 |  |  | | South Barwon's Clinton Ford sends down a delivery against Bell Post Hill. | East Belmont batsman Mark Hanley scored his second century of the summer on Saturday. | Highton batsman Luke Daffy cuts a ball during his valuable knock of 43. |
GCA DIVISION 1 - ROUND 11 Day 2 REPORTS
By Mark Browning South Barwon v Bell Post Hill
In what was in effect a mini-final, South Barwon has emerged triumphant over Bell Post Hill. The Swans have kept their hopes of playing in March alive while Bell Post Hill’s third straight loss in 2010 leaves their finals chances effectively quashed.
The Panthers had to find something special to chase down the 300 South Barwon scored last week. They got the start they wanted, but a sequence of wickets either side of the tea break effectively ended any real chance of the visitors reaching their target.
“It was a crucial win,” said South Barwon captain-coach Brad Hauenstein, “Both sides knew that a loss would probably put you out of the finals race.
“It has got to the stage where you can’t afford to lose any games. We have to win both our remaining matches against Geelong West and North Geelong to guarantee finals participation.
“So from that aspect the finals have already begun for us.”
Although the outfield had been slowed by Thursday’s rain, Bell Post Hill began strongly on a flat and hard wicket. Tim Sells (46), Heath Bush (23) and Alex Cairns (25) took the visitors to 1-94 against the pace attack of Hauenstein and the recalled Brett Anderton.
It was then that the unrelated medium paced Fords, Clinton and Anthony turned the game around.
“I had talked with Clinton about using him later rather than with the new-ball to close down the middle part of the innings,” Hauenstein said. “So he came on second change and bowled into the breeze with no pace on the ball. He got it to drop and wobble a bit and as always he was right in the spot.
“The ball was softer and he knows how to use his fingers to get it to do a few things.
“We set a defensive field and challenged them to take some risks.
“Alex Cairns said to me after the game that he hadn’t seen a bowler like that for many years and didn’t know how to play him.
“Finally he hit one to mid-on and that turned the tide.”
Anthony Ford also got some movement, Hauenstein took two close in catches, one at bat pad and another at short cover, and Bell Post Hill were on the slide.
The scoreboard read 7-124 when Richie Hassett (44) was joined by Brad Stacey (34). The pair then added 66 including one astonishing shot by Stacey.
“He cut me inside out and on the up, over cover and hit a six onto the roof of the clubrooms,” Hauenstein said. “It was a decent shot and looked like it might have threatened the new windows in our clubrooms.
“By then, though, they were having a go and still needed 120 to win.”
Eventually the third Swan Ford, off-spinner Kelvin, bowling in tandem with his brother Clinton, removed Stacey and the home side had six precious points with 104 runs to spare.
“It’s always hard chasing 300,” Hauenstein said. “But they will be disappointed with the result.”
North Geelong v East Belmont
Mark Hanley’s second ton of the summer secured East Belmont a big win at Osborne Park against North Geelong and cemented the Lions spot in the top six with two rounds to go.
North Geelong for their part is now on the precipice of missing the finals.
The visitors were the only team to successfully chase a target at the weekend and Hanley’s unbeaten, even 100 was clearly the standout innings.
East Belmont resumed on 0/11 chasing the Magpies 161 and soon lost Grant Dew to young Shaun Kingwell.
But Dew’s opening partner, Hamish McDonald, was much harder to shift. He knew chasing a modest total that if he could keep one end secure East Belmont were likely to win.
After he and Andrew Baars had taken the total to 63 Anthony Armistead (2/34) made a double breakthrough.
East Belmont were then 3/69, the identical score North Geelong had been at the fall of the third wicket.
But that was effectively the end of the home side’s joy. Hanley and McDonald (51) added 78 and when the stubborn opener, who only hit two fours was finally out, the Lion only needed a further 15 runs to win.
Hanley and Sam Scannell (28*) banked the six points then cashed in as Col Millard used eight different bowlers in his attack. It made no difference to East Belmont’s wicketkeeper batsmen who hit ten fours on way to three figures. Hanley can now point to two centuries, a 40 plus batting average and 18 victims with the gloves in a stellar season.
