By Mark Heenan
Ben Ricardo believes the Cobras top bowlers pitted against Drysdale’s gun bats would be exciting viewing for a Bellarine A Grade cricket competition.
The mouth-watering Hawks and Cobras top four showdown never eventuated on day two on Saturday after rain forced the cancellation of the Round 5 clash at Drysdale Recreation Reserve.
“Obviously our strength is our bowling, their (Drysdale) batting is very strong and I think they have got a couple of players to come into that side,” Ricardo told the Voice.
Ironically play between Collendina and Drysdale had been abandoned on day two of their home and away fixtures for the last three years running due to weather.
“I spoke to Drysdale’s Jason Malcolm about that … he goes ‘Next year we might have to organise a one dayer if it is fine on the first day’,” he said.
“It is not good after that usually it rains or we get heated off.”
Ricardo was brilliant on day one against the Hawks after he scored 129.
Collendina built an imposing first day total to finish at 8/307 from 75 oversr.
Ricardo’s batting statistics across the last four seasons are incredible. He has amassed more than 1300 A Grade runs.
In the last four seasons Ricardo, 32, an Collendina A Grade player since he was a teenager, has racked up nine half-centuries including two scores in the 90s and three hundreds.
“At my age I try and play a bit like a veteran – these days I put a bit more value on my wicket,” Ricardo said.
“When I was younger I was a bit blase and played my shots a bit earlier than I should have.”
Fellow Collendina batsmen Nathan Walter (20), star teenage wicket-keeper Max Sutton (22) and Richie Peters (20) provided good support to Ricardo.
Earlier on day one, Cobra openers Kade Norquay (46) and Corey Walter (41) shared in a 80-run first wicket partnership stand.
Drysdale bowler David Hambrook was the leading wicket-taker with figures of 4/71 from 21 overs.
In B Grade no play took place between the Cobras and Drysdale at Collendina Recreation Reserve on Saturday due to rain.
Day one saw Drysdale bat first and score 8/239 from its 75 overs.
Cobra Craig Goodger was the standout bowler with 3/31 from 14 overs, while Daniel McManus claimed 2/53 from 18 overs.
In C Grade Drysdale finished at 6/160 from 60 overs on day one against Collendina before play was abandoned on Saturday.
Nathan O’Neil took 3/38 from from 20 overs.
The Collendina D Grade Round 8 one-day match against Armstrong Creek was called off due to rain.
The D Grade Cobras (108) lost against Drysdale (5/117) a week earlier.
