Barwon Heads remained undefeated after beating Barrabool in round 3 of Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association on Saturday thanks to another fine all-round team performance.
The Seagulls won the toss and batted first at Ceres Recreation Reserve and got off to a good start with Max Melzer (22) and Lewy Hyland (15) putting on a 36-run opening stand.
However, at 2/42, Barrabool was top until an 83-run partnership between Dan Donaldson (47) and Matt Bode (45) put the Heads back on top.
Father-son duo Jacko (32 not out) and Jaxon (33 not out) Mallett took the final total to 5/205 with an unbroken 63-run partnership in quick time.
In reply, the Bulls had contributions from Ollie Cope (36) and Luke Clift (26), but Jacko Mallett took 4/36 with his skidding leggies in his 100th club game and Donaldson picked up 3/31 to have Barrabool all out for 168. It was teenage leg-spinner Angus Mackie who really impressed for Barwon Heads with his eight overs costing just 22 runs.
Armstrong Creek proved too good for Queenscliff in a competitive game at Armstrong Creek Sports Precinct.
Nikhil Kapoor (55 off 38 balls) got quick runs at the top of the order for the Titans and Jack Maclean’s 51 not out from 50 got the score to a healthy 7/219. Max Minney took 3/31 for the Coutas with his left-arm seamers.
Hayden Illingworth (57) and Lachie Stott (35) tried their best to overhaul the total, but three wickets to Ben Fary had the Coutas 8/192 when 40 overs were bowled.
Queenscliff is winless this season, but isn’t playing like a bottom team. The Coutas have been in all three games season and it’s surely just a matter of time before they string some wins together.
Jan Juc looked like posting a below par score against Inverleigh until Nick Hyden went berserk in the final over at Bob Pettitt Reserve.
Hyden (72 not out) belted 22 from the 40th over to lift the Sharks to 3/196 with Ryen Smith (42) and Fraser Clatworthy (36) laying the platform earlier in the innings.
Left-arm seamer Danny Midolo was the standout bowler for the Kookaburras, conceding just 16 from eight immaculate overs.
Opener Will Collins (51) played well and Will Stoney (29) and Sam Haygarth (27) chipped in, but Inverleigh needed a big knock from somewhere and was all out for 146.
Three wickets each to Smith, in a final all-round performance, and Joey Rew got the points for the Sharks.
Anglesea dug deep to defeat Drysdale by eight runs at Ellimatta Reserve.
Sam Weight returned to the Anglesea side and top scored with 37, but the Seas would have been disappointed with a final total of 8/138. Young seamer Hayden Eddy continued his fine all-round season with 3/19 from eight overs.
Only Tallan Burns (59) passed 20 for the Hawks in their run chase, but they got to 9/132 with overs in hand before Dylan Taylor took his fourth wicket and ended the game.
A1 GRADE
Barwon Heads 5/205 (D. Donaldson 45, M. Bode 43, Jaxon Mallett 33no, Jacko Mallet 32no) def Barrabool 168 (O. Cope 36, L. Clift 26, Jacko Mallett 4/36, D. Donaldson 3/31, D. Hewitt 2/40)
Armstrong Creek 7/219 (N. Kapoor 55, J. Maclean 51no, N. Johnson 30, M. Minney 3/31) def Queenscliff 8/192 (H. Illingworth 57, L. Stott 35, B. Fary 3/34)
Jan Juc 3/196 (N. Hyden 72no, R. Smith 42, F. Clatworthy 36) def Inverleigh 146 (W. Collins 51, W. Stoney 29, S. Haygarth 27, R. Smith 3/23, J. Rew 3/24, J. Powers 2/37)
Anglesea 8/138 (S. Weight 37, H. Eddy 3/19, D. Sykes 2/29) def Drysdale 132 (T. Burns 59, D. Taylor 4/19, S. Weight 2/13)
