4th grade: The mostly young Batemans Bay side played valiantly against a very good Bay & Basin (B&B) team at surfside oval. B&B started cautiously, but as their innings progressed, they increased the run tempo. They completed their innings at 3/232 which included a century maker and a 150-run partnership. Batemans Bay bowlers: Bailey King, Tom King, Luke Gallen, and Paul Cullen Bowled very well. A catch by Tony D'Costa was spectacular.

Batemans Bay replied by 5/132. The innings was highlighted by a blazing 70 from Bailey King who was solidly supported by Bruce Dickinson, who was the anchor of the innings with 37.

Match Report - Batemans Bay Cricket Club 2 nd Grade, Round Four v. Sussex Inlet, 2/11/19

A maiden unbeaten century from wicket-keeper batsman, Ryan Hall, steered Batemans Bay's 2nd Grade team to victory over Sussex Inlet last Saturday.

Looking to build upon last week's impressive outing, captain Steve Knight elected to make first use of the synthetic wicket, sending the opposition in to bat. The Bay's opening bowlers initially erred on the short side, intoxicated with the sharp rise and extra bounce on offer.

Playing on the back foot, the Sussex openers flayed the shorter deliveries square of the wicket, threatening to take the game away from the visitors. Returning paceman, Luke Condon, returned the excellent figures of 2-23 from his eight overs, removing the dangerous Paul Kezik for a brisk 30. After leaking early runs, Justin Rumble found his length and bowled with customary venom, netting 2-50 and making the initial breakthrough. Wily veteran, Pat Griffin took the bowling honours with an economical 3-32 from his seven overs. Griffin, along with Sam Lee and Brad Hancock, stemmed the run rate during the middle overs, when it appeared Sussex Inlet might well have posted a more formidable total.

Another mixed performance in the field characterised the Bay's fielding efforts. Several impressive pieces of fielding were negated by patches of sloppiness. This is an area of their cricket the team will no doubt need to address should they have aspirations for getting their hands on some silverware further down the track.

In the end, Batemans Bay bowled out Sussex Inlet in the 39 th over for 195. The Bay would need to score at just a tick under five runs per over. Tearaway quick, Riley Jarrett, set the tone for the Sussex bowling effort, with a scintillating, searing opening ball. Zac Henstock (8) survived the initial onslaught, posting consecutive boundaries before perishing to a top-edged pull shot. First drop, Sam Lee (5) was unluckily dismissed, gloving an attempted horizontal shot to the leg-side. Lee's dismissal, with the score at 2-18, brought returning young tyro, Darcy Knight to the crease.

For the next 25 overs, Knight and Hall batted beautifully to take the game away from Sussex Inlet. The partnership yielded 131 runs, edging the visitors to within 46 runs of victory.

Staying ahead of the required run rate throughout, the pair grew in stature as the partnership continued to flourish. Knight, who finished with 44, played an expanding series of on and off drives and clips through mid-wicket in a compelling first outing for the season. Meanwhile, the star of the day, Hall, balanced technique with flamboyance, judiciously striking deliveries to all parts of the ground. He finished unbowed and unbeaten on what was to be a match-winning knock of 104 not out, including 10 fours and one six.

Batemans Bay overhauled the target in the 38th over, winning by four wickets. They look forward to a home encounter Saturday against Bomaderry.