Orbost Cricket Club faces a huge run chase to register its first win of the Bairnsdale Cricket Association (BCA) season after St Mary’s Nagle amassed an imposing 9/274 on day one of round four last Saturday at Orbost Recreation Reserve.
With both sides chasing their initial season victory, the perfect conditions of the Orbost Recreation Reserve provided the ideal scenario for the side batting first to post a huge target on a perfect wicket with a lightning-fast outfield.
Not surprisingly, Nagle skipper Ricky Tatnell opted to bat after winning the toss and after 80 overs he was happy with his side’s effort considering no one went on and got a really big score.
They got good contributions from openers Brayden McCarrey (60) and Harvey Spaxman (28), before solid middle order contributions from Tatnell (32), Kieran Vickery (28) and Barandon Sauer (33), but to Orbost’s credit it chipped away and at 9/218, the game was in the balance.
But an unbroken last wicket partnership, between Zac Delaney (25) and Danny Hack (33) that lasted 23 overs frustrated the Blues and turned the advantage back the way of the Saints.
Mikael Hulme was the leading wicket taker with 3/57, while Jayden Price chipped in with 2/41.
With players of the calibre of skipper Curtley Farley, Price, Luke Endley, Mikael and Alex Hulme in the line-up for the Blues, all more