By Mark Heenan
OCEAN GROVE CRICKET
A GRADE
COLLENDINA cruised to a six-wicket one-day A Grade victory against cross-town rivals Ocean Grove thanks to a match winning innings from Cobra coach Corey Walter.
Chasing Ocean Grove’s 9-139 from its 40 overs finished at 4/142 and won with 10 overs to spare in the season opener at Collendina on Saturday 8 October.
Walter – the A Grade’s most valuable player in 2015-’16 – was in sparkling touch with his knock of 85.
Walter shared in a 71-run opening partnership stand with fellow opener Richie Peters (17).
“I think chasing it is pretty important to keep wickets in hand and we were fortunate to get a couple of boundaries early which took a lot of pressure off,” Walter said.
“We lost our first wicket at 71 and that makes a huge difference.”
He said it was a nice way to start the season after the Cobras’ runner-up finish in A Grade in 2015-’16.
Walter said it was a great sign his side had enormous depth, fast bowler Joe Hinkley and middle-order batsman Matt Davies were both unavailable.
“A lot of things went our way which obviously helps, which is very pleasing,” Walter said.
“This is the probably the strongest round one A Grade side I have played in a long time at the club – that is a good sign.
“There was a couple of guys in our B Grade side that were very stiff not to get a game.
“There is a lot of depth there with bat and ball.”
Opposition Ocean Grove coach Paul Jubber credited Walter’s aggressive approach.
“Corey (Walter) took the game away from us with his aggressive approach,” said Jubber, who took 2/24 from eight overs.
“He was a class above.”
Jubber and Grubber spinner Mick Gill, who returned to Ocean Grove after stints at Portarlington and Wallington, both grabbed two wickets.
Earlier in the day Ocean Grove opening bat Dylan Thorley (35) top scored while young middle-order batsman Tom Beasley chipped in with 30.
The Cobras had Ocean Grove on the ropes at 5/71 before the visitors lower order provided some late resistance.
Cobra bowling all-rounder Andy Higgins (3/20) was his side’s leading wicket-taker with three scalps, while the evergreen Charlie Lamb (2/21) claimed two wickets.
Ocean Grove will meet battle-of-the-bridge rival Barwon Heads in their first home game at the re-developed Ray Menzies Oval at Shell Road this Saturday.
Collendina will travel to Drysdale to take on the Hawks in a two-day game on 15 October.
B GRADE
IT was a much different outcome at Ray Menzies Oval, Ocean Grove, the B Grade back-to-back premiers, claimed a 42-run win over Collendina in their one-day match.
Batting first Ocean Grove posted a competitive target for the Cobras to chase as the Grubbers finished at 6/185 from its 40 overs.
Ocean Grove wicket-keeper batsman Nathan Madden top scored with 61, while Adam Spiby (43) and Isaac Saunders (34) made valuable contributions with bat.
Dean Britt and Jacob Gasior were the leading wicket-takers for the Cobras.
In reply, Collendina faced out its 40 overs and compiled 9/143.
Ocean Grove young leg-spin bowler Fletcher Long did the bulk of the damage with 4/31 from seven overs, while Grubber captain Lucas Baulch claimed 4/22.
In other B Grade games Wallington claimed a comfortable eight-win over Newcomb (134) in their one-day match at Wallington.
The Wallabies chased down Newcomb’s victory target of 135 and finished at 2/137 from 32.3 overs.
Wallington pair Dane Wise-Graham (59) and Matthew Crooks (50no) both made half-centuries.
C GRADE
IN C Grade games, Grubber Ben Hanson made 81no in Ocean Grove’s total of 4/238 from their 40 overs against Portarlington at Portarlington.
The Grubbers scored a 139-run win after Portarlington were dismissed for 99 from 33 overs.
Ocean Grove bowler Chris McSweeen (3/32) took three wickets, while Trent Lowe (2/14) and Billy Foord-Engelsman (2/19) both took two scalps.
Collendina claimed a 53-run win over Barrabool in their C Grade one-day match at Barwon Common.
Batting first the Cobras made 114 from its 40 overs, in reply Barrabool were all out for 61 from 25.3 overs.
Collendina bowler Craig Goodger finished with the incredible figures of 6/10 from 7.3 overs and claimed two maidens.
