Was Herschelle Gibbs playing for Longford last Saturday?
A mighty innings of 139 from Stefano Di Bartolomeo guided the Lizards to victory over Stratford in Round 4 of the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association.
Entering Day 2 needing 123 to win, the South African import virtually single-handedly got Longford over the line.
Adding to the innings was the fact Di Bartolomeo did not add to an overnight score, so his 139 came in a blaze of glory off just 125 balls on Day 2.
Even more astonishing was the fact the next highest score on the Longford card was 30, which came from Mitch Floyd bating at eight.
Di Bartolomeo slammed 11 fours and five sizes as the Lizards were eventually bowled out for 227 – well ahead of the 159 managed by Stratford in their first innings.
The Redbacks may have been entertaining thoughts of a win after getting rid of overnight batsman Waltley Sutton and Brett McMaster early, but that only paved the way for Di Bartolomeo to come in and wrestle back momentum.
Stratford was still alive when Longford captain Lachlan Floyd was adjudged lbw to Bohdi Walker, leaving the Redbacks with two wickets to get and 15 runs to play with.
However, Di Bartolomeo did what was required and received a long ovation after finally being dismissed by Noah Bennett.
Bennett took the last two wickets to fall, however, given the almost muted response following the fall of the last wicket, it was clear Di Bartolomeo had completely demoralised the Redbacks.
Jack Rietschel chipped in two wickets himself, and Walker bowled exceptionally well for 4/45, however, the shoe was well and truly on the other foot for the most part, as Stratford bowlers were worked to all parts of the ground.
Even the sight of Jack Tatterson’s figures – 1/76 off 18 overs, showed how much difference could be made by batsman taking it up to some of the premier performers of the SMCA.
Stratford was forced to bat a somewhat meaningless second innings to see out the day.
Chris Aurisch got some time out in the middle, and smacked 47 not out from just 40 rocks.
The win was arguably Longford’s best result since their run to the finals in season 2017/18.
The Lizards have undergone a huge rebuilding phase since then, and have slowly but surely taken steps in the right direction.
While a one-day win against Stratford last season (who were the reigning premier at the time), provided a huge boost, to defeat the Redbacks in a two day game will surely give further validation to those working behind the scenes.
Not discarding that one-day win, but limited overs games can often be a lottery, so for Longford to roll a Stratford team on their home deck with Rietschel, Tatterson and Walker in the line-up, should make people sit up and take notice.
COLLEGIANS won a thrilling, and equally controversial, game against Boisdale-Briagolong.
The Saints began Day 2 with the score 5/47 chasing 173.
The Saints ended the day with heartbreak, as they put up a fine effort, only to fall two runs short.
Adrian Burgiel and Liam Hurst picked up where they left off at the end of Day 1, settling into their work.
Burgiel settled into hitting as many balls out of College Oval as possible, and smoked half-a-dozen sixes in his knock of 45.
The big hitter operated with a mindset of 6,4,3,2,1, with 40 of his runs not forcing him to run up and down the pitch.
He went for one boundary too many however, and was bowled by Nathan Whitford advancing down the track trying to blast another maximum.
With the score 6/81, Hurst then played a watchful hand of 31 off 73 balls, only to be caught pulling Collegians skipper Zac Hurley.
At that stage the score was 8/127, but the Saints still had capable batsmen in Dylan and Lewis Bolton at the crease.
Bolton led his side superbly, making 47 batting at number nine, only to fall in a similar way to Hurst.
His demise might have also been cursed, as someone was heard to yell out “Dyl’s on 47” the ball before he went out.
Bolton miscued a pull shot, as the ball flew high and landed in the hands of Madix Grattan at midwicket, leaving the score 9/168.
His brother Lewis then took Boisdale-Briagolong on the verge of victory, making a patient 15 off 50 balls, before becoming Whitford’s fifth victim.
An appeal for lbw was met with a delayed response from the umpire, who seemed to take an eternity to deliberate before raising the finger.
While the decision was final, it was met with some distain from the sidelines, with a verbal tirade featuring plenty of use of a word starting with f clearly audible from the live steam of the game.
Whitford finished with 5/37 and some serious ‘come ons’ following each wicket in a good show of passion to the cause.
Assisting him was Charlie Morrison, who nabbed 3/55, and Hurley who took 2/48.
MAFFRA didn’t get Anthony Scott out in time.
By the time they did, he’d already scored 104, which saw Yarram District to a huge first innings victory.
The Pelicans got the 94 runs they needed on Day 2 with relative ease, and then settled in for some match practise on their home turf.
Yarram eventually closed at 9/265, with Scott adding to a scorecard that had Anthony Bland make 50 not out, Max Perry 42 and captain Jeremy Babb 31.
Scott his three sixes and 11 fours in his 117-ball knock, the same number of balls it took Bland to make his half-century.
Ben Durrant enjoyed some success for his toils with the ball for Maffra, taking 5/65, while Jack Kelly joined him with 4/69.
BUNDALAGUAH completed a resounding victory over Rosedale-Kilmany.
The Bulls, after making 7/297 the previous week, were never troubled by the Warriors, who could only manage 180 at Roesedale Recreation Reserve.
Bundalaguah remains unbeaten after four rounds.
Sale had the bye.
