Batemans Bay 2nd grade evenly placed against Ex-Servos
Recent good form had Batemans Bay 2nd Grade cricket team in contention for a semi-final position, pending the outcome of their final two preliminary rounds.
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Coming up against the in-form Ex-Servo’s team, the home team won the toss and elected to bat. They were in early trouble as opposition captain, Gary Fuss, removed the dangerous Anthony Mortimer in the first over for no score.
Captain Stephen Knight (7), despite being ever-watchful, was the next to perish, again to the probing bowling of Fuss, as he feathered a good length delivery to the keeper.
A promising third wicket partnership began to evolve between Ryan Hall (20) and Zac Henstock (20). Taking the score to 44, the Bay then suffered a collapse, losing four wickets for the addition of only nine runs.
Sitting precariously at 6 for 53, a desperately needed rear-guard recovery was required. Veterans Andrew Malcolm (34) and Tom Purcell (34) went about their work.
The pair put on 54 runs for the seventh wicket, as they rotated the strike judiciously and punished the occasional wayward delivery offered up.
A further 25-run partnership between Purcell and Darcy Knight (23) gave the home side some cause for optimism. Knight, in particular, defiantly resisted the attack, turning defence into attack as he looked to impose himself at the crease.
His eighth wicket partnership of 15 with James Dickinson (3) ensured Batemans Bay would reach 150, bowled out in the 48th over.
Fuss (3-37) was the pick of the visitor’s bowlers. He was well-supported by Luke Jurancic and Rocky Ninovic, who each collected two wickets apiece.
Needing early wickets, the Bay side were aggressive with the new ball. Darcy Knight bowled with venom and was unlucky not to snag at least a wicket from his wholehearted eight over spell.
Andrew Malcolm, fresh from his equal top score with the willow, turned back the clock to deliver a searching, sustained spell of swing bowling, having the Ex-Servo’s top order frequently swishing at air.
The Ex-Servo’s batsmen rode their luck and looked impatient to erase the deficit as quickly as possible. Malcolm snared all three wickets to fall, as the visitors lurched to 3-68 by the close of the day’s play. Batemans Bay will be searching for early breakthroughs this week as they hope to defend their moderate first innings total.
3rd grade batsmen under pressure
Batemans Bay’s lower order will have to prove their mettle to gain first innings points in their 3rd grade match against North Nowra.
The Bay side bowled out North Nowra for a relatively modest 108 runs, with a stellar bowling performance by the evergreen Paul Cullen.
In a sustained effort which belied his years, Cullen bowled 14 overs with 5 maidens taking 5 wickets for 26 runs.
At the other end James Cashin (2 for 20) and Dave West (3 for 12) also tied North Nowra down making run-scoring very difficult, and were rewarded with the remaining wickets.
Batemans Bay also struggled early in their innings, and were in trouble at 3 for 27 before West and Cashin mounted a small recovery. Cashin fell late in the day to leave the Bay on shaky ground at 4 for 53.
West remains 19 not out, and will be relied upon to work with the lower order next week to get past North’s first innings 108.
4th Grade take first innings points
Batemans Bay 4th Grade team have already taken first innings points in an impressive display against second-placed Bomaderry.
In what is shaping as an important dress-rehearsal for the finals, the Bay ripped through the Bomaderry batting line-up, dismissing them for 84 runs.
In reply, the Bay have already passed Bomaderry, and are well positioned at 5 for 130.
They will be pressing on to try gain outright points on the second day of play next weekend.
The Bay are currently positioned third in the competition and a finals position looks well within their grasp. They have developed into a formidable combination and approach the finals in strong form.
Under 12s fall to competition leaders
Competition leaders Batemans Bay were too strong for fourth placed Bay and Basin in their clash at Hanging Rock on Saturday.
Batemans Bay batted first and compiled a formidable total of 209 runs from 30 overs. Most of the batsmen got among the runs with Cooper Frawley 44 n.o and Will McAteer 30 n.o the top scorers. They were well supported by Claudia Hannan who made a very stylish 24 before retiring, Flynn Dunn 20 and Jackson Riley 18.
In reply, Bay and Basin struggled against accurate bowling. Their batsmen were pinned down with run-scoring made even more difficult by excellent fielding. Will McAteer completed a good day by taking two wickets, with Flynn Dunn and Cooper Frawley also among the wickets. All bowlers maintained good line and length to restrict Bay and Basin to 48 runs to win comfortably and stay at the top of the ladder.
Under 11s perform well
The Bay Under 11s travelled to Sussex Inlet and came up against a strong home side, but performed well to keep the final scores pretty close. Sussex Inlet scored 8 for 153 from their 20 overs. All the bowlers worked well, with Andy Frawley two wickets and Jesse Dunn, Archie Hancock and Kayden Smith getting one wicket each.
In reply, the Bay batted well against some good bowling, but eventually came up short, to be all out 114. Best for the Bay were top-scorers Maddy Malcolm, Kayden Smith and Andy Frawley. Jesse Dunn, Jordan Stevenson, Charlotte King and Archie Hancock were also among the runs.
Women's Cricket
In the Friday afternoon Women’s Social Competition, the ScorcHERS were just too good for the Ball Tamperers, pipping them by six runs.
In the other match, Wholesome were too good for the HERicanes, with an 87 run victory. There is some impressive talent and games are played in good spirit.
