Liam Durkin
ROUND three of the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association’s midweek twenty20 competition saw division one victories to Bundalaguah, Stratford and Boisdale-Briagolong.
Bundalaguah demolished a Maffra line-up featuring Adrian Burgiel, on loan from Gormandale, in what turned out to be a canter as the Bulls chased down the required total for the loss of only one wicket.
With Sam Tutor cleaning up with four wickets and South African Cloete Buitendag picking up two, Maffra limped to be 6-70 before a 48-run partnership between Lee Hopkins (41) and Cooper Bailey got the Eagles to 126.
Bundalaguah openers Nathan Hibbins and Buitendag were in no mood to hang around, as the pair smashed five sixes between them to post scores of 41 and 74 respectively as Maffra’s misery came to an end after 13 overs.
IT was a similarly one-sided game at College Oval, as Collegians suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Stratford.
After electing to bowl first, Collegians made early inroads when they had Stratford 2-16, however from there it was all downhill as the Redbacks compiled a huge score of 5-172.
Lewis Bolton made a run a ball 31, but his efforts were overshadowed by Chris Aurisch, who whacked 82 runs in just over half an hour, in a knock that included five sixes.
Things couldn’t have gone much worse for Collegians in its chase, and when Noah Hurley was dismissed to leave the scoreboard reading 4-4, the match was as good as gone.
Tearaway quick Keenan Hughes proved to be more than a handful, as he finished with figures of 3-8, while receiving good support from Sam Anstee and Kerrod Macgregor-Davies, who both finished with two wickets each.
Collegians was routed for 55, as Stratford wrapped up proceedings in the 13th over.
BOISDALE-BRIAGOLONG remains undefeated after accounting for Sale in a tight clash at Sale Oval.
After batting first the Saints scored 104, with a few batsmen getting starts without pressing home the advantage.
In reply, Sale could not overcome a strong finishing opposition, as it was bowled out for 93, just 11 runs in arrears.
The Saints were well-served by Jon Beech, who claimed four wickets, along with Ryan Marshall and Louis Howard who each took two.
With the side still winning despite the absence of key players Todd Mann, Jordan Price and Steve Noble missing through injury, Boisdale-Briagolong will take confidence heading into the remaining two twenty20 games.
LONGFORD had the bye.
IN division two, Heyfield and Sale celebrated wins, with the Kangaroos climbing to outright first position on the ladder.
After electing to bat first in its match against Bundalaguah at the Gordon St reserve, Heyfield got off to an ideal start with Ash Vogt (47) and Peter Berryman (44) putting on 87 for the first wicket. From there, the runs continued to flow as Maccauley Lawrenson scored 36 batting at first drop, to see the Kangaroos amass a quality total of 6-176.
The quality of the batting conditions showed as the Bulls chewed into the required total, but were eventually caught short after making a good fist of it, closing at 6-148.
Heyfield’s best bowlers were Jordan Pearson, who took three wickets, and Jon Zdrazil, who finished with two.
AN edge-of-your-seats run chase ensued in the match between Collegians and Sale at the College synthetic, as Sale scampered home in the final over to secure the win.
Collegians closed at 9-109 as the Sale bowlers remained disciplined, sending down only three wides, while keeper Adam Jackson did not let a single bye or leg bye past his guard.
For Sale, all bowlers were effective as they took a wicket, with Andrew Nicholas and Matthew Woodward the best performed, both taking two.
In the chase, Sale got off to the worst possible start, with a wicket falling without a run being scored, as the Swans slumped to a precarious position at 4-45.
The Swans recovered to be 5-94, and were able to sneak home thanks to Will Hector, whose unbeaten 45 crawled his side across the line.
STRATFORD had the bye.
THIS Tuesday, Sale will head to Bundalaguah, Stratford will host Maffra, and Longford will host Collegians. Boisdale- Briagolong will have the bye.
In division two, Bundalaguah will host Stratford and Heyfield will welcome Collegians, while Sale will have the bye.
