Liam Durkin
SURNAMES synonymous with certain clubs carried their teams on the first day of Round 13 action in the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association.
An array of possibilities are still open, with no first innings results achieved thus far.
COLLEGIANS are in a precarious position.
The reigning premier, needing to win to secure a finals berth, needs nine wickets before Yarram scores another 102 runs.
Collegians elected to bat first on Saturday, and were bundled out for 160 in 63.4 overs.
That total would have been a lot less if the home side didn’t have the Hurley family, as skipper Zac top-scored with 68, and his cousin Ben made a busy 29 off 39 balls.
Collegians were undone by some tight bowling from Yarram captain Jeremy Babb, who took 4/43 off 16 overs, which included the wickets of the Hurley boys.
Babb received good support from Griffin Underwood, who gave virtually nothing away in his 2/11 off 12.4 overs.
Pelicans linchpin Anthony Scott was also productive, and finished with figures of 2/22.
Babb showed a willingness to throw the ball around looking for wickets, and ended up using eight bowlers.
With Yarram needing to win this game to also stay in the finals hunt, their desperate desire was on full display.
The visitors ended the day at 1/58, and one suggests they will go into Day 2 holding the advantage.
Scott has already notched a half-century, and is looking ominous having whacked eight fours in his 56-ball stay.
JUST as Collegians have the Hurley’s, Stratford has the Tatterson’s.
A sensational bowling performance from Jack Tatterson has put the Redbacks in a winning position against Sale.
Tatterson has single-handedly sent five Swans packing, and his efforts may just deliver not only a first innings win, but a home semi as well.
Such a bowling effort was needed after Stratford was knocked over for 132 at Sale Oval.
The Redbacks again changed their top order, and somewhat ironically, it was long-time opener Chris Aurisch coming in at number nine who ended up top-scoring.
The left hander went better than a run-a-ball, smashing 39 off 36, sending two balls over the fence.
Sale bowled well as a collective, with five bowlers sharing the wickets.
Openers Hayden Glover and Shaun Wolmarans took three wickets each, while captain Ben Jones took two.
Jones bowled 13 overs for the day, needing to increase his workload in the absence of Coenie Nel.
Jones was then the best of the Swans bats, making 23 before getting cleaned up by Tatterson.
The medium pacer was miserly in his approach, and took two wickets lbw, and another two combining with wicket-keeper Cormac Hassett.
Sale only faced 24 overs before the close of play, but it was enough for Tatterson to reduce the Swans to 5/51.
The Swans will be hoping the remaining batsmen will be able to chip away at the total when play resumes, although with figures of 5/26, Tatterson could have his eyes set on a history-making effort.
He couldn’t take all 10 could he?
ROSEDALE-KILMANY batted well against Longford.
The Warriors put up 226 before declaring at Stephenson Park – a decent effort considering they were sent in.
Some familiar Rosedale names were among the top run-scorers, with the Diamond brothers, Jay and Rohan, and Cameron Freshwater all making scores.
Jay top-scored with 59, while Freshwater also raised the bat after making 53.
Rohan Diamond contributed 27, and RK captain Isaac Love 45 off 52 balls.
On the other side of the coin, Longford found its equal share of output with the ball.
Lachlan Floyd continued his wicket-taking ways, nabbing 3/44 off 17 overs, and might just be a sneaky chance of winning the league aggregate.
The medium pacer has 23 wickets, only three off leader Ben Durrant from Maffra.
Sam Lucas-Laws also picked up two wickets for the Lizards at the weekend.
Rosedale-Kilmany gave Longford five overs to bat before stumps, which the Lizards got through unscathed.
Harry Wilkinson and Waltley Sutton will resume their innings this weekend, but their task in mowing down the total is set to be harder, as quality pacer Brad Scott is listed to come in on Day 2 for RK.
BUNDALAGUAH warmed up for finals.
The Bulls made the best part of 300 against Boisdale-Briagolong, finishing with 284 on the board.
The home side’s decision to bowl first backfired spectacularly when Bundalaguah openers Jason Langshaw and James Read put on well over a century stand.
Read was superb, and raised the bat for his ton, eventually making 123, while Langshaw continued his strong season, making 52.
A rare miss from Steve Spoljaric did not halt the Bulls, who found more runs from Hayden Wrigglesworth (25), and even all the way down to number 11 in Zac Knight (21).
The Saints toiled hard, and Mark Donald was able to have some joy, taking 6/92, along with Liam Hurst, who took 2/60.
MAFFRA had the bye.
