David Braithwaite
IT has been said, “if you want rain, start cricket season”.
Rain affected most matches as the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association season got underway on Saturday.
Two of the three first grade matches played in Sale were abandoned, while not much time was required to complete the other.
Sale successfully defended what looked like a meagre total against Bundalaguah.
Sent into bat at Sale Oval, the Swans were bowled out for just 60, but ended the day two runs ahead.
Lucas Mowat top-scored for Sale batsmen, reaching 27 runs before becoming one of Lachlan Wrigglesworth’s four wickets.
When Mowatt was dismissed, Sale was 4-43, but that became 6-43 when Wrigglesworth struck again and Bayden Dowsett claimed the first his three wickets. Wrigglesworth finished with 4-11 from 6.3 overs and Dowsett 3-5 from three.
Recruit Frankie Mostert dismissed the Sale opening batsmen to begin what looked like being a good day for the Bulls.
Hayden Glover scored what turned out to be a vital 10 runs at the end of the innings.
The Sale innings ended in the 22nd over, with Bundalaguah’s a ball shorter.
The signs weren’t good for the Bulls, when captain Jason Langshaw was trapped in front of his stumps by Glover on the first ball of the Bulls’ chase.
In his second over, Glover claimed the key wickets of Steve Spoljaric and Mostert to have the Bulls 3-4. They were 5-16 after two wickets from Matt Raidal.
Kyle O’Reilly looked the most likely to be rock Bundalaguah needed, but he was caught by Raidal off Glover’s bowling for 18.
Wrigglesworth took up the challenge, lifting the run rate, scoring 19 from 15 balls, including three fours. His stay in the middle ended when caught by Glover off Raidal’s bowling.
From 8-51, the Bulls added seven runs before their innings came to a close.
The Bundalaguah batsmen found it hard to get away the bowling of Raidal, who send down eight overs, finishing with 4-10, while Glover took 4-23 from seven.
Redbacks too good
IN the day’s only over completed match, Stratford was too good for Boisdale-Briagolong.
The Redbacks amassed an imposing 6-252 from their 40 overs, with Max Welsh and captain Jack Rietschel both scoring 71.
Welsh and Jackson Tatterson, who scored 46, set the tone with their 108-run opening stand. After the openers did their work, Rietschel took up the mantle and set-up Stratford’s winning score.
Recruit Stefano Di Bartolomeo and captain Dylan Bolton both took a pair of wickets for the Saints, whose chase finished 102 runs short for Stratford’s score.
The Saints struggled to get going. Steve Noble provided solid batting until his dismissal for 19, and when Adrian Burgiel was stumped of Ethan Albrecht’s bowling, the visitors were 4-41.
Madupa Fernando was unbeaten on 42, Jonathon Outhart scored 27 and Bolton 25 as Boisdale-Briagolong made 7-150 from its 40 overs. Rietschel and Noah Bennett each claimed two wickets for the Redbacks, who find themselves on top of the ladder.
No result at Stephenson
MAFFRA had the edge of Longford before rain ended proceedings at Stephenson Park.
After restricting the Lizards to 7-102, Maffra was 2-58 when play was abandoned in the 18th over, just short of the minimum number required to constitute a match.
Ulricht van Duyker top-scored for Longford with 30, while Mitch McMaster scored 25. James Hawkins took 3-14 for the Eagles and Josh Davis 2-20.
Maffra’s chase began brightly with Brett Lanigan and Ben Sly scoring 28 and 20 respectively, but both were dismissed with team total on 52. The match lasted only three overs more, a victim of the rain.
THE match between Collegians and Rosedale-Kilmany was also abandoned because of rain.
The Warriors were 3-45 in the 14th over in reply to the home side’s 157.
Rohan Diamond took 5-21 and Ben Hughes 3-31 as the Warriors reined in a positive start to the Collegians innings.
From 2-115, Collegians lost wickets at regular intervals. Captain Zac Hurley top-scored with 40, Charlie Morrison scored 39 and Finn Stoneman 22.
Collegians may have fancied its chances after claiming the wickets of Jay Diamond and Rohan Sharma, both for 15, shortly before the game was abandoned.
REIGNING premier Yarram had the bye.