Goannas restrict Endeavour Hills

Jim Armstrong from Churchill attacks the Endeavour Hills bowling.

The Gippsland Goannas over 60s cricket team defeated Endeavour Hills on Sunday.

The pitch at Toongabbie was in good condition, and the outfield a little damp early as the Goannas won the toss and batted first.

Ray Floyd and Ray Smith opened the innings, with Floyd out leg before wicket in the sixth over for 11.

Col Carmody, in his first match for over a year, made five before being bowled, with the Goannas 2-39 in the 12th over.

Smith followed shortly after for 21, which brought Rob Taylor and Jim Armstrong together. These two increased the tempo and put on 71 runs in 12 overs, when Taylor retired for 43 from 44 deliveries.

Mark Brown joined Armstrong, who also retired, for 40 from 48 balls, then Rob Bacchetti was bowled and the score was 4-137 in the 33rd over.

Rino Metlikovec (10), Brown (22), Murray Moore (10 not out) and Neil Meredith (three not out) took the score to 6-169 at the end of the 40th over.

The outfield was drier, and hence quicker, when the Endeavour Hills innings began.

Bernie Symons and Meredith opened the attack for the Goannas, with Meredith hitting the stumps in the sixth over. EH was 1-18 at this stage.

Bacchetti replaced Symons, and Meredith bowled his eight overs for 1-23, as Peter Anton replaced him.

EH had reached 58 at the 20-over drinks break, due to some tight bowling by the Goannas.

Anton struck in each of his fourth, fifth and sixth overs to have Endeavour Hills reeling at 4-84 after 28 overs. Anton finished with the excellent figures of 3-8 runs from his eight overs.

Smith (three overs), Armstrong (two), Moore (four) and Symons (two more) completed the innings for the Goannas and only allowed the EH batsmen to reach 4-128 at the end of their 40 overs.

The Goannas’ over 50s match away to Sunbury-Macedon, which was due to be played on Sunday, has been postponed until November 17.

The Goannas’ over 70s team will host Warrandyte at Duncan Cameron Oval, Traralgon, next Tuesday.

Mark Brown from Traralgon drives for the Goannas.Photos: Contributed