Ballan Cricket Club

Unfortunately, rain washed out the first games of the year for U13s, Under 15s and U17s matches. The club’s 1st XI ground hadn’t recovered from the rain enough to be suitable for play, so only the Senior 2nd XI (BCA 4th Grade) were the only ones to complete a game.

RESULTS
Ballan 2nd XI (4th Grade) v Wendouree – (R11, Day 2)
Ballan 217 lost to Wendouree 8/303
Batting – David Leach 32, Max Burton 21, Sarah Burton 11 not out
Bowling – David Leach 16-2-4-63, Michael Vallance 10-2-1-32, John Costello 13-1-1-42

Ryan Lister bowled a fantastic spell, full of speed and with an aggressive output putting the Wendouree batters on the back foot more often than not.
He and Michael Vallance bowled eight overs straight each to get Ballan off to a great start on Day 2. The opening bowling partnership saw very few runs coming off the bat and more than enough chances generated.

Vallance, after continuously finding a way past the edge of the bat in the windy conditions finally picked up a wicket in his second last over, caught by Ryan Lister at gully.

Young gun Jake Wernicke along with veterans David Leach and John Costello sharing ends came on next to up the pressure even more. At the drinks break, Wendouree had only applied another 54 runs to their split innings in the 20 overs so far in the day.

Ballan’s ground fielding, thanks to the likes of substitute fielder Jack Jarvis and 12th man Liam O’Connor was intense and kept the batters wary as quick singles were off the table.

After drinks the rate lifted as runs became a priority for the batting team. Costello, with his off-spinners into the wind, captured the next wicket via Ryan Liste once again, this time caught at backward square leg.

Opening batter Haydon, completed a well-made century and subsequently retired.

David Leach, as always presenting a difficult option for the batters trying to score quickly, picked up four wickets in the last 15 overs of the innings. A simple caught and bowled followed by a clean bowled via the faster delivery as he mixed his pace up against the swinging batters. Josh Singh picked up a nice stumping as a batter came down the pitch and the final wicket, off the last ball of the innings was a plum LBW shout.

Wendouree finished on 8/303.

With the bat, Ballan re-commenced their split innings with Max Burton on 13 and David Leach on 1 from last week.

Needing 161 to win Max started aggressively pulling a short ball for six. After only adding 14 runs for the partnership, Max was out, caught behind to the keeper after edging a fantastic, swinging delivery for 21.

Michael Vallance came out to bat and continued the positivity, hitting a four to get off the mark over cover. Unfortunately, he was gone all too soon caught by the opening bowler for only five runs.

This brought out ‘The Warrior’, Glenn Easterbrook, coming to the crease full of confidence. Unfortunately, guest umpire, senior coach Mark Kennedy ended Glenn’s day quickly, and he was back in the sheds for nought.

Josh Singh came out to bat and made a quick three, before he was bowled by an excellent delivery by the century maker Haydon, leaving Ballan at 9/175.

Sarah Burton, our last batter at number 11, joined David Leach, who had been watching wickets fall around him all innings for the last and best partnership of the day. Sarah was steely in defence and ruthless in attack as she collected two fours and did not allow an opportunity for the Wendouree bowlers or fielders.

After a partnership of 42, and with the game winding down after drinks, Leach went on the offensive hitting three consecutive 4s to the square leg, midwicket and wide long-on areas of the ground. He was brought undone for 32 by a classic in-swinging yorker taking out his off-stump and Ballan finished all out for 217.

This week – Ballan 2nd XI play Coronet City at home in another 2-day match.