch with the top four by defeating fellow finals hopeful St Leonards.

The Grubbers proved too strong, claiming a 42-run win in round 10 action of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 competition.

Michael Thorton made an unbeaten 69 while opener Shaun Fankhauser made 58 to help Ocean Grove to 5-222 from its 40 overs. In response, St Leonards was all out for 180 in the 33rd over, Andrew Spengler top-scoring with 76. Jake Taylor took 4-39.

The win sees Ocean Grove leapfrog St Leonards and puts it three points behind fourth-placed Jan Juc, who has a game in hand.

Elsewhere, Barrabool made 7-152 from 40 overs against Collendina and delivered a brilliant bowling display to match, the Bulls bowling Collendina out for 93. Aaron Pickering enjoyed the best figures with 3-23 while Nathan Findlay was extremely economical, taking 0-7 from eight overs.

Queenscliff shored up its position in the top four with a four-wicket win over Barwon Heads. Daniel Stott top-scored with 38 while some lower-order hitting from Tom Bakker proved valuable, hitting 32* off 27 balls to reach the target of 115.

GCA2

MARSHALL flexed its muscle at the top of the ladder with a comprehensive victory over Geelong Cricket Association division two firsts top four side Torquay.

The Bears belted 4-181 off its 20 overs, Kal Dubbeldam (54 runs) and Jake Dubbeldam (48*) leading the charge.

In reply, the Tigers could only manage 6-97 from their 20 overs. Tom Beasley taking 3-16 from four overs as the Marshall attack strangled Torquay. The win keeps Marshall atop the GCA2 ladder.

In second position is Bell Post Hill. It also enjoyed a comfortable win, chasing down Bell Park’s total for the loss of just one wicket. Ryan Mills made 82 off 60 balls at the top of the order.

Jack Driver made an unbeaten 91 off 73 deliveries to help Geelong City post 2-139. Alexander Thomson was well restricted by the Geelong City attack, all out for 106. It now has a handy buffer in fourth position, 10 points clear of fifth-placed Bell Park.

St Peters made 5-172 off its 20 overs against Modewarre. Drew Bowman hit 64 off 41 balls. The Warriors ended its 20 overs with 5-136 on the board, well short of the target. St Peters’ Nouman Muhammad proved difficult to get away, taking 2-11 off four overs.