By Mark Heenan
Collendina climbed into second spot on the BPCA A Grade ladder after a bonus outright victory over Queenscliff on Saturday.
The 10-point result sees Collendina occupy a top-two spot (40 points) after Anglesea (42 points) defeated Drysdale (36 points) by 50 runs in their top-of-the-table clash.
The Cobras had sewn up first innings points on day one after the visitors bowled out the Coutas for 87.
Resuming at 6/143 Collendina declared before the start of play and sent the Coutas back in for a second dig.
Collendina coach Corey Walter (71) led the charge with a fine half-century.
Jye Hearps (5/15) was the chief destroyer and collected a five-wicket haul.
To Queenscliff’s credit it made a promising start to its second innings after a 56-run deficit and at one stage was 0/51.
Once star bowler Charlie Lamb broke through the top order, the Queenscliff wickets tumbled.
Lamb took nine wickets and achieved his best figures for 2017/18 in Queenscliff’s second innings with 7/38 from 28 overs which added to his 2/34 on day one.
The Coutas lost their last 10 wickets for 52 runs and were all out for 103 from 60 overs, which meant Collendina needed a further 48 runs to claim maximum points.
Cobra coach Corey Walter said it was a hard-fought outright given the hot weather and home side’s resilient top order batting.
Collendina achieved the bonus points in the final overs on day two.
“It is a fine line because don’t know how they (opposition) come out and approach it,” Walter told the Voice.
“If we had batted 10 overs on day two and were 120 or 130 runs in front are we going to bowl out them out? Have we left ourselves enough overs?
“So we thought if we at least declared before the start of play we are only losing three overs with the change over and not six overs.
“Their top five bats can all bat really well – I think four of their top five batsmen have made A Grade hundreds.”
Collendina now faces a crucial two-day clash at home this Saturday against cross-town rivals and fourth-placed Ocean Grove in a game which will shape the A Grade finals mix.
A win for the Cobras would secure a top-four finals berth.
“They (Ocean Grove) have got some good quality players – we have got to keep putting pressure on them and we have won the last few times we have played them,” Walter said.
In B Grade, Queenscliff defeated the Cobras on first innings.
Queenscliff was dismissed for 129 from 52 overs in the first innings and all out for 99 from 46.1 overs in its second dig.
Collendina effectively was all out for 50 from 17.5 overs in its first innings despite only losing eight wickets.
The Cobras were 3/71 from 25 overs in its second innings.
St Leonards won on first innings against Collendina in their C Grade game.
The Cobras were all out for only 88 from 36 overs on day one, and in reply St Leonards finished 4/95 before they declared as Justin Flynn top scored with 36.
In its second dig Collendina dug in and was 0/45 from 22 overs before the game was called off at the tea break.
Collendina had a bye in D Grade and will now face Ocean Grove in their one-day game at Ocean Grove Memorial Recreation Reserve this Saturday.
