Cricket round-up: Pickering’s doublecentury floors Portarlington

Few made the transition better than Barrabool’s Kane Pickering, who scored an unbeaten 204 against a hapless Portarlington.

Pickering, who made 137 against Collendina two weeks earlier, said he was glad to reach the milestone, having narrowly missed out before.

“It’s obviously pretty good to get to 200. I’ve come close in a few innings so it was good to be able to do.”

Kane’s brother and club president Aaron Pickering said he was delighted for his sibling.

“It was probably one of the best innings I’ve seen in my cricketing career. It was very impressive.”

Aaron said the club is hoping to make finals, despite it being a closely fought league.

“It’s been a bit up and down with a couple of performances but across the board it’s been quite pleasing.

“Of course the dream is always to play finals and that’s still the ambition.”

Barrabool ended up 4/395 from their 75 overs, leaving Portarlington with a mammoth task ahead of them going into next week.

Contrastingly, Anglesea are very well poised, having bowled out Collendina for just 104. Anglesea’s attack was once again spearheaded by Dale Kerr who took 6/31. Kerr’s performance means he now has 21 wickets this season at an average of just 5.67. However,

Collendina managed to keep themselves in the game by having Anglesea 2/17 by the close of play.

Barwon Heads’ match against Queenscliff followed a similar pattern. Barwon Heads bowled Queenscliff out for 152, with Michael Fallon leading the way with 6/38. Tim Frankenburg’s 57 ensured Queenscliff stayed in the game. Shane Healey then made a late breakthrough, meaning Barwon Heads will go into next week at 1/19.

The weekend also saw second placed Ocean Grove face third placed Jan Juc. Ocean Grove batted first and finished all out on 286, with Anton Sholtz making 98 to comfortably have the top score. Jan Juc’s Iva Priest helped keep Ocean Grove under 300 by taking 5/91.

In the GCA, Surf Coast sides Leopold and Torquay both face similar challenges heading into next week.

In the Division 1 Firsts, Grovedale have set Leopold a target of 258 in order to get their first win since the opening round of the season, while in the Division 2 Firsts, Torquay will need to make 251 to defeat St Peters.