Sport and more specifically cricket made its welcome return to East Gippsland over the weekend, however the weather gods ensured minimal matches were completed.
With some game cancellations due to the weather, COVID-19 adhering spectators were treated to an entertaining round one Bairnsdale Cricket Association “A” grade match at Nagle between St Marys Nagle and West Bairnsdale with a rampant West claiming victory by five wickets.
All other “A” grade matches (Lindenow South Glenaladale v Orbost, Lakes Entrance v Lucknow and Meerlieu v Wy Yung) were washed out.
Both the Saints and West were fielding some new and returning faces as the home side was sent in, only for three balls to be bowled before heavy rain stopped play for 30 minutes.
When the game resumed, Nagle openers Joel Linford (52 off 100 balls) and Nathan Pruscino (24 off 46) put on an entertaining opening partnership under heavy and humid skies.
Nagle cruised through their first 10 overs too reach 0/36 before losing their Pruscino, caught off the bowling off Brad Daniel.
From this point it was a good contest as Nagle finished 7/123 after their allotted 40 overs.
Brodie Anderson was the pick of the West bowlers taking 3/28.
West started cautiously in its pursuit, losing young gun Sam Stewart without scoring and Liam Giove for just six, both at the hands of Ricky Tatnell, and were 2/32 after eight overs.
However, Anderson (45 off 76) and captain, Ryan Halford set about chasing the total in quick time, the latter smashing 52 off 29 balls, including six boundaries and one six, in a game-changing 79-run third wicket stand.
Tatnell took the key wicket off Halford and would follow with the big scalps of Ray Stevens and David Wolfe, however the damage had been done and West claimed victory with five wickets in hand.
Tatnell played a lone hand with the ball for the Saints claiming 5/20 from his eight overs.
RAIN THWARTS GLEN SWAMPS
Lindenow South Glenaladale’s season failed to kick-start with rain-washing away its chance at victory against Orbost at Lindenow South.
The “A” grade Blues escaped defeat when rain ended their run chase of the Glen Swamps’ 7/223 at 4/89 after 30 overs. Earlier, left arm spinner, Peter Clay, did his best to stem the Glen Swamps’ flow taking 3/15 from eight overs, however all other bowlers proved expensive.
In reply the Blues lost openers Jayden Price (12) and Curtley Farley (6) cheaply. Alex Hulme set about resurrecting the innings with 36, however runs proved hard to come by. In the end rain saved Orbost from a first-up loss and cost the Glen Swamps a round one win.
THIS WEEK ROUND 2 “A” grade - Friday, October 23:
Meerlieu v Lakes Entrance (Eric Jamieson, Mal); Wy Yung v Lucknow (John Hine, Mark Molineux); West Bairnsdale v Lindenow South Glenaladale (Don Haley, St Mary’s Nagle club umpire); Orbost v St Mary’s Nagle (Peter Usher, Ron Smith).
“B” grade - Friday, October 23:
Lakes Entrance v Wy Yung; Lucknow v Paynesville; Lindenow South Glenaladale v West Bairnsdale Green; St Mary’s Nagle v Orbost; Bruthen v West Bairnsdale Gold.
No “C” grade or junior games this week due to AFL Grand Final public holiday.
IMAGE:
West Bairnsdale “A” grade captain, Ryan Halford, smashed 52 off 29 balls as his side chased down St Mary’s Nagle’s 7/123 at Nagle in round one of Bairnsdale Cricket Association action last Saturday. West’s win was the only result in “A” grade with the three other matches abandoned due to rain. K76-100
