Local cricket, round three reports

Zac Crosswell scored his maiden century in
the Fifth Grade match between Gretna II and
New Norfolk III last weekend.

Southern Cricket Association 
Men’s 50-over matches
Round 3

FIRST GRADE: In at times showery conditions and making the good score of 9/236, New Norfolk I went down to St Anne's by six wickets last weekend. In a 49-over match, and setting a good target, the Red Caps were in a good position, but it wasn’t to be and the Crows lifted another gear and chased down the runs finishing 4/239 from 43.2 overs. At first drop, captain Matthew Bowden made an even 50, hitting five 4s and one 6. At number eight, Jason Rigby made 53 from 69 deliveries (four 4s, one 6) and put on 56 with Blake Kemmler who remained 20 not out from 29. Opener Seb Wishart made 31 with four 4s and Cody Neads 23. With the ball, Nathan Eiszele took 3-55 (10) and Jordan Banks-Smith 1-28 (6). This was New Norfolk’s first loss in the 50-over roster.

SECOND GRADE: On their way to a third straight win, New Norfolk II absolutely poleaxed St Anne's with a 231-run thrashing. After making the good score of 7/286, the in-form Red Caps demolished the Crows' batting attack, dismissing them for 55 from 21.1 overs. This collapse was brought about by some great bowling from the reliable Stewart Rice who sent down 10 overs, four maidens, to capture the excellent figures of 6-15 and claim four of the top six batsmen. Fellow opener Richard Graham took 2-29 from six and Jamie Hill claimed the last wicket with his first ball. Earlier with the bat, things were set up well with openers Rohan Heron 54 (four 4s) and captain Jake King 49 from 52 deliveries (five 4, one 6) put on a superb 106-run stand. Young Nathan Rice certainly gets his ability from his father and didn’t muck around, top-scoring with a fine 63 from 59 deliveries. Rice hit seven 4s during his 70 minute stay at the crease and put on 57 with Leigh Berry who remained 31no from 37 balls. Josh Walsh kept things going finishing 18no. A very big win indeed.

Gretna I registered its first win of the 50-over roster with a 137-run victory over MacKillop at Gretna. Batting first, the home side hit up the good score of 9/235 from its allotted 50 overs. Opener and captain Ben Rainbird made his first appearance for his team, leading from the front with a fine 71 from 86 deliveries. Rainbird found the boundary regularly, hitting nine 4s and one 6, and put on a 54-run stand with opener Craig Cunningham (nine runs) and 57 with Rhys Browning 27 (1 six). Jackson Ackerly kept things going in the middle order with a well made 49no from 67 deliveries. Ackerly, in his first 50-over match, hit three 4s and one 6. Mathew Burns made 28. In reply, the Beltas were bowled out for 98 off 33 overs. Main wicket takers Aaron Maddox 3-11 off four overs and Mathew Burns 3-25 (10) both bowled great spells while spinner Craig Cunningham was tight with 1-14 from seven overs.

Adding to the big wins in second grade, Molesworth I made it back-to-back victories when it defeated Richmond-Cambridge by eight wickets at Boyer Oval. The visitors had first hit and were bowled out for just 81 from 40 overs. All the Molesworth bowlers played their part, in particular Brayden Hodge who bowled nine overs capturing 4-18. Captain Jamie Adams gave nothing away taking 2-6 from seven overs with two maidens. Brad Coppleman was tight as well with 2-20 (10) three maidens and Brad Ransley 1-1 (1). In reply, Molesworth made light work in the run chase finishing 2/84 off 15.3 overs. Sam Triffitt top-scored with 29no from 29 balls (two 4s, two 6s) and Daniel Coppleman made 24 from 26 (two 4s, one 6).

FOURTH GRADE: A hat trick from paceman Brock Nichols and a blistering innings of 81 from Josh Eyles helped steer Bothwell I to its second straight win. Bowling Sandford out for 111 off 31.1 overs, it was the wrecking machine of Brock Nichols who with his first three deliveries of the day, steamrolled the visitors to take a hat trick. Adding to the achievement, all of his victims were golden ducks. Nichols was on a rampage and finished with figures of 5-19 off 9.3 overs with three maidens. Mark Pearce wasn’t far behind, finishing with great figures of 4-26 off nine overs with two maidens, while Josh Eyles took 1-25 (6). In reply and in a spot of bother at 5/41, Bothwell found a rescuer in Josh Eyles who belted 10 fours and two sixes on his way to a fine 81no from just 67 deliveries. Eyles who made 86 last week, shared a 69-run stand with keeper Darren Hawes in what was a great match winning innings and win by the Bucks. Mark Pearce made 18 from 20.



