FLANELLED FOOLS: 31 OCTOBER 2017

Cricket Round-Up By GREG PRINGLE*

Country trash Freemasons, Cudal record first win

At the completion of round three of the Oilsplus Molong Senior Cricket, Country took an early lead on the competition table and remained undefeated after disposing of Freemasons, while Cudal recorded their first win in a close tussle with a clumsy Magpies side.

Batting first at the Molong Rec, Country struggled at the start and were 3-17. But Country’s middle order stood up and Dan Toynton (25), Mark Frazer (27) and Trent Frazer (116 not out) enabled them to impose their second big total in three games, finishing at 7-229 — a good effort on a wicket described as ‘green’.

Freemasons’ bowlers had limited success but were best served by Ed Twiss (3-19), Ben Brown (1-38) and Bohdie Johnson (1-31).

Freemasons’ batting completely collapsed, with only the Johnson brothers, Bohdie (13) and Ellis (17) offering any resistance before the side was all out for an embarrassing 67 in the 16th over.

Meanwhile at Cudal the home side won the toss and elected to bat.

Their innings was steady with all top-order batsmen getting starts.

It was a swashbuckling and at times lucky innings of 105 from Adam Clunes that provided Cudal a good total of 193 to defend.

Lee Cornish also contributed with 31, with Cudal nine down at the completion of 40 overs.

Les Hoppa was Magpies best bowler, taking 3-28, supported by Adam Osborn with 2-18 and Brant Mann 2-27.

In reply Magpies’ top-order batsmen also got off to a great start, with Les Hoppa having a great all-round game and top scoring with 62, supported by Brant Mann (57) and Jeremy Middleton (23).

But wickets fell at a constant rate after those batsmen departed and for the second week in a row Magpies fell within a couple of runs of victory, all out for 191.

Steve Fairly, returning after a long lay off, bowled well, taking 2-30, but S Barrat was the chief destroyer taking 4-34 and Cudal recording their first win of the season and putting their premiership defence back on track.

For Magpies dropped catches have now cost them two games in a row and unless this can be rectified they will continue to struggle despite boasting a stronger batting and bowling line up this season.

POINTS TABLE

Country 21

Freemasons 13

Cudal 13

Magpies 13

There will be a general bye this coming weekend, with the competition resuming on Saturday 11 November.

*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.