Round five saw Corowa take on North Albury at Ball Park in cold and windy conditions and, electing to bowl first, the home side looked to take advantage of any early spice in the wicket.
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Young fast bowler Eli Lavis made the first breakthrough, removing the dangerous Borella in the third over, while experienced paceman Nick Grant bowled tidily from the other end.
Joe Lavis bowled neatly, and Blake Elliot took it to North Albury’s top order, claiming two wickets to leave the visitors at 3-55.
Corowa’s crafty spin attack took regular wickets through the middle overs to leave North Albury sitting at 6-92 with the tail yet to bat.
Captain Ben Fulford called the quicks back and Ethan Lane delivered a tidy spell of 0-13 off five overs before young spearheads Joe and Eli Lavis had the visitors all out for 147.
E. Lavis finished with 2-31 off seven overs, and B. Elliot claimed 2-22 off seven with two maidens, but the pick of the bowlers was J. Lavis with 3-19 off 3.5 overs.
Corowa was eager to chase an under-par score on a good Ball Park wicket, however, their top order was unable to get a foothold as North Albury’s opening pair of Burge and Hill ripped into the batting line-up.
In the only highlight of Corowa’s innings, Cal Langlands batted with grit for his team, scoring 50 off 86 balls, including five boundaries and a maximum.
A partnership with Ethan Lane (16) looked threatening before the pair were separated.
Once disrupted by North Albury’s spinners, too much was left for their lower order.
A patient 15 from Nick Oliver took the score to 103 before the home team was bowled out.
The disappointing result for the first-grade side leaves Corowa seventh on the ladder with two wins and three losses heading into next week’s bye.
The players will look to return to the winners’ list in their next home game on November 21.
B Grade
Corowa delivered a commanding performance on the road at Bunton Park, putting on a batting masterclass before tearing through the North Albury line-up to secure a comprehensive victory.
Corowa set the tone early after winning the toss and electing to bat.
After Harry Norman’s brisk 28 off 29 balls, run out off a direct hit while pushing for a second, and 40 off 61 balls from Austin Ross-Anderson, the innings caught fire through a monumental partnership.
Captain Kade Wilson led from the front with a brilliant knock of 88 off 98 deliveries, featuring 10 boundaries and was agonisingly close to a well-earned century, falling with just four balls remaining in the innings as he aggressively pursued the milestone.
Nathan Rhodes anchored the innings with a counter-attacking knock of 76 not out off 82 balls, including seven boundaries and a maximum.
Wilson and Rhodes combined for a magnificent 154-run partnership, lifting Corowa to a formidable 4-261 from 45 overs.
In response, North Albury struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Corowa bowling attack and were eventually bowled out for 150.
Youngster Jagger Doody made an immediate impact on debut, claiming the first two wickets to finish with 2-29 from his six overs.
As North Albury attempted to steady, Mark Athanitis produced a devastating spell, tearing through the middle order to claim 4-15 off seven overs.
Off-spinner Harry Norman capped off a fine all-round performance with the ball, wrapping up the tail with 4-6 from just 4.1 overs.
C Grade (Division 1)
Corowa suffered its first loss of the season after a disappointing batting performance away against Baranduda.
Sent in to bat, Corowa’s in-form openers missed out for the first time this season.
With only Baxter Macfarlane (21) and junior Aiden Wintle (20) offering resistance, Corowa was skittled for 73.
Macfarlane and Wintle found the boundary through mid-off and mid-wicket, with both unlucky to fall victim to good stumpings and in-swingers respectively.
Corowa dismissed four of Baranduda’s batsmen in defence, with John Conroy and Bryce Kenny holding onto well-judged outfield catches.
Quick bowlers Judd Kuschert and Greg Burgess, along with off-spinner and skipper Blayre Smith, claimed one wicket apiece.
Smith, lively at square leg, also combined with wicketkeeper Macfarlane for a run-out.
However, Baranduda cruised to the target in the 15th over.
Corowa is on the road again this Saturday before returning home the following week.
C Grade (Division 2)
Corowa was back home to take on Lavington in Jason Raggett’s final game after a long and storied career, including many games alongside his children and grandchildren, with plenty of runs, wickets, laughs and tears along the way.
Raggett always brought an ultra-competitive attitude to his cricket, even towards the end of his career.
He was always the first to have a laugh with the opposition but never gave an inch during a game, making him a true warrior and a legend of C Grade cricket.
Raggett won the toss, sending the boys in to bat, and it was the Liam McDonnell show from ball one.
While Lavington was fresh off an impressive win the previous week and full of confidence, McDonnell had other ideas.
No bowler was safe as the powerful right-hander set about destroying the Lavington attack, striking 240 runs off just 78 balls, including 11 fours and 29 sixes.
At a strike rate of more than 300, 218 of his 240 runs came from boundaries alone.
When he finally struck out to deep mid-wicket, the score was 1-288 inside just 22 overs.
Rhylee Barber continued his fine form at the other end, scoring a run-a-ball 76, a perfectly respectable innings in its own right.
A near-impossible chase for Lavington started with both openers scoring well, but the required run rate was always going to be their enemy.
