FLANELLED FOOLS: 19 DECEMBER2017

Cricket Round-Up By GREG PRINGLE*

Magpies stumble, Freemasons grab a needed win

Country defeated Magpies at the Molong Rec and Freemasons grabbed a much needed victory heading into the Xmas/New Year break in the Oilsplus cricket competition.

Batting first at the Rec, Country struggled against some tight Magpies bowling and fielding and slumped to be 6/52 before a stylish innings from Dan Toynton put them back on track.

Although dropped early in his dig, Toynton batted superbly for 68 to allow Country to finish at 9/198.

He was supported by Andrew Heath, who has bounced back to his best after recent stinging criticism suggesting he was a spent force.

Heath notched up 51 before losing his wicket.

Adam Osborne was the best of the Magpies bowlers with 3/35 off 10 overs.

Brant Mann, Magpies go-to man, also bowled well taking 2/13.

In reply Magpies lost early wickets, with Jim Gavin unable to reproduce last week’s effort, but Dylon Wilson (37) and Brant Mann (63) got Magpies back on track with some entertaining attacking batting.

At drinks Magpies appeared to be cruising towards victory at 3/130.

But news broke at the break that veteran Joe Clayton had been dropped from bowling due to breaking a team curfew.

This saw Nigel Brazier brought into the attack, and was on a mission after earlier offering very little with the bat and then dropping regulation catches in the field.

Some cunning bowling and some subtly timed sledges caught some Magpies batsmen off guard with Brazier taking 3/29 off 9 overs, taking the game away from Magpies.

Damien Hayes (4/32) and Stu Brisbane (2/19) also bowled well, justifying their captain’s stance against the wayward Clayton, Magpies losing their last six wickets for 39 runs and falling short — all out for 172.

For the fourth time this season Magpies have lost close games which they were in reasonably comfortable positions to win.

Perhaps it’s time for captain Jacob Evans to ditch the elephant rides in Sri Lanka and get home to sort out the rot.

At Hunter Caldwell, batting first, Freemasons were desperate to keep their season alive.

The top order fell rapidly until Ben Brown came to the crease.

Brown batted with great technique and purpose, scoring a superb 71.

This raised suspicion in the Cudal camp and captain Lee Cornish contacted ASADA who rushed to the ground and whisked Ben into a tent for a quick wee sample.

If results come back as positive to chocolate milkshake prior to batting as suspected, Brown will be stripped of his runs and suspended. He may well end up at Wellington Correctional Centre.

Joel Packham contributed a handy innings of 24 and Freemasons posted a solid total of 190.

Adam Clunes (3/37), C Spratt (3/38) and Chris Douglas (2/20) all bowled well for Cudal dismissing Freemasons in the 30th over.

In the run chase most of Cudal’s batsman got starts but none went on the produce a big score that was needed to gain victory.

Andrew Smith (26), Adam Clunes(28), Lee Cornish (25) were the pick but Cudal fell well short, all out for 167.

M Pearce destroyed the Cudal innings with the great bowling figures of 6/34 off six overs.

The win by Freemasons ties the competition up nicely at the Xmas break.

OILSPLUS POINTS TABLE

Country 54

Magpies 38

Freemasons 34

Cudal 34

There will now be a three-week break in the competition with games resuming on 13 January. The Rec will be used during the holiday period for state championship under 13 & 15 cricket knockouts.

*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.