BCC braces for final season leg

LAST week saw highs, lows and excitement for Ballan Cricket Club which included three losses and two wins – one by the senior women in a nailbiting last-over thriller.

The under-13 team struggled once again against a top-four side in Wendouree. Very strong batting led to a massive total of 202, with all bowlers except Isaac (0-8 off 2) and Ned (0-10) regularly being punished to the boundary.

Despite this, three BCC batters got through their first 15-ball allotment not out, which included Layla getting her highest score of 17 not out, including three fours.

The senior women’s final home game of the season had them up against third-placed Golden Point, which won the toss and sent BCC in to bat first.

 

Kori and Erin led the match with 34 runs between the wickets, which was followed up with 24 runs by Sami who was bowled out on four.

Summer joined Kori in the eighth over and both saw out the innings with scores of 38 and 39 respectively. With a score of 125 to defend, Emma and Mariah kicked off bowling.

The first wicket fell in the fifth over, caught-and-bowled by Summer. Despite bowling tight lines, Mabel was unable to get a wicket.

Sav took a catch at square leg, with Erin bowling at her best all season. The third wicket to fall was another caught-and-bowled, this time to Emma taking a screamer.

At the game’s last two overs, Golden Point needed 13 runs to win, but tight bowling and great fielding resulted in a five-run loss.

Ballan faced Mount Clear again in a 25-over game after their last match, originally meant to be a two-day 50-over clash, was cut short due to rain with only nine overs played.

 

Mount Clear came out swinging, despatching BCC’s top order quickly, leaving the team’s middle and lower order to get them over the line.

BCC reached 46 in the final over. Riley Storer and Jackson Letcher batted for more than 10 overs each, with Riley taking the team’s top-scorer position with 13.

Mount Clear showed no mercy once Ballan took to the field, reaching the target in only the fifth over with no wickets down and then batting on.

Despite the loss, a highlight for the team was Banjo putting on the gloves for a clean catch and finishing off a fine throw from Eamon for a run-out. Sarah got some consolation, dismissing one batter for a duck.

The team’s next game will finish the season away with a two-dayer against Ballarat-Redan at Alfredton Recreation Reserve.

Clashing against second-placers Dunnstown, Ballan’s senior firsts were summarily beaten with 2-75 against 10-73, with the opposing team playing at top form.

In fourth place, BCC will need to win in the final home-and-away round to retain finals hopes against third-placed Burrumbeet.

Ballan’s senior seconds performed solidly against Bacchus Marsh, which was restricted to 177 despite strong opening and final partnerships.

 

But BCC held its ground with regular breakthroughs through the rest of the innings.

The highlight of the game saw veteran part-timer and BCC photographer Chris Thom bring in a two-wicket haul (2-15 off seven overs). James Burton and Michael Vallance snared a few wickets each, while father-son bowling duo Stu and Eamon Grigg sent the eighth-wicket bat back on his first ball.

Openers Max Burton and Matt Shugg put on a fast 53-run partnership before Matt fell on 16.

Max Burton was taken out one shy of his half-century after a solid partnership with James Somers, who contributed a personal best for the season with 44.

His second partner Matt Ayres added a valuable 43, with the team totalling 176 by the time he was out. BCC was five wickets down in the 31st over.

The team currently sits in fifth position with two rounds left.

Under-13s

Ballan 4-92 defeated by Wendouree 2-202

Bowling

L. Shugg 1-30 off 3 overs

H. Squires 1-20 off 3 overs

Batting

E. Bayard 20 not out

L. Shugg 17 not out

Senior Women

Ballan 2-125 defeated Golden Point 3-120

Batting

S. Dehnert 39 not out

K. Davenport 38 not out

Bowling

S Dehnert 1-9 off 4 overs

E. Anderson 1-17 off 4 overs

E. Phillips 1-20 off 2 overs

Under-15s

Ballan 46 defeated by Mt Clear 4-154

Batting

R. Storer 13

E. Grigg 9

Bowling

E. Bayard 1-13 off 3 overs

O. Britt 1-13 off 2 overs

S. Burton 1-13 off 2 overs

Ballan Senior 1st XI (BCA 2nd Grade Div 1)

Ballan 10-73 defeated by Dunnstown 2-75

Senior 2nd XI

Ballan 5-179 defeated Bacchus Marsh 8-177

Bowling

Chris Thom 2-15 off 7 overs

Michael Vallance 2-39 off 8 overs

James Burton 2-35 off 6 overs

Batting

Max Burton 49

James Somers 44

Matthew Ayres 43