Geelong well beaten at home

GEELONG have been well beaten at home by a strong Melbourne outfit in Round 5 of the Premier Men Firsts competition.

After an impressive start to the season, the Cats faced their biggest challenge and were unable to hold their own, going down by 141 runs.

In sunny and relatively windless conditions, Geelong won the toss and sent Melbourne in to bat.

Young gun Campbell Kellaway and Farzan Chowna opened the batting and set the tone for the away side, notching up a 77-run partnership before Cats bowler Joshua Larkin first struck.

Kellaway was later dismissed with Melbourne at 2-110, but Big Bash guns Sam Harper and Jonathan Merlo put on a stellar 138-run partnership to drive the total up to 9/279 after 50 overs.

The Cats were given a challenging task in chasing down 280, and the Melbourne bowling attack led by Thomas Wrigglesworth did not make it any easier. Wrigglesworth ripped through the batting attack, to finish with figures of 6/34 from 10 overs.

Youngster Liam Blackford led Geelong run scorers with 44, while Prime Minister’s XI squad member Oliver Peake scored 29.

The loss sends the Cats down to ninth spot with a 2-2 record. They will now face 13th-placed Richmond at Central Reserve in a one-day clash this weekend.

Geelong’s Seconds continued their winning ways, chasing down Melbourne’s total of 185 in the 42nd over.

With the ball, Patrick Sullivan and Nathan Harper combined for eight wickets, whilst Cody Brogden top scored with 46 runs.

The Thirds remain undefeated and sit atop the ladder, defending their total of 214 and knocking Melbourne all out for just 149.

Skipper Joshua Mastin made an unbeaten 78 and Kyle Bienefelt took three wickets.

In the Fourths division, the Cats secured their second win of the season after smoothly chasing down Melbourne’s 189. Oscar Agg had a field day in both innings, taking four wickets and then top scoring with 64 runs.

The Seconds, Thirds and Fourths will also take on Richmond this weekend.