The visitors proudly refused to give away their wickets, finishing their 40 overs at 4-157.
Raggett was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 2-18 from his eight overs.
Nathias Price looked a likely replacement, bowling well to pick up his first C Grade wicket.
Next week, Corowa travels to take on an in-form Baranduda.
Under 16s Black
Corowa Black registered a hard-fought 12-run victory over East Albury in their Under 16 clash at Ball Park, defending a masterclass with the bat from Darcy Hargraves with a tight, disciplined effort with the ball.
Batting first, opener Hargraves played a dominant knock, retiring undefeated on 51 from 43 balls with seven boundaries after an 80-run opening stand with Harry Norman (21 off 37) to put the home side firmly in control by the 13th over.
Callan Corcoran then pushed the run rate along with 18 off 21 balls, smashing three boundaries in the 16th over to maintain momentum.
Despite a late cluster of wickets from East Albury’s Brayth Walkerden and Jack Godde, Corowa Black closed out its innings at 6-109.
A collective team performance in the field using 10 different bowlers kept East Albury guessing throughout their run chase.
Callan Corcoran set the standard early with an exceptional four-over spell of off-spin, claiming 1-15 and bowling opener Jack Godde, and leg-spinner Baxter McLeod kept tight control with 1-12 off three overs.
Harry Norman’s off-spin ripped through the lower order, picking up 2-5 off two overs, and Lucas Tait chipped in with 1-2 from one over.
A sharp piece of team fielding saw Jagger Doody and Abe Spencer combine for a crucial run-out of Jenson Morris.
East Albury was ultimately held to 6-97 off its 20 overs, securing a well-deserved victory for Corowa Black.
Under 16s Blue
Corowa Blue travelled to Baranduda looking to continue its winning start to the season.
Bowling first, Lachie Douglas and Ollie Matthews asked questions, but the Baranduda openers got their team off to a quick start.
Finley Douglas (1-18) came on to immediate effect, sending down a big in-swinging yorker to remove Harry Bowles for 17.
While it slowed the run rate, Baranduda was able to build another partnership.
Archie Rhodes (3-7) was brought on, and his leg-spin produced a bottom edge taken cleanly by Lachie Douglas behind the stumps, sparking a collapse as Jacko Barber (1-6) chimed in before Hugh Hicks (2-21) found himself on a hat-trick.
Two more wickets to Archie Rhodes had Corowa set for a chaseable total despite some big hitting from Baranduda in the final over.
Chasing 116, Ollie Matthews and Jacko Barber started solidly before hesitation from Barber and a direct hit from the field saw Matthews depart earlier than wanted.
Lachie Douglas and Barber attempted to settle the innings with a partnership of 37 runs before Jacko spooned a catch into the field, leaving 70 runs to chase in the remaining 11 overs.
A chip to the fielder at square leg ended Archie Rhodes’ stay at the crease before another excellent piece of fielding saw Nathias run out from a direct hit.
Finley Douglas came out and the Douglas boys set about chipping away at the total.
A pair of boundaries from Lachie helped the score tick along, but an excellent field set by Baranduda proved difficult to breach.
They lifted the run rate significantly, but it proved too much when Finley found a leading edge and departed for six.
Tyler Mullavey was keen to take advantage of a move into the middle order, but another excellent piece of fielding saw him run out from a direct hit.
Lachie Douglas fell shortly afterwards, after adding 45 runs to the total, and it was left to the lower order to chase the last 30 runs with two overs remaining.
The last three wickets fell trying to gain quick runs and Corowa was all out in the 20th over for a total of 88.
Congratulations to Hugh Hicks on playing his first game in Under 16s.
Under 14s
The Under 14s hosted Lavington at Morris Park, winning the toss and electing to bowl.
The boys put in a solid effort in the field, with Hugh Hicks taking three wickets, Jobe Ollington claiming two, and Tyler Mullavey and Jack Nixon picking up one each.
Jake Rhodes took a clean catch in the field, while Oliver Williams contributed a run-out, assisted by wicketkeeper Jack Timms.
Chasing a target of 93, the boys fought hard but ultimately fell 18 runs short.
Jake Rhodes top-scored with 24 runs off 35 balls, followed by Hugh Hicks with 19 off 28 balls and Jack Timms with 18 off 54 balls.
The boys will hit the nets on Tuesday as they prepare for next week’s away game against Baranduda and will be looking to get a win on the board.
Under 12s Division 1
Corowa travelled to Alexandra Park this week to take on East Albury.
Sent in to bat, Tex Rhodes continued his impressive form, holding his own and contributing to another solid team effort.
Bill Smith (24) and Chad Corcoran (19) then opened their shoulders, playing positive cricket to help post a competitive total of 77.
Corowa made a promising start in the field, applying plenty of pressure with some sharp fielding, a couple of run-outs and wickets to Archer Hicks and Levi Wright.
East Albury’s middle order proved difficult to contain, finding its rhythm and getting on top to chase down the total in the 17th over.
While the result didn’t go Corowa’s way, there were plenty of positives.
The side continues to improve, developing their skills and building confidence every week.