A torrential overnight storm in Albury forced a change of venue to Ball Park for A grade cricket’s first clash of the new year against reigning premier Lavington.
Winning the toss, Corowa decided to bowl first looking to make early inroads into the Lavington batting line up. After a slightly wayward start Jarryd Hatton found a hole in O’Connor’s defence to uproot his off stump before following up to have Schultheis caught behind in the same over and swing the momentum Corowa’s way.
A 40 run partnership between Harris and Nathan Brown had Lavi back on track before Kaelen Bradtke came on to knock over the dangerous Brown, Luke Backhouse was continuing his outstanding season at the other end and he had Galvin caught by Mark Athanitis in the deep and when Kaelen had Lyons caught by Hatton, Corowa had reduced the opposition to 5 for 65.
Lavington stabilised with a 60 run partnership between Harris and Beaumont dragging Lavi back into the game. With Harris anchoring the innings smartly, Lavi’s tail was able to push the score to 9 for 195 at the close of the innings with 25 sundries certainly not helping the Roos’ cause. Nick Grant finished with 3 wickets, Hatton and Bradtke two apiece.
Opening the innings, Matt Wilson left the wrong ball early to be bowled for 2 leaving Ryan Beveridge and Matt Grantham to get the chase underway. The pair put together a good partnership taking the score to 45 before Bevo edged behind for 26.
Captain Jarred Lane joined Granthem with the pair working the strike taking the score to 75 before Grantham chopped on the spinner Galvin to be bowled for 27.
Jeremy Carr was unlucky to be given out LBW for one with Kaelen Bradtke adding 6 before he was run out and was quickly followed by Hatton. Corowa was in trouble at 6 for 104, Jed Longmire looked assured in his first provincial A grade game however could only manage 9 before he was bowled with the score on 123.
Nick Grant made his case for batting promotion with an entertaining 13 before being bowled. Mark Athanitis joined Lane for the last few overs however the horse had bolted and Corowa finished their innings on 161 with Lane 62 not out unable to find a partner to threaten the chase.
As much as it was a solid performance against strong opposition, Corowa will need find their best to push themselves into finals contention.
B grade
Corowa’s game was moved to Morris Park. Lavis and Melksham opened the batting, ticking the score over nicely to reach 47 before Melksham was bowled.
Eyers and Wilson came and went, but Paddy was making the most of some loose bowling and fine shot selection keeping the innings together before he fell for a well-made 75, with the score on 112.
Jay Lavis then took the role of lead batsman playing shots all over the ground. Seymour and Docherty fell in quick succession, bringing the father/son combination together. Not wanting to do a lot of running in the heat, Doug proceeded to take to the bowling, his innings littered with fours and sixes, while Jay just kept ticking the strike to his old man. The pair put on 102 before Jay was unluckily run out for a well-made 57.
Douglas soon brought up his ton of not many balls and remained unbeaten on 102, enabling the total to reach 280.
Knowing early wickets were the key, they weren’t forthcoming, the first wicket falling at 63.
Lavi were off to a flyer being 3/118 after 15 overs, were pegged back from overs 15 to 30 limiting the boundaries, but the hard work was undone with a few dropped catches. Needing around 80 off 15 overs it was going to be a task for Corowa to get the chocolates.
Taking a couple of wickets provided a little sniff but the runs kept coming. With some good individual bowling performances by Doug, Simon and Crackers, seven dropped catches cost the game.
Both C Grade games didn’t get a start, while all juniors games start this weekend.
The Club would like to acknowledge our sponsors for this season, A & A Auto, Davidson White Accountants, John Rhodes Bricklaying, Waldrons Fresh on River, Dunn’s Twin City Cranes, Kilara Group, Nutrimax, McLardy McShane, Hotel Australia, Collins Transport, O’Connors, Millthorpe Transport, Moloney Real Estate, Federation Steel, Beechworth Honey & Corowa RSL Club.
