Cricket returns for new year

Highton set Torquay a target of 213 to chase down as cricket resumed in the new year. Photo: GCA MEDIA

CRICKET restarted after the summer break in both the GCA and BPCA.

In the BPCA, Ocean Grove got an important win over Barrabool to stay second on the ladder.

Barrabool showed the batting might that has seen them score over 400 more runs than the next closest team in the league, posting a score of 6/183 in their 40 overs.

Yet Ocean Grove managed to chase the target down with just under three overs to spare.

Fletcher Long top-scored for Ocean Grove with 52, having also made a half-century in the final game of 2019.

His 82-run partnership with Michael Thornton turned the game in Ocean Grove’s favour, helping them to a four-wicket win.

Barwon Heads also managed to keep their place at third on the table with a six-wicket win over Collendina.

Damian McMahon took 3/17 from his eight overs to help restrict Collendina to 7/132.

Collendina performed admirably with the ball, but Barwon Heads still won with just under five overs remaining.

Anglesea maintained their perfect record atop of the table.

Ned Cooper’s 57 helped Anglesea to 5/178 against Queenscliff.

Anglesea’s formidable bowling attack then dismissed Queenscliff for 112, with Brett Venables taking 4/18.

Elsewhere Jan Juc comfortably beat Portarlington, taking a nine-wicket victory with over half their overs remaining.

In Division 1 of the GCA Leopold lost their one-day game against Murgheboluc.

At one stage Leopold looked set to chase down their target of 218, with Tim Marshall and Corey Ogle assuredly leading their team to 1/94. But they then lost a further five wickets for just nine runs, eventually being bowled out for 145.

Division 2 of the GCA started the first week of their two-day matches.

Torquay could not have started the new year better, as with their first bowl Damian O’Brien sent the stumps flying to remove the opposition opener.

Highton recovered to set them a target of 213 to chase down.

Modewarre face a similar task, as they will need 224 to win on Saturday.