Collendina gave its best performance of the season, pushing undefeated Anglesea all the way in round 10 of Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 Grade on Saturday February 5.
The plucky Cobras were at their best with the bat against a strong Seas’ attack and made the premiership favourites work hard in the field.
Nathan Frye weathered the storm early on with 22 from 61 balls and skipper Nathan Walter employed a different tactic, smashing 26 from 21.
When Frye was trapped in front by Brett Venables, Collendina was 3-64 just after drinks, Curtly Balshaw joined Justin Miller at the crease.
The pair went about building a partnership and were relatively untrouble during the 51-run union before Balshaw was caught at point by Simon Umbers for a well-made 21 from 36 deliveries.
Miller then took control of the innings, driving crisply and finding the gaps.
He eventually fell in the final over of the innings for a superb 67 from 109 and Collendina reached a healthy 5-147 from 40 overs.
Left-arm quick Dylan Taylor got the wicket of Miller and had the impressive figures of 1-5 from 7.1 overs, including five maidens.
Dale Kerr picked up two early wickets and returned 2-27 from eight.
Charlie Lamb then gave Collendina a real chance with his new-ball spell.
The lion-hearted veteran got rid of Tyron Norman for a 17-ball duck and Walter would have been wishing he could get more than eight overs from the experienced seamer. Lamb finished with 1-13 from eight overs, with five maidens.
To win, Collendina needed to break up the Ned Cooper and Brett Harding partnership early, but it didn’t happen.
The pair put on 88 for the second wicket before Harding fell to Miller, who was having a superb game, for 56 from 66 balls.
Cooper continued to push the score along and Collendina just could get regular breakthroughs.
Cooper finished unbeaten on 65 from 111 deliveries as the Seas passed the total with seven wickets and 19 balls remaining.
Miller capped off a three-vote performance with 1-26 from eight tidy over for the Snakes.
Jan Juc went nine points clear of Queenscliff in second spot on the ladder.
The Sharks batted first and made 7-183 with Ben Grinter (76 from 124 deliveries) again among the runs and Jordi Withers (39 off 58) playing his role.
Mark Zahra put the finishing touches on the innings with a quick 26 from 23.
Queenscliff gave itself a chance with a 101-run stand between Tim Frankenburg (60 off 106) and Kane Leathem (39 from 70), but eventually fell for 147 with Brody Andrew snaring three wickets for Jan Juc.
Ocean Grove went a game and percentage clear of Inverleigh to hold fourth spot on the ladder.
Six Ocean Grove batters made 16 or more, but none made more than 20 in the final total of 8-130.
Inverleigh would have been confident of chasing the total, but was all out for 88 with David Peel the only player to make an impact with 40 from 44 balls.
Paddy McKenna took 3-3 from five overs and Lindon Giuffrida was also miserly with 2-4 from five for Ocean Grove.
Barrabool kept its finals hopes flickering with a 49-run win against St Leonards.
The Bulls made 142 and found Cam Egan’s (5-21) bowling a tough assignment.
St Leonards made 93 in reply with Troy Griffin getting 29 from 29 and Nathan Findlay taking 3-28.
