FLANELLED FOOLS: 28 NOVEMBER2017

Cricket Round-Up By GREG PRINGLE*

Country and Cudal win with high scores

Last season’s joint premiers, Country and Cudal, both recorded wins in the Oilsplus Senior Cricket Competition last Saturday, consolidating their positions at the top of the table and possibly heading for a grand-final replay.

At the Molong Rec, Country batting first struggled at times and once again found themselves relying on premier batsman Nigel Brazier to get them out of a spot of bother.

For the second time this season, Brazier racked up a century, reaching 110 before retiring.

However, the rest of his team all struggled, only scoring 63 amongst them in a total of 9-191.

Last season’s gun batsman, Andrew Heath, is a shadow of last season but may be saving his best for the later part of the season. Time will tell.

Freemasons’ young attack bowled very well, led by an outback-tanned veteran, Ben Brown, with 3/16 and M Pearce with 3/18.

In reply, most of Freemasons’ batsman got starts, but none went on to post the big score that would make them competitive in this match.

Freemasons were dismissed for 135, with M Pearce again top-scoring for them with a handy 39.

He was supported by Ben Brown with 21 and Ed Twiss (19).

Stu Brisbane (3/33), Trent Frazer (3/32) and Jock Haynes (2/2) were Country’s best bowlers.

Another comfortable win for Country as the juggernaut continues.

At Cudal, Magpies posted a large total at the end of their 40 overs.

Losing only four wickets and with a total of 235 on the board, Magpies found themselves in a commanding position to win the match comfortably.

A century by Brant Mann (106 not out) and good contributions by David Hobbs (36) and Rod Jones (40 not out) provided Magpies’ best.

Talk in the Magpies’ dressing room had no room for Jim Gavin in the top order as he was adequately replaced for this game.

Cudal used a number of bowlers but all had trouble doing much with the ball on the synthetic pitch.

Cudal lost early wickets in their chase of Magpies’ big total but a brilliant innings by Chris Doulglas (106 not out) allowed Cudal to pass Magpies total with an over to spare. A rare win chasing a big total.

Magpies have now lost three close games, and whilst they boast a much stronger batting lineup this season they are continually let down by their fielding, dropping seven catches in this game.

Despite wonderful efforts in the field by veterans Glen Meehan and David Hobbs it’s plainly obvious they both have dreadful hands and dropped a couple of sitters each.

Both men suffered injuries whilst fielding and thankfully should miss a few weeks.

Adam Osborn and Mitch Christie were Magpies’ best bowlers, each taking wickets (figures not legible).

OILSPLUS LADDER

Country (40) from five wins and a washout

Cudal (28) from two wins, a washout and three losses

Magpies (28) from two wins, a washout and three losses

Freemasons (24) from one win, a washout and four losses

There is a general bye this Saturday, with the competition resuming on Saturday 9 December.

*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.