A batting masterclass by Lavington’s Matt Sharp led Lavington to a 7-wicket victory over Corowa in the Sunday game clash at Ball Park.
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Winning the toss Corowa elected to bat first but was in early trouble losing the two English players to be 2 for 15.
The early bowling from Lavington was first class but gradually Matt Grantham and Jarred Lane started to move the score along before Lane was run out for 15. Grantham brought up his second fifty in a row before he become the fourth wicket with the score at 93.
Useful innings from Kade Wilson (24), Matthew Wilson (13) and Jarryd Hatton (18) pushed the score along and with Patrick Lavis making a run a ball 22 enabled Corowa to finish their 50 overs at 9 for 179, a good score after the early good bowling from Lavington.
In reply Lavington was always in control even though the Corowa bowlers gave their all. Lavington was able to add 79 for the opening wicket before Mark Athanitis got the first breakthrough.
Nick Grant was rewarded with the second wicket after a good spell of bowling but not before Lavington had added 82 for the second wicket to be in a strong position of 2 for 161.
Luke Backhouse was finally able to get the wicket of Matt Sharp with the score at 170 after he had made 104. Bowlers bowled tight with Lavington passing the score with three overs to go.
A Grade take on Albury at Ball Park this Saturday
Matt Grantham was the star for Corowa scoring a half century in Sunday’s clash against Lavington. Photo: Simon Ginns.
B Grade
B Grade have won a thriller against Lavington at Lavington after Captain Aaron Phibbs score two off the last ball to give Corowa a 2 wicket victory.
Bowling first Captain Phibbs got an early wicket before Lavington moved to 52 before Jack Eales was able to collect two wickets and when Joe Hansen chimed in with two wickets as well Lavington had fallen to 5 for 97.
But the lower order responded for Lavington as they were able to bat out their 45 overs for 9 for 221. Joe Lavis bowled well at the end to take 2 for 12 off 3 overs with Hansen finishing with 3 for 45 off 9 overs.
In the chase Bailey Minogue and Blake Keenes got the side off to a good start adding 51 for the first wicket before Minogue went for 23 and when Keenes went shortly after for 16 Corowa was 2 for 54.
Corowa steadied and pushed the score along to 3 for 145 after 36 overs needing 77 off the last 9 overs. But when set batmen Jeremy Carr (38) and Ryan Beveridge (49) went a hero was needed and Lachlan Raggett became that.
Raggett smashed 4 boundaries and a six and with the help of Joe Lavis (15*) got to within 1 run of Lavington before Raggett was out for a match winning innings 45 with one ball left. It was left to Phibbs to calmly hit the last ball for two to give Corowa victory
C Grade
It was hard to split Billy Raggett's ton or Greg Burgess' hattrick as the better highlight on Saturday.
In a career spanning nearly 400 senior games, Burgess collected his first hattrick and pandemonium ensued at Albury's Nouriel Park as his teammates engulfed him, Burgess stripping his shirt in celebration soccer-style.
It shows the rarity of a hattrick that a player the quality of Burgess, who has played in multiple premierships, was until Saturday yet to pouch a hattrick.
And didn't the skipper do it in style, tearing through the top order with three bowls, the last crashing directly into the bails.
The skipper finished with 3/23 and now has 12 in four games since the Christmas break.
But this is a tale about two players.
In the run chase, with Corowa staring down its biggest challenge of the season (149), Billy Raggett was raised to opener in the absence of Liam McDonell.
And things didn't start well when Raggett, who earlier in the day suffered a hamstring strain in the field, top edged a ball into his unguarded face.
Bruised and sore, the left-hander nonetheless decided to bat on and when the next short ball headed his way there was a moment of worry that quickly evaporated when Raggett sweetly hooked it for six.
And that was the first of seven sixes, many of them hook shots; another memorable one a swashbuckling swat over point.
Despite barely being able to get out of a trot, Raggett raced along at more than a run a ball, finishing with 18 boundaries in all and enjoying the milestone with another four through backward square-leg.
Raggett finished 106 not out in the side's total of 157.
Elsewhere, Danny Osborne and Judd Kuschert were among the wickets again with three apiece, while Caleb Kuschert (12) and Jason Raggett (10*) chipped in in the run chase.
Under 16s
Ethan Lane has led Corowa to victory in their clash with Howlong at Howlong. Chasing 91 for victory Lane was the anchor making 32 and with support from Brodie Eyers (16) and Leroy Chester (10) passed the total 5 wickets down as they finished the game at 8 for 93.
Under 14s
A maiden 50 to Levi Phibbs and also a half century to Joe Lavis have enable a big victory over Albury. Chasing 153 for victory Corowa only lost one wicket passing with score with Phibbs making 52 retired, Lavis smashing 50 off 36 balls before retiring and Rhylee Barber 17 retired as Corowa finished the day at 2 for 195.
Under 12s
Corowa Blue went down in their clash with Lavington at Corowa High School. Bowling first Corowa started well with good bowling in the first 10 overs, but Lavington attacked in the last 10 overs as they amassed 5 for 103. Archie Rhodes the pick of the bowlers taking 4 for 8 off 3 overs.
In reply Kasey Rhodes had his best innings of the season making 12 not out and had support from Josh Kremmer with 9 not out and Harry Norman 9 but Blue could only manage 6 for 66 in the chase.
Corowa White had the bye.
The Div 2 side went down to Wodonga Raiders at Balldale, Good innings by George Smith (20), Patrick Colman (19), Charlie Kay (18*) and Darcy Upton (12*) enable Corowa to make 123 in their 20 overs. But Raiders batters provided too strong making 136 after 14 overs before the rain came. George Smith took 2 or 14 while Darcy Upton took 1 for 19.
The Club would like to acknowledge our sponsors for this season, A & A Auto, Davidson White Accountants, John Rhodes Bricklaying, Waldrons Fresh on River, Kilara Group, Rivalea, Pharmasave Corowa, O’Connors, Balldale Hotel, Federation Steel, Collins Transport, Gentech Seeds, Poolwerx, Corowa Furnishings and Floors, McLardy McShane, Australia Grain Technologies, Moloney Real Estate, Beechworth Honey, Dunns Twin City Cranes & Corowa Distilling.
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