By Mark Heenan
COLLENDINA CRICKET
Collendina jumped into the BPCA A Grade top four after a hard fought victory over a gallant Winchelsea at the Snake Pit on Saturday.
Batting first the visitors posted a competitive first day total of 8/191.
Collendina was buoyed by return of star pair Andy Higgins and Ben Ricardo. It was their first game together since Collendina won last season’s A Grade premiership.
“We get a full side together with Ben and Higgo and with these guys we bat really deep,” Cobra coach Corey Walter said.
“The batting with Ben in the side and Higgo firing makes a massive difference for us.”
Higgins hit the winning runs in his knock of 62 – he shared in a 57-run fourth wicket partnership stand with Ricardo (32).
Collendina finished at 5/207 and sits n fourth spot on ladder with a 3-1 record.
The Cobras got off to a positive start with openers Walter (56) and Kade Norquay (28) and put on a 56-run stand for the first wicket.
Collendina youngster and wicket-keeper Max Sutton finished on 17 not out.
Walter said it was a challenging victory against Winchelsea, one of the three new BPCA A Grade expansion teams.
It was the first time Collendina had scored 200 in a two-day game this season.
“We didn’t know much about Winchelsea, but they have been going okay this year,” Walter told Voice.
“They were in the same boat as us with being 2-1 after three rounds.
“I thought we bowled really well in tough conditions on day one and I thought the batting was excellent.
“To get the runs four wickets down with 10 overs to go was a really good result for us.”
Walter picked up 4/53 with the ball on day one from 24 overs, while younger brother Nathan took 2/55 from 13 overs.
Tom Stephenson top scored for Winchelsea with a fine knock of 63 on the opening day.
The Cobras face undefeated ladder leader Drysdale in a two-day game at Drysdale this Saturday.
In B Grade, Newcomb defeated Collendina by 46 runs.
Batting first the home side was all out for 184 from 59.4 overs. Sam Tucker the chief destroyer with 5/46 from 14 overs.
In reply, Collendina made 138 with Alistair Grant on 44 not out.
In D Grade Newcomb defeated Collendina by 62 runs. Newcomb made 154 with Cobra pair Clynt Combridge (3/37) and Julian Wilson (3/56) bowling well. In reply Collendina was all out for 92.
