LLOYD ILETT – HDCA – A Grade
WELCOME rain that hit the western district over the weekend caused havoc in round three of the Hamilton and District Cricket Association A Grade competition with only two of the six scheduled matches reaching a result.
Casterton District travelled to Alexandra Park in Portland seeking to break its duck in terms of victories for the Summer as they battled home team, Gorae Portland.
Maroons skipper, Ben Holmes, won the toss and elected to bat first under leaden skies as he and Oliver Foster opened the innings for the visitors.
The pair saw off the new ball bowlers, putting on 24 from the first six overs, but with his first ball of the game, Cameron Harker found the edge of Holmes’ bat and was well caught by Suraj Weerasinghe behind the stumps for eight.
Foster was joined by Carey Megaw and the pair settled in to play with caution while attacking the bad ball when it came along, as they added 38 more runs without loss up to the drinks break with 1/62 on the board.
Upon resumption, they took the score to 72 when Foster was deceived by Thomas Roberts and was bowled for 32 with a single boundary to his credit.
Roberts drew Kaden Humphries (10) down the wicket with a well-flighted ball and the batsman only managed to find a thin outside edge that flew to the left hand of first slipper, Zac Duncan, who held a stunning diving chance and the visitors were 3/102.
Megaw carried on to raise his bat for posting a half century, but with his score on 55 he too advanced down the wicket to the bowling of Duncan and failed to get to the pitch of the delivery, easily caught at first slip by Michael Blomeley after hitting four boundaries.
Kane Forbes batted with intent in making 28 from 29 balls with four boundaries, but he offered Kaden Wilson a return catch and the Maroons finished their allotted 40 overs with 6/153 on the board.
While the target was good it still required the home side to score at less than four runs per over after the tea break and Megaw gave the Maroons the perfect start by trapping Duncan in front of his stumps for a duck.
Blomeley (28) scored freely with four boundaries and a single maximum while Shanaka Silva played a brilliant match-winning innings of 60 not-out, as Gorae Portland lost only three wickets in chasing down the target well inside of 31 overs to claim a bonus point.
The Maroons travel to Clem Young Oval next Saturday to battle St Andrew’s after navigating the toughest draw of all the teams in the first three rounds and no doubt will be looking to continue improving.
“A little bit damp, like everywhere else,” Casterton District skipper Ben Holmes said after the game when discussing the conditions the game was played in.
“The day started off well and was clear right up until our 34th over when we were batting, then it started to get wet, and it made the ball skid on a bit and hard to get under, which was annoying when we wanted to accelerate towards the end of our innings.
“We had a delayed start after afternoon tea and the pitch was a touch slippery for a couple of our quicks and the new ball did not last long, but we just had to get creative with our bowling options and attack with spin and swing bowling.
“It was our best game of the Summer so far with the bat; we had a really strong start to our innings.
“We were in a great spot at drinks being only 1/62 then their spinners fought back.
“Even in the field the game always felt like it was there for us to grab, as we created a lot of half chances from mis-timed shots that on your day those chances go to hand and the game is yours.
“Carey Megaw made a well-crafted 55, as he attacked well and also defended the good balls.
“He also picked up two wickets and was threatening all day with the ball.
“Ollie Foster had one of the best knocks I have seen him play and for a young fella he showed his experience at the top of the order and played a lot of great cricket shots as he looked comfortable and in control.
“Like we say each week every game is winnable, we just need to put it all together on the day and make it happen.
“I do not believe any team in this comp to be an easy beat, especially an experienced side like St Andrew’s and we have just got to take our chances when they come; bat in partnerships and bat out our 40 overs to give ourselves the best chance of making a decent score.
“It’s not too often you get beaten on the day, but still walk away overall happy with how things went.”