Ballan Cricket Club

Ballan 1st XI (BCA 2nd Grade)
East Ballarat 204 v Ballan 2/12
Day 1 – 2 day game
Bowling – Kobe Heafield 14.2-2-4-54, Matt Thomas 11-4-1-32, David Gardiner 12-4-2-29

East won the toss and chose to bat on a ripper day for cricket. Matt Thomas and Kobe Heafield were excellent with the new ball both picking up early wickets before some good batting from East put them in a good position. Some great bowling to the tail from Kobe meant he picked up four wickets for the innings and Ballan dismissing East for 204.

Ballan then had the uncomfortable task of facing eight overs before the close of play. Good bowling and pressure by East unfortunately meant Ballan lost two wickets with the score at 12.

Ballan 2nd XI (BCA 4th Grade)
Ballan 3/177 v Coronet City 7/195
Batting – Param Singh 100* not out, John Costello 33, Eli Muir 19, Jake Wernicke 10
Bowling – Jake Hotchin 7-0-3-31, David Leach 6-1-2-25, Eli Muir 6-0-1-20, Param Singh 8-0-1-39

Ballan won the toss and elected to bat with openers John Costello and Param Singh getting Ballan off to their best start of the season, sharing in a 132 run stand for the first wicket.

One quick single too many saw Costello runout for 33 after a direct hit at the bowler’s end. Param showed a masterful display of aggressive hitting with sound defence against the Coronet City bowlers as he perfectly played his innings.

He brought up his 50 and quickly moved into the nineties with a flourish of boundaries. He brought up his 100 with a nice two to mid-wicket and saluted the cheering onlookers.

Param retired after making his 100* and stands not out ready to go again next week.

Jake Wernicke came out and worked his way into some nice form, playing straight and moving the ball around the field including one four.

Eli Muir made a quick 19 before he copped a body hit and was out caught behind next delivery trying to smash a lovely out-swinger out of the ground.

This left David Leach hesitantly making his way to the middle for a tense last delivery before the end of the split innings.

He survived a beautiful swinging delivery to remain not out, ready to face next week.

At the end of the first half of the innings, Ballan are 3/177.

Eli Muir kicked off with the new ball in the bowling and claimed a scalp with the last ball of his first over, after a dazzling, jumping one handed catch by young-gun Jake Wernicke at backward point.

The next wicket was 21 overs later when centurian, Param Singh got a catch taken by Muir to remove the second batter.

David Leach entered the fray and dismissed the Coronet City captain, caught behind by Max Burton.

Opening bowler Jake Hotchin returned for his second spell and ripped through the middle order. Jake collected three wickets – a clean bowled, a catch to Muir and also to Singh.

Last ball specialist two weeks in a row, David Leach (both batting and bowling), picked up his second wicket of the day with a nice caught behind off the final delivery of the day, again caught by Ballan’s fill-in, stand-by, emergency wicketkeeper Max.

This left Coronet City on 7/195 at the close of their first half of their innings.

Overall, the game is in the balance. Coronet City are 18 runs ahead, but have lost four more wickets than Ballan.

Day 2 will be a tight affair next week at Ballan Recreational Reserve with both teams hoping to produce a match winning performance.

JUNIOR CRICKET
Under 11s
Ballan 9/67 v Opposition 4/60
Batting – Isaac Kettle 8, Jack Leckie 7, Oscar Phillips 2, Jamie Jarvis 2, Jack Mullane 3, Angus Muldeary 5, Henry Cairns 3, Hudson Squires 2.
Bowling – Jack Leckie 1 wicket, Oscar Phillips 1, Jamie Jarvis 1, Jack Mullane 1,

Under 13
Ballan 41 lost Wendouree Red 2/102
Batting – Sarah Burton 15, Clover McIlwaine 6, Kiara Grigg 1
Bowling – Sarah Burton 1/14, Clover McIlwaine 0/7, Mabel Ayres 0/10, Oscar Britt 0/9, Ed Bayard 0/9

Under 15
Brown Hill/Ballan 3/87 v Creswick Imperials 4/111
Day 1 – 2 day game
Batting – C Wallace 1
Bowling – R Storer 3-0-11-0, J Singh 3-0-11-0, J Bayard 2-0-7-0

Under 17
Ballan (forfeit) lost East Ballarat