FLANELLED FOOLS: 26 OCTOBER 2017

Cricket Round-Up By GREG PRINGLE*

Wins to Country and Freemasons

At the completion of the second round of the Oilsplus senior cricket completion Country lead the way and Freemasons recorded their inaugural win.

For the second consecutive week the Molong Rec was unplayable due to mid-week rain, forcing Country and Magpies to play at Hunter Caldwell.

Batting first Magpies got off to a horror start with Rod Jones and Dylan Wilson going cheaply and the score being 2-4.

A good partnership between Michael Thompson (43) and Les Hoppa (35) put Magpies back on the front foot.

Unfortunately after those batsmen departed no other Magpies’ batsman could contribute a decent score despite all getting starts and in the 34th over Magpies were all out for 145.

Dan Toynton was Country’s best bowler, taking 4-19. John Mulhall (2/14) and Joe Clayton (2/27) also contributing to restricting Magpies.

Without Nigel Brazier, Andrew Heath and Trent Frazer in the Country side, Magpies were confident of a victory, and some tight bowling and good fielding by Magpies saw Country struggle to the drinks break at 2-49.

A couple of quick wickets after drinks and Country were really treading water at 5-65.

However a great partnership between brothers Murray and Brett Wykes put Country back in the game. A couple of big sixes from Murray brought the run rate required to around seven an over.

Another couple of quick wickets put the pressure back onto Country and the game went down to the final over.

Some quick runs during the over saw the scores tied with one ball remaining, with Brett Wykes hitting a single of the last ball of the day to give Country the narrowest of victories.

Brett top scored with 50 not out, being assisted by Murray Wykes (32) and Jock Haynes (25).

Magpies bowled well but were let down by a dropped catch at the death that ultimately cost them the game.

Mitch Christie (2-27) and Tim Milne (2-34) bowled well and a late charge by Luke Osborne (2-18) gave Magpies every chance to pull off an upset.

At Cudal, last year’s joint premiers Cudal suffered their second loss of the season to see one of the competition’s regular powerhouses winless.

Batting first, Cudal got off to a great start, with both openers Andrew Smith (35) and Adam Clunes (43) taking the score to 71 before the first wicket of Smith fell.

Unfortunately that was the beginning of the end for Cudal as the they rapidly lost a plethora of wickets  to be all out for 125 in the 37th over — a disappointing total after such a promising start.

Some outstanding bowling by Freemasons young guns, Bohdie Johnson(2-28), Matt Hobbs (2-7), H Pearce (3-19) and T Thomas (2-10) contributed to Cudal’s small total.

In reply, Freemasons were able to secure their first victory with some steady batting, passing Cudal’s total in just the 24th over and losing only four wickets on the way, with Matt Hobbs (42) H Pearce (20 not out) and M Pearce (21) and Joel Packham (22 not out) all contributing.

A very impressive victory by a young team with great potential. C Spratt was Cudal’s best bowler, taking 2 for 24 in what was overall a forgettable day for the current joint premiers.

OILSPLUS POINTS TABLE

Country 14

Freemasons 10

Magpies 10

Cudal 6

This Saturday Freemasons and Country clash at the Molong Rec and Cudal host Magpies. Games start at 1pm.

Forbes defeat Molong in Grinstead Cup

On Sunday Molong travelled to Forbes after challenging for the coveted Grinstead Cup.

On a difficult, damp green top at Grinstead Oval, Forbes the home team were dismissed cheaply for 106 by Molong.

Jock Haynes capped off his recent great early season form, this time with the ball, taking 4-31. H Pearce also bowled well for Molong, taking 3-28.

Unfortunately Molong’s batsmen could not chase down the small total and were dismissed well short for 81. So Forbes retain the Grinstead Cup and Molong will be given another opportunity late in the season to mount another challenge.

*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.