Results went largely as predicted in Round 3 of the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association.
The SMCA played a round of one day matches on Saturday, the last of its format for the next month or so.
With the season now in full swing, players will hope to have blown out any cobwebs, while curators will certainly hope for some drier weather edging closer to summer.
Now that squares have had a months’ worth of play on them, spectators should see more traditional cricket from now until the end of the home-and-away season as conditions settle.
Bundalaguah remains one of two unbeaten teams.
The Bulls did the job against Maffra, winning by five wickets at Cameron Sporting Complex.
The home side won the toss and decided to bat, and closed at 7/142 from their 40-over allotment.
Some mini-partnerships featured for the Eagles without any of major significance. Ben Sly made 36 runs opening the batting and Jonny Lawrence batted with the middle and lower order to remain unbeaten on 31 from 39 balls.
Bundalaguah’s Lachlan Wrigglesworth stepped up for a timely wicket, that of Maffra’s Josh Rurawhe when he was on 27. Before then, the Eagles were 1/53 and looked on track to post well over 150. The Rurawhe wicket however triggered a collapse of 5/51 featuring Maffra key batsman Josh Davis, Nathan Hibbins, Sly and coach Lee Hopkins.
Wrigglesworth was in the game at either end of that collapse, taking the catch to dismiss Hopkins.
Hopkins perhaps demonstrated how slightly off a player’s timing can be in October, shelling a catch off a half volley from a full-blooded cover drive.
Give it another week or two and a player of that quality probably hits that same shot along the carpet.
With two dayers coming up, players should really get to a stage where virtually every drive at training bounces before it hits the side net.
Johandre Barnard was the chief destroyer for the Bulls, taking 4/19.
Bundalaguah wasn’t sparred the timing bug either, as return catches were hit and attempted sweep shots led to bowled and lbw.
The term ‘panic sweep’ might have been applicable after the Bulls lost 4/34 trying to get the required runs, but Steve Spoljaric again came to the rescue.
The veteran batted to the end of the innings, although perhaps even he demonstrated just how difficult it was to score, as his unbeaten 62 came off 103 balls.
Wrigglesworth completed a decent day out, making 37 off 50 balls.
That Bundalaguah took until the penultimate over to pass the Maffra total might indicate the Eagles were bowling hand grenades, but given only Ben Durrant went for less than three runs an over, it appears the Bulls had little to no issue going at the rate needed.
Durrant was the pick of the bowlers for Maffra, taking 2/21, while fellow spinner Jim Beaumont took 2/28.
Slow and steady won the race in Rosedale.
Sale made the trip to Rosedale Recreation Reserve, and well and truly capitalised on favourable conditions.
With the Rosedale region inundated with flooding in recent weeks, the Swans had no hesitation electing to bowl first after calling correctly at the toss.
Sale had arguably the perfect bowler to operate under the clouds in Hayden Glover, and an added advantage by virtue of the fact he is a former Rosedale-Kilmany player.
Glover used his local knowledge well, and ended with figures of 1/23 off eight overs with two maidens.
Sale’s first three bowlers all secures multiple maidens, as the Warriors tried their best to counteract the hooping ball.
Michael Walters did tremendously well, digging in for a gritty 43 off 88 balls – a knock worth probably twice as much in normal conditions.
Walters’ innings got Rosedale-Kilamany out of early trouble at 2/19, and the home side managed to get the score past 50, before a flurry of wickets saw them all out for 114 just inside 40 overs.
Sale’s bowlers all chipped in with wickets, with spinners Coenie Nel, Brody Dobson and John Mayman each taking two.
Matt Raidal took two of the biggest wickets in the Warriors line-up, dismissing Rohan Diamond and captain Isaac Love within four runs of each other.
The sight of Raidal back bowling for the Swans will be most welcomed by teammates, and going off last week’s scorecard, seeing as though Ben Jones didn’t bowl and Shaun Wolmarans is still to come in, Sale should have no trouble filling overs in the two dayers.
