Ocean Grove has a massive mountain to climb if it is to win its penultimate game of the BPCA A1 Grade season.
Anglesea scored a hefty 7/272 at Ellimatta Reserve on Saturday February 17, leaving the Grubbers with a huge total to chase.
Anglesea’s innings was led by club president and all-rounder Brett Venables, who brought up his second A Grade century with a superb 102 from 144 deliveries.
Venables normally scores at a run a ball or better, but tempered his innings somewhat and said that Ocean Grove bowled quite well.
“Micky Thornton is one of the premier cricketers in the comp in my opinion and he’s bowling fairly sharp at the moment and quite well,” he said.
“And young Bailey (Le Maistre) bowled really well and tightened it up after tea there for a while. They’re probably an underperformed side, but they’ve got some dangerous players.”
Thornton took 2/27 from 14 overs to continue his stellar season and Le Maistre took 1/67 from 16 while Dylan Thorley chipped in with two wickets.
“I hit them pretty well and gave myself some time for once instead of just getting 20s and throwing it away,” Venables said.
In the battle for top spot in B1 Grade, Ocean Grove holds the upper hand against Barrabool after making 227 all out.
Skipper David Turner top scored with 56 from 93 deliveries while Nathan Taylor made 50 from 90 and Ben Hanson chipped in with 34 to give the Grubbers’ bowlers something to defend next week.
Ocean Grove is well placed in C Grade after restricting Drysdale to 9/165.
Zak Poydner took 3/31 from 12 overs while Will Finn took his season’s wicket tally to 22 with 3/37 from 15. Leg-spinner John Murphy also bowled well and took 2/46 from 18 overs.
Ocean Grove couldn’t quite make it three wins in a row in D Grade.
Batting first, ring-ins David Cameron (57) and Alan Bate (40) batted well while young opener Xavier Kiddle contributed 34 in a final total of 7/192 against Barwon Heads.
However, the Seagulls managed to chase down the total with four wickets and an over to spare with opener Michael Bell on 67 not out.
