Collendina’s quest for a Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A2 Grade finals berth received a boost after a hard-fought win against St Leonards at home on Saturday January 18.
With Wallington and Inverleigh in the box seat to claim the top two spots on the ladder, the race for third and fourth is down to three teams – Portarlington (39 points), Surf Cost (39) and Collendina (33).
The Cobras were sent in and made 9/147 from 40 overs on a slowish outfield at Collendina Recreation Reserve.
Opener Corey Walter top scored with 52 while Jacob Gasior made 35 and skipper Nathan Frye 20. Saints’ seamer Will Stovell took 3/31 from eight overs.
Frye said the total was “more like 165 or 170” given the outfield.
Collendina needed to bowl well to take the points and Frye said tactics were discussed at the tea break.
“We spoke about that in the innings break that they didn’t really give us any boundary balls to hit,” he said.
“So we thought that was (also) the path to victory for us.”
Zach Muir took his first A Grade wicket in a good opening spell while Ted Farrell (2/21) and Oscar Irwin (4/18) also had success.
“He’s (Muir) bowled really well for us since coming in with the white ball (and) you know what you’re going to get out of him every week,” Frye said.
“Oscar Irwin’s another one who’s come in and taken seven wickets in his two games in the ones. Really happy with the way they’re progressing.
“And that’s what we want in our side – blokes that are just going to bowl one side of the wicket, (which is) very easy to set a field to.”
St Leonards would eventually be bowled out for 119, giving the Cobras a deserved win.
Frye said he hopes to have star all-rounder Corey Walter back bowling in the next week or so after having elbow surgery before the break. Walter missed one game and has only been able to bat since then.
Collendina’s attention now turns towards top side Wallington in the final one-dayer of the season.
“We haven’t seen them at all this year, so we don’t really know what to expect,” Frye said.
“They’ve got some good quality cricketers. Matt (Sampson-Barnes) is obviously a good cricketer and has been for a long time. It will be a good battle.”Collendina’s C1 Grade side is two games clear in second place after a hard-fought win against St Leonards.
The Snakes compiled 5/220 batting first with Richie Peters (74) top scoring and Dean Britt (61 not out off 36 balls) and Jack Wood (46) also playing well.
In reply the Saints managed 9/164 with Marty Frankovic making 81 from 104 deliveries while George Every grabbed four wickets and Britt three in a fine all-round performance.
Collendina climbed into the C2 Grade top four at the expense of Wallington. Three wickets to Paul Wursthorn helped restrict the Wallabies to 8/176 and runs from Garry Wingrave (60) enabled the Cobras to chase down the target with five wickets and eight overs in hand.
A superb century from Queenscliff’s Brendan Thom helped his team defeat Collendina in D Grade. Thom made 101 retired as the Coutas passed Dina’s 8/234 with nine wickets and six overs remaining. Tim McKerracher (76) and Chris Pitfield (45) batted well for Dina.
