Aradale is confident it can convert its strong day-one position into a win over St Andrews and book a spot in the Grampians Cricket Association A Grade finals.
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The Ararat-based side took on St Andrews in a do or die clash in the final round of the home and away season at the weekend, with the winner fighting for a potential fourth-place finish.
St Andrews struggled early on after being sent into bat by Aradale, sitting at 4-39 at one point.
Riley Taylor (27) and Ned Bohner (25) steadied things for the visitors with a 53-run partnership to edge the Saints towards 100.
The loss of those two batsmen marked the end of Aradale’s fightback, St Andrews losing its last four wickets for 20 runs for a total of 116.
“We bowled really well in partnerships and they scored pretty slowly so that put the pressure on them,” Aradale’s Scott Turner said.
Tyler Cronin was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5-19.
Aradale sits at 3-34 heading into the second day of play next weekend, losing early wickets at the end of day one. Turner (12) and Charlie Preston (1) are not out batsmen.
“We obviously lost a few wickets but we still have plenty of batting to come,” Turner said.
“Given the points situation with other teams at the moment we will look to grab the six points and then try and push for an outright.
“We are in an alright spot.”
The winner of that match will leapfrog Buangor-Tatyoon into fourth spot on the ladder after the combined side was knocked over for 33 by Swifts-Great Western at the weekend.
Lachlan Patching had a day out with the ball in hand, picking up 7-19.
Swifts-Great Western supported the bowler’s efforts with the bat, taking the first innings points and sitting at 6-185 at the end of day one.
Combine skipper Sam Cocks continued his strong season with the bat in hand, recording his third century of 2018-19 with a 115.
Swifts-Great Western is likely to finish atop the A Grade table, with an outright win on the cards next weekend.
Youth Club is hot on the heels of the ladder leaders, also claiming a first innings win over Halls Gap on the weekend to set up for an outright victory.
The Gappers were knocked over for 96, with the Clubbers chasing the total and sitting at 5-115 at the end of the day’s play.
Swifts-Great Western and Youth Club have locked up the top two spots on the A Grade table with just one day of the regular season to play.
Pomonal is likely to take out third spot while St Andrews or Aradale will claim the fourth spot to play finals cricket.
Pomonal had the bye in the final round.
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