Batemans Bay Cricket Club’s second and third grade teams played two thrilling one-day contests at Hanging Rock Oval on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bay men took the field for their first game since October 31 with second grade facing Ulladulla United and third grade tackling Ulladulla United Golds.
In second grade, Batemans Bay won the toss and elected to bat, but it backfired early on as Ulladulla’s opening bowler Scott King (3/12) did damage with the new ball.
He dismissed Simon Blue, Stephen Knight and Paul Windsor in the space of three runs to have the home side reeling at 4/19.
Luke Strachan joined captain Andrew Malcolm at the crease, but Malcolm’s innings was ended a short-time later by first-change Lewis Overall (2/27) and Batemans Bay slumped to 5/33.
Praveen Varghese and Strachan stabilised the home side’s run chase and pushed the total past the half-century mark. Strachan chipped away for his innings of 19, but was bowled by Overall with the score at 6/68 and Varghese (33) upped the ante and smacked four boundaries, but was well held to be removed at 9/96.
Lachlan Paterson played an effective lower-order innings, finishing 15 not out when number 11 batsman Brodie Heron was run out with Batemans Bay all out for 114 from 35.5 overs.
In reply, Batemans Bay’s opening bowlers proved just as effective as Ulladulla’s with the new ball.
Josh Lee’s aggressive opening spell set the tone as he removed three batsmen and Varghese (1/28) chipped in with a wicket to have the visitors at 4/15.
Strachan (1/12) was brought into the attack and compounded Ulladulla’s misery, dismissing Terry Dorrell with the score at 5/31.
Ulladulla’s Robert Thompson was a thorn in Batemans Bay’s side and top-scored with 30 runs. When Thompson was dismissed Ulladulla was 7/69.
The visitors then set a course for victory, but the home side surged after Lee (5/32), who took his fifth wicket, and Knight (2/15) struck to have Ulladulla at 9/93.
Ulladulla’s number 10 and 11 batsmen, Joey Baccarini and Overall, survived everything the Bay’s bowlers threw at them and nursed their side to victory in the 35th over.
Batemans Bay sits seventh on the second grade ladder and plays Bay and Basin at Sanctuary Point Oval this Saturday.
Batemans Bay’s third grade side continues to improve on the past season and beat the Golds by four wickets.
Batemans Bay opening bowler Mick Lancaster (2/10) set the standard and fielders followed suit, holding most catches and restricting easy runs.
Bishal Pachhai (4/32) led the wicket-takers with Brody Saker (1/1) and Pat Griffin (2/18) chipping in to have Ulladulla all out for 119.
In reply, the win was never in doubt for the home team.
Steady opener Jamie Prior (51) led his team and knocking up a well-composed half-century.
He was ably supported by Tom Purcell, who showed his class with the bat, finishing his innings 34 not out as Batemans Bay reached the target in the 36th over.
Batemans Bay moved to fifth on the third grade competition ladder and plays sixth-placed Berry-Shoalhaven Heads this Saturday.