Collendina’s march to Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 Grade promotion is on track after making an imposing 6/285 against Winchelsea on Saturday March 2.
The Cobras are on top of the A2 Grade ladder and victory this week would secure the minor premiership.
Openers Corey Walter (89) and Ben Riccardo (39) set the tone early for the Snakes.
“We made a focus on making sure we give them (middle order) a solid platform and I think we were one for 130 maybe at tea, which we were really happy with,” Walter said.
“It gave ourselves an opportunity with wickets in hand to try and go at fives and sixes (an over) after tea.”
Walter has made 580 runs this season at an average of 58 since crossing back to his home club after a stint at Marshall.
After the break Stan Grazotis played with freedom, finishing unbeaten on 97 from 87 deliveries. Grazotis was left stranded at the nonstriker’s end for the final three deliveries of the innings.
“I think it’s important when we’ve got wickets in hand, it lets him (Grazotis) play his natural game and I think he’s just better for us at five or six,” Walter said.
“It’s a bit of a luxury if we can have him come in after tea and play his natural game and it worked out perfectly yesterday. He hit the ball so clean. He deserved a hundred, but he was just rapt to get us up to that really good score.”
Walter said Collendina had a good blend of youth and experience.
“We’ve got four or five guys in their thirties who have played a lot of cricket and just enjoy playing with these younger guys and trying to teach them along the way,” he said.
Walter said the big score means the Snakes can attack early on day two, but not much will change.
“I think we’ll probably attack early, but I don’t think you approach it any different,” he said.
“We’ll approach it the same way we would any other game I think. We don’t have anyone with that express pace that’s going to rattle through an opposition, so we’ll try to bowl ‘boring’, set good fields and bowl to them.”
Dina’s B2 Grade side had an early end to its season with Winchelsea forfeiting.
Grant McIntosh made a blistering 139 from 138 balls in C Grade as Collendina smashed 353 against Anglesea. McIntosh hit 19 fours and three sixes while Dave Treharne made 50 from 29 balls and Shane McIntosh 45 from 51.
Cam McGregor made 75 in Collendina’s D Grade’s nine-wicket loss to Armstrong Creek.