Gretna II players during the drinks break in their match against
New Norfolk III at Gretna last Sunday.

FIFTH GRADE: Thanks to a maiden century from Zac Crosswell, Gretna II registered its first win of the 50-over roster when it defeated New Norfolk III by 90 runs at Gretna. Opening the batting, Crosswell batted right through the innings to finish 118no from 148 deliveries. The young allrounder made a welcome return to form, hitting 17 4s and one six in his 169-minute stay at the crease. He shared stands of 65 with fellow opener Marc Worldon who made 32 and a terrific 139 runs with Trent Grant who also gained form with 53 (four 4s, one 6). Gretna reached 4/259 off its 50. Opening bowler Jordon Gittus with 1-41 (10) was the best of the Red Caps bowlers. In reply and playing one short, the visitors finished 9/169 from 44 overs. David Mitchelmore batted very well making 49 with two 4s. Jordan Gittus did well with both bat and ball making 38 (one 4) and Brad Kemmler made a quickfire 27 from 23 with three 4s. Gretna’s win was also thanks to the very good bowling from opening bowler Adam Browning who sent down 9.5 overs, two maidens, to capture 5-35. Browning took four of the top six batsmen in a great spell. Trent Grant finished off a great day with 2-46 from his 10 overs. Well done to young Bailey Wheeler, who the previous week in fifth grade for Gretna II, bowled extremely well, finishing with the excellent figures of 5-17 off 9.1 overs.

SEVENTH GRADE: Bothwell II made it back-to-back wins with a good 42-run win over St Virgil’s at Cadbury on Sunday. Batting first the Bucks made the good score facing all but one of their overs and finishing 10/236 from 39 overs. At first drop, Nathan White made a good 59 from 55 balls. White's 100-minute stay at the crease saw him hit seven 4s and he put on 74 runs with Adam Clark who made 27 from 31. At number nine, Joey Eyles used his experience making a valuable 33no from just 34 balls and put on 51 with Connor Woodham who made 12. In reply, St Virgil’s was bowled out for 194 off 38.3 overs. Of the Bucks bowlers, none were more impressive than young Jorden Conley who sent down seven overs taking 3-14 while Andrew Rolls did well taking 2-28 off 4.3.

Molesworth II recorded its first win of the season when it defeated Claremont in a a thriller by two wickets at Boyer Oval. The home side won the toss and sent Claremont in. They made 10/163 from their 40 overs. Anthony Murray was the best of the Molesworth bowlers taking 3-42 from eight overs, while Larry Menzie 2-23 (8) and captain Jack Evans 2-17 (3) were the other main wicket-takers. In reply, the home side was 5/84 and then 7/162 and needing two from the final three deliveries with Larry Menzie and Nathan Triffitt at the crease. Then trouble rang and Triffitt was run out for 7, leaving the experienced Menzie on strike and needing two from two. Menzie, who had batted superbly in a match-winning effort, got the job done with one ball to spare in a great win for his team and finished 66no from 69 deliveries with five 4s and the first win was on the board for Molesworth.

WADE GLEESON

Gretna II players during the drinks break in their match on Sunday.

NEXT GAMES
Men’s Round 4
All matches start at 10.30am.

FIRST GRADE
Saturday: New Norfolk I v Montagu Bay at Tynwald Park.

SECOND GRADE
Saturday: Gretna I v Molesworth at Gretna; New Norfolk II v Knights at Collinsvale Oval.

FOURTH GRADE
Saturday: Bothwell I v Montagu Bay at Geilston Bay Oval.

FIFTH GRADE
Sunday: Gretna II v Derwent at North Warrane Oval; New Norfolk III v Claremont at Tynwald Park.

SEVENTH GRADE
Sunday: Bothwell II v Montagu Bay at Campania; Molesworth II v Campania at Boyer Oval.


Women’s Round 3
Sunday: Bothwell v St Anne's at Cadbury Oval No.1 at 4.45pm; New Norfolk v Wellington at Tynwald Park at 5.50pm.