FLANELLED FOOLS: 22 FEBRUARY 2017

Cricket Round-Up By GREG PRINGLE*

Upsets in Oilsplus cricket

Cudal and Telegraph recorded upsets victories in last Saturday’s action in the Molong Oilsplus Senior Cricket competition.

With only two rounds remaining, the upsets now don’t guarantee Country the minor premiership (though it would require a couple of forfeits due to fires to bring the juggernaut to a halt) and put Telegraph right back in the hunt for a semi-final berth.

At the Molong Rec, Magpies elected to bat and that was pretty much the highlight of their day.

No Magpies batsman batted well. In fact, sundries top scored with 15 when Magpies were dismissed, all out for 67! We’ll leave it at that.

On the flip side, Telegraph’s bowlers all plied their craft well, in particular their spinners Dillon Wilson (2-10 off 10 overs) and Ben Brown (3-25). The Magpies’ batsmen really had no idea how to play the spin.

Glen Miller (2-6), Andrew Drady (1-11) and Trent Fliedner (1-4) were also destroyers against the hapless Magpies’ batsmen.

With the scent of victory in their nostrils the Telegraph Titans batted with purpose and passed Magpies pathetic total with the loss of only four wickets.

Benson and Hedges Chairman Brett Johnson put a brief scare into the Titans camp claiming 2/19, but defending such a small total was always an impossible task.

With just two rounds left Magpies appear to be snatching defeat from the jaws of victory concerning a semi-final berth.

At Hunter Caldwell, Cudal bowled well to restrict Country to 184 on the small ground.

Trent Frazer (39), Nigel Brazier (38) and Mr Reliable Andrew Heath (40) were Country’s best, but they were well contained by some tight bowling with Lee Cornish (3-51) and Chris Douglas (3-31) Cudal’s best bowlers.

It is obvious that ailing all rounder Steve Fairley has seen better days, with Cudal seemingly no longer needing his services.

Lee Cornish has offered Fairley the opportunity to carry the drinks in the semis but Steve has declined the offer.

In reply Cudal easily passed the required total with 13 overs to spare, although eight wickets down.

Pete Tattersall (40), Tim Kennedy (34) and Troy Adams (43 not out) batting at number 10 were Cudal’s best in a well deserved away victory.

Country’s bowlers tried hard defending the relatively modest total but were never in the hunt.

Stu Brisbane (3-29) and Joe Clayton (3-41) continue to be the backbone of Country’s bowling attack. Dan Toyton (2-30) also bowled well.

With two rounds left until finals the scramble to the finals is on, with the fourth-placed team not qualifying. 

T20 competition

Last Thursday saw the first of three T20 games under lights at the Molong Rec.

Country (9-151) defeated Telegraph/Cudal (5-112).

Games run from 6pm to around 9pm under lights at the Molong Rec.

Tomorrow (23 Feb) sees Magpies play Country.

*Greg Pringle is Secretary/Treasurer of Molong District Cricket. He plays for Molong Magpies but swears he is as hard, if not harder, on his own guys as the opposition.