Ocean Grove inflicted Anglesea’s first loss of the Bellaring Peninsula Cricket Association season in a performance captain Fletcher Long described as “nearly the best win I’ve ever played in”.
With three balls remaining and two required to tie the scores, Ned Thorley lofted Ben Harcombe just out of reach of mid-on’s hands to bring up the three runs to win the game with two wickets in hand.
“I think to win off the second last ball against the top side, you don’t do that very often,” Long said.
“He (Thorley) showed great composure. He’s probably a bit better than a number nine bat.
“He knew he’s probably going to get one more that he could hit that over with the field up. He didn’t panic, kicked away the first three and then got one in his zone and put it away.”
Although Anglesea wasn’t at full strength, missing Brett Venables, Mick Thornton and Ollie Huby, the side still had a lot of starpower and Long is hoping the win will be a sign of things to come.
“The last month or so training has been off the charts and we’ve been putting in so much work and to see it come off on a day like today is great,” he said.
“I think that’s got to be a bit of a spark now to keep it going and hopefully get a win next week or at least just play the type of cricket that we know we can play now.”
Ocean Grove did well to restrict Anglesea to 8/165 with underrated leg-spinner Alex Mann taking 3/17 from eight overs.
“He’s (Mann) obviously not from our end (underrated) – we rate him so highly,” Long said.
“He just does his job every week. He’s quite tall so he gets that turn and bounce, which on the hard wicket it’s pretty hard to face.
“I know that I can throw him the ball and I know what I’m going to get. I can set a field and you know that most weeks he’s going to jag at least a couple of wickets so he’s someone I rely on a lot.”
Ocean Grove time its run chase to perfection with Shaun Fankhauser (69 from 107 deliveries) and Long (30 off 42) playing well at the top of the order.
Next up the Grubbers take on arch rivals Barwon Heads in a two-day game to finish off 2024.
“They’re obviously going really well and we had a bit of a stinker the last time we played them, so I think we’re all pretty keen, especially after a day like today coming in with a bit of momentum to hopefully put up a similar performance,” Long said.Ocean Grove made it two from two against Anglesea with a three-wicket win in B1 Grade. Anglesea was all lit for 91 with all bowlers doing well. Nathan Down made 31 not out to get the Grubbers home after a few anxious moments.
St Leonards defeated Ocean Grove in C1 Grade. Greg Scarpa top scored with 40 in Grove’s score of 8/170 while Ankit Saurabh took 3/22 for the Saints. Nick Kyrou then made 66 to help win the game with an over and five wickets in hand.
Zack Carmody made a superb 101 retired against Collendina in D Grade. Carmody hit 11 boundaries and four sixes as Grige racked up a competitive 6/193. Dina got the runs in a close finish.
