Drysdale secured a top two spot on the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A2 Grade ladder with a commanding performance against Barwon Heads leading into the Christmas break.
The Hawks weren’t at their best, but still did enough to demolish the Seagulls on their home deck.
Drysdale batted first at RT Fuller Oval in Barwon Heads and immediately found the going tough against star seamer Jack Johnstone.
Johnstone took 2-16 from eight very good overs including the prize wicket of Drysdale skipper Nick Hallam, but not before the elegant top-order bat made 47 from 58 balls.
The Hawks would have been disappointed with their score of 138 all out on the small Barwon Heads oval, but their bowlers stood tall.
The Heads laboured to 79 all out from 34.3 overs as Drysdale’s bowlers squeezed the life out of their top and middle order.
James Hodder made a good 41 from 88 for Barwon Heads, but it was pretty much all one-way traffic as Bailey Sykes continued his fine season with 4-11 and left-arm seamer Dylan Justice had a good day with 3-5.
A ruthless Portarlington thrashed Newcomb by 10 wickets.
The Bulls batted first but only two players made it to double figures.
Nick Clowes showed his resolve with 51 from 111 balls and bowler Brendan Sheedy made 24 not out from 38.
However a score of 9-135 was always going to be hard to defend as Port put the game beyond any doubt with a terrific unbeaten opening stand between David Bullock (43 not out from 103) and Alex Jesensek (72 not out from 111).
The pair put on 136 and passed the Newcomb total in the 34th over.
It may have seemed like a big win to Port, and it was, but Newcomb is showing some fight despite not winning a game so far.
For Port, it is looking good to start 2022 in fine style.
Armstrong Creek proved way too good for an improved Wallington.
The Titans made a commanding 7-243 with Dylan Flanigan playing superbly for his 74 off 90 balls.
In reply Wallington was dismissed for 85 with Andrew Williams (23 off 19) and Damien Biemans (18 not out off 26) the only batters to reach double figures.
Jason Robertson took 4-23 and promising young leggie Grace Jones snared 2-14 for the Titans.
Winchelsea knocked off Little River in a close game.
The Redbacks batted first and made 7-165 with David Robson getting 50 and Sam Riseley taking 3-36 for Winch.
Winch was 3-19 in reply, but a 131-run stand between gun skipper Adam Korth (76 off 100 deliveries) and Ryen Smith (54 off 93) saw the side home with an over to spare.