Geelong West v Grovedale
Geelong West continued their post Christmas upward momentum and at the same time exacerbated Grovedale’s recent batting woes with a powerful 114 run win at West Oval.
The victory took the reigning premiers up to second while the Tigers slipped from first to third.
Chasing 227 to reverse last years Grand Final result, Grovedale were immediately in dire straits. Jarran Cook (4/27) exploited the early favourable conditions and within a few overs had reduced the visitors to 4/3.
Cook’s fantastic use of the new-ball ended the game as a contest. Michael Kelson (44) fought hard to provide his team with some respectability. But Craig Allthorpe (4/35) kept a tight rein on the scoring while regularly taking wickets as the Tigers finally slid from 6/96 to 113 all out in 60 overs.
Lara v Newtown & Chilwell
Lara put their recent off-field distractions behind them and comfortably accounted for bottom side, Newtown & Chilwell at Lara Reserve.
The Cats got home by 85 runs as the Two Blues were bowled out for 183.
Needing 269 Newtown & Chilwell looked a chance when they reached 3/109. Ben Neville (61) had led from the front and John Rees (46) gave the middle order some substance.
But once more their batting lacked depth. Three batsmen failed to score. They also had no answer to Danny Hughes (5/60). The all-rounder put in a huge 26 over spell and once he had cut a swathe through the visitor’s middle-order the result was not in doubt.
Leopold v St Josephs
Leopold failed buy eleven runs to pull off an upset win against St Josephs at Memorial Park.
The Lions could blame their top order for not reaching the 144 they had been set by Joeys the previous week.
The home side began the day on 3-21 and were quickly deep in the batting mire when they slipped to 7/48.
Then when all seemed lost James Smith (31), Luke Murray (15) and Rhys Zanoni (37) put their heads down and kept the game alive.
Finally though, the pace of Sam Farnsworth (4/25) and the leg spin of Daniel Fanning (5/56) earned the points that sent St Josephs to the top of the ladder.
Manifold Heights v Geelong City
Manifold Heights brought up their third win of the summer with a solid 42 run victory at the expense of fellow struggler Geelong City at Hurst Reserve.
The visitors struggled to come to terms with the accurate Manifold Heights attack and a wicket that again played at varying heights.
Despite another accomplished knock by Shane McNamara (63) and a late rally by Adam Marsland (32*) the Geelong City batsmen, chasing 226, were dismissed for 184.
Craig Booley (2-25) kept the run rate in check in a marathon spell while Rob Condy and Matt Barkley also conceded less than two runs per over.
Ben Knight 4/40) then produced the decisive spell. He induced a sequence of batting errors as the required run rate continued to climb. Courtesy of the Geelong Advertiser and Reporter: Mark Browning
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North Geelong Cricket Club Inc.
Osborne Park, on Sunday February 21st at Noon
Everyone is welcome to come along and celebrate Alf Clark’s
wonderful achievement, on becoming the highest run scorer in GCA Division One Firsts history.
Graeme Rawlins will MC the afternoon
and guest speakers will include Grant Dew,
Kevin O’Dowd, Glenn Ward and others.
$30 per person, includes finger food, beer, wine,
bottled water and soft drinks to 2.30pm.
Alf recently surpassed the record of 10,251 runs, previously
held by GCA Living Legend, Jack Sing since 1967.
Phone: Leigh Mellington 0438 102203
or
Roger Allen 0437 749260
for any further details required |
Congratulations - To Grovedale Cricket Club
in winning the Inaugural GCA Twenty20 Grand Final
Special thankyou to the Sponsors:
K-Rock, Kookaburra, Your Name Here Promotional Printing
A very special thank you to the
Geelong West CC
nd hosting such a successful day. |
 | TWENTY 20
GRAND FINAL WINNERS |  |
SAFETY AUDIT
Clubs are reminded that the Safety Audit is now due for completion, these must be back to the GCA Secretary on or before the February General Meeting - Wednesday 17th February 2010.
(To download the form click on Safety Audit) |
To see Round 11 appointment of Umpires
click onto the Umpires Tab |
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