Lorne Cricket Club falls to Apollo Bay in tense showdown

LORNE Cricket Club has slipped from top spot on the Colac District Cricket Association ladder after a nail-biting defeat last weekend to Apollo Bay at Stribling Reserve.

Batting first, Lorne was the team to beat, posting 208 runs off 40 overs, with opening batter Eddie Erftemeyer contributing 40 runs and Harvey Atwell 33, while fill-in player Michael Edmonds made 77 and retired not-out.

Club secretary Matt Cash said that after a strong opening performance, the team felt confident it would be able to defend its position in the field.

“Then we took a wicket in our first over when we were bowling, so we had them one wicket down for no runs, which was the dream start,” he said.

But incredible performances from Apollo Bay’s Scott Hives (75 runs), Virgil Morrow (51) and Patrick Buckingham (36), saw the margin begin to close.

Apollo Bay ultimately pipped Lorne on the second-last ball of the night, posting a total of 211.

“It was one of the best grade cricket games you could probably watch,” Cash said.

“It was so tense in the end.

“For the last probably four or five overs, it was just on a knife’s edge.

“It could have gone either way.”

He praised Apollo Bay for its performance.

“Their batters put on a really good partnership,” Cash said.

“They just batted out of their skin, the Apollo Bay boys, and even chatting to a few of them afterwards, they were like ‘We didn’t think we had a chance’.

“Some of the boys who made runs that night have struggled all year to make runs and everything just clicked for them when it needed to.”

More than just a Round 11 clash, last Saturday’s game also marked the club’s inaugural Pink Stumps Day fundraiser, aimed at supporting the McGrath Foundation and raising awareness for those impacted by cancer.

The match was complemented by a Ladies Day function, and more than $3,000 was raised during the event.

“We didn’t expect it to be so big, but we’re absolutely stoked,” Cash said.

“Apollo Bay are pretty keen too, so we’re hoping to run the same match every year as a night game in January…and make a bit of a tradition of it.”

Lorne Cricket Club will take a short break this weekend before it faces off against West Warrion on February 1.

Cash said the focus for the team now will be getting back into form.

He said that would involve sharpening up a little in the field and getting a consistent team together to allow the club to build towards finals.