Sale pundits would have also been pleased to see Dan Padula affect a couple of stumpings playing in the same team as usual wicket keeper Nathan Massey. The youngster has fallen in behind Massey in recent years in wicket-keeping duties, but the Swans could now be looking to the future, with Massey perhaps providing some guidance.
As they always do, Rosedale-Kilmany fought the game out, and had Sale in a bit of trouble at 3/30.
If conditions suited Glover, they were tailor made for Brad Scott. Like Chris Woakes in England, Scott had everything working in his favour, and bowled out, taking 2/24 off eight overs with no less than three maidens as he wobbled the seam all the way past the bat.
Nel took the pitch out of the equation, stroking 31 off 24 balls, with 26 of those runs coming in boundaries.
Massey didn’t play as many big shots, but was just as busy, scoring 25 not out from 37.
Their efforts saw the Swans win after 32 overs with five wickets in hand.
Geez he’s a good player, Bohdi Walker.
No wonder Stratford are so desperate to keep him every year.
Walker virtually single-handedly won the Redbacks the game against Boisdale-Briagolong.
While no one else could hit it off the square at Briagolong Recreation Reserve, Walker showed his prowess, smashing an unbeaten 104 from 85 balls.
His knock included eight fours and three sixes, and took Stratford to a total of 9/194.
Only one other player on the Redbacks card managed double figures – that being opener Zane Waixel, who went 32 off 59.
It is said the one thing that stops good club players becoming state players is X-Factor.
If a similar concept exists at bush level, that is possibly the reason Walker often plays innings like this.
The Saints had Stratford reeling at 3/41, with the two Jacks of Rietschel and Tatterson out cheaply.
Waixel and Walker then got together for a 48-run partnership for the fourth wicket, before the dismissal of Waixel meant Walker had to farm the strike with the rest of the order.
Boisdale-Briagolong did their best to bowl around Walker, and found some reward by way of wickets to Ed Phelan-Penson who took 2/26, Liam Hurst (2/30), Dylan Bolton (2/43) and Mark Donald (2/44).
Oddly enough, the Saints were in virtually the same position as the Redbacks at 3/38, but just didn’t have anyone that could emulate Walker.
Well, anyone on the field that could emulate Walker.
What the Saints wouldn’t have done to have South African recruit Kevin Renecke available last Saturday. By all reports he is capable of doing exactly what Walker did … and more.
Boisdale-Briaglong veteran Mick Roberts did his best to help the cause, but his 47 was by far the only score of significance.
In the end, the Saints were bowled out for 141. Finger spinners picked up most of the wickets for the winners, with Waixel taking 3/32 and Jack Rietschel 2/11 off seven with three maidens and a run out for good measure.
I mean, he has to bump up his stats now there is no more MyCricket.
Collegians got the win they needed.
The reigning premier took the points against Longford, doing so by four wickets.
The Lizards fought their way through the innings, getting to 8/136 off 40 overs on the College Turf.
While that effort gave them something to bowl at, a scorecard that featured three first ballers in the top seven said just as much.
Stefan Di Bartolomeo made an unbeaten 47 off 61 balls, and Ben Russ chipped in with a counterattacking 33 from 43 batting at nine. Russ provided some entertainment, whacking two balls over the rope.
Jonty McGuiness came on first change for Collegians, and ended up bowling a very good spell, taking 3/21 off eight overs.
Charlie Morrison took the new ball, and returned figures of 2/16 off six.
In reply, Longford was in with sneaky chance at 5/75, but Collegians captain Zac Hurley ensured victory with 36 off 42 balls.
Nathan Giove played his role with 26 not out, partnering with the skipper.
Di Bartolomeo backed up his work with the stick, taking 3/22 with the ball, while Mitch Floyd nabbed 2/28.
Although happy to get the win, the fact Collegians had to drag Stuart Anderson out of retirement to help fill a team probably gives an insight into just many holes they are currently filling.
A mass exodus hit Collegians at the end of last season, with close to 15 players leaving after winning the first and second grade premiership.
While they are scrambling a bit for numbers, Collegians are hoping to get some players back in coming weeks, including all rounder Tom Morrison from injury.
