Saints stun ladder leader, Bears rise above

GCA2

MARSHALL rose to top spot on the Geelong Cricket Association division two firsts ladder by defeating fellow top four side Torquay.

Marshall posted 197 with Stanley Grazotis top-scoring with 54. The Tigers fell 27 runs short, running out of overs at 9-170. Jake Dubbeldam took 4-43 in among some tight bowling by the Bears’ attack.

It now has clear air at the top of the ladder, opening up a one-game buffer on Bell Post Hill and Torquay.

In other GCA2 matches, St Peters knocked off previously top-of-the-table Bell Post Hill in a match that went down to the wire.

The Saints were struggling at 6-97, but some impressive lower-order hitting from Dhanuja Nandana (58 runs) helped his side to 8-193.

In response, the Panthers found themselves at 3-19, but fought back, led by Rhys Burke (65), to bring the match down to the final over Bell Post Hill lost its final wicket with three balls to spare and four runs for victory, suffering just its second loss of the season.

In other GCA2 matches, Shane Lymer (78) helped Bell Park to 8-239 against Alexander Thomson and it was once again Lymer with the ball, taking 4-24. The Vikings finished a long way off the total, dismissed for 156.

Geelong City enjoyed an 80-run win over Modewarre. Cody Brogden and Matthew Elliot scored 58 and 56 respectively to help the Sharks to 8-223. Opener Nat Matthews (65) carried his bat through the innings, the Warriors finishing at 9-143.

BPCA A1

BARWON Heads landed its first win of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 season, defeating Collendina.

Skipper Kane Atkins felt the breakthrough was not far away, but it was just a matter of putting together better form with the bat and ball on the same day.

Atkins said the batting line-up had seen a few changes throughout the season in search of its best mix and on Saturday it looked to be making strides in that area. Matthew Bode made 35 at the top of the order in his second game in the firsts this season while Lachlan Hooper’s great form forced his way into the line-up, top-scoring with an unbeaten 48. Barwon Heads making 5-163.

With the ball, Barwon Heads had its opponents at 3-9 and held them at bay for the entire 40 overs, finishing at 9-96. Jack Johnstone (3-18) enjoying the team’s best figures.

“To get the first win was important, it was nice to just take the pressure off and grab a bit of momentum,” Atkins said.

“It was our most complete performance with the bat and the ball for the year.”

Elsewhere, Anglesea stormed through St Leonards’ batting line-up, dismissing it for just 59 runs.

Cam Egan and Andrew Spengler scored 20 and 18 respectively, and amazingly the other nine batsmen contributed just 16 runs. Dale Kerr (3-12) and Brett Venables (3-24) enjoyed the best figures in an all-round dominant bowling display.

The Roos passing the total with nine wickets in hand.

Barrabool came out on top in the top four clash against Queenscliff. The Coutas slumped to 7-100, before the tail wagged to help post 158. Barrabool had the run chase under control for much of the day, courtesy of 56 runs from opener Jack Purcell. The Bulls passed the total with four wickets remaining.

Jan Juc enjoyed consistent contributions from its batsmen, with four reaching 30, without any going on to make any more than 40. Nonetheless, this helped the Sharks to record 6-193 from their 40 overs. That proved an order too tall for Ocean Grove, which could only muster 101. Ben Grinter continued his stellar season claiming figures of 3-21 while a Jordi Withers enjoyed a nice cameo with the ball, coming on to take the final two wickets of the day in one over.

The BPCA competition will now enter its Christmas break, with competition to return on January 9.

GCA1

MURGHEBOLUC upset Newtown & Chilwell in thrilling fashion, claiming a two-run victory in the Geelong Cricket Association division one firsts.

Lachy Campbell (63 runs) and Lewy Hyland (54) set the tone with quality innings’ to get their side to a strong total of 8-224. Isaac Hogan (104) notched up his second century of the season to help the Two Blues into a good position.

But the match came down to the final few balls in a drama-filled last over which saw Tim Hosking run out and Newtown & Chilwell end its 50 overs devastatingly close at 6-222.

In other GAC1 fixtures, St Joseph’s were too good for Grovedale, courtesy of a 159-run partnership between centurion Andrew Hodgson (102*) and Andrew Casey (67*) which took Joey’s to 3-253. The Tigers pressed towards the total, but were always facing an uphill battle, all out for 208, Jack Mullen taking 3-26.

East Belmont delivered a comprehensive run chase, tracking down Highton’s 9-162 with nine wickets in hand. Sean O’Neill made an unbeaten 72 to lead the way, the Lions passing the total in the 42nd over.

Lara bowled well to defend its total of 140, knocking South Barwon over for 121. While North Geelong ensured it kept its spot on top of the ladder with a 72-run win over bottom side Leopold.