Round three has begun for Grampians Cricket Association A Grade teams, with three matches in progress at the end of days play on Saturday.
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Matches were played in perfect conditions across the region.
Pomonal hosted Youth Club in what has been described as a “strange” day of cricket.
Youth Club won the toss and elected Pomonal to bat first.
After 26 overs, Pomonal were all out for 28.
Cam Kimber and Clinton Slorach did the damage with the ball, claiming five wickets each.
Clubbers captain Nic Baird said it was a very interesting day of cricket.
“Both teams bowled really well. We didn’t think we would bowl them out for less than 30. Cam and Clint received a great reward for what they put in,” he said.
The Clubbers started their batting campaign a little shaky.
“We were a little nervous even chasing 28. We knew the ground was a bit slow. Cam and Matt (Healy) batted well together and managed to get us past the 30 runs and put some extra on the board,” Baird said.
Pomonal’s bowling attack was led by Matthew Grinham taking four wickets and supported by Lee Oliver and Joshua Abbott claiming three each.
The Clubbers were bowled out for 74, giving them a 46-run lead.
Pomonal’s opening batsman Luke Jordan was not out on 16 at the end of days play after the team lost four wickets in the second innings.
“To get four wickets is a great start. I would have been happy with one or two,” Baird said.
Jordan will need to find a batsman to partner to build momentum for Pomonal to hold off a strong bowling attack.
Pomonal is trailing by 14 runs finishing the day on 4-32.
Swifts-Great Western was sent in to bat by Halls Gap in the team’s opening day of round three.
Captain Sam Cocks led the way for his team finding 24 boundaries on his way to 142 runs.
This was the fifth time in his career Cocks has managed to raise the bat – something he is very modest about.
“As the old saying goes – I try to lead by example. We had a plan and took our opportunities when we had them,” he said.
“We weren’t too sure what the track was going to do and was put in to bat. We managed to get some quick runs on the board and then get in to have a bowl which turned out really well for us in the end.”
Halls Gap Captain Luke Stevens and Ben Iseppi managed two wickets each as the Combine declared on 5-225.
Halls Gap only managed 57 in their first innings as Combine’s youngster Jayden McCartney took control of the innings claiming five wickets for his efforts.
“He is coming along really well. He’s starting to get a bit quicker and hitting the spots really well,” Cocks said.
Halls Gap went in and batted again in the follow-on.
At the end of play, the Gappers were on 3-66 – Charlie McIntosh on 32 not out.
Matt Heffer claimed the three wickets for the Combine.
St Andrews won the toss against Buangor-Tatyoon and elected to bat first, although the advantage didn’t quite work in their favour.
Buangor-Tatyoon’s bowling attack managed to topple St Andrews in the 52nd over for just 52 runs.
Buangor-Tatyoon’s captain Michael Harricks said it was great to see bowlers lifting their performance.
“We had some really tight bowling. Everyone chipped in and did their bit to get us into a good position,” he said.
St Andrews was able to get some quick wickets from Buangor-Tatyoon before the team were able to settle.
“We were 2-1 off four balls. So where we finished at the end of the day isn’t too bad considering our start. We were on the back foot a little, Shaun Allen and Aaron Byron were able to steady the team a bit,” Harricks said.
St Andrews Tom Mills claimed the early wickets for his team.
Buangor-Tatyoon finished the day on 4-78.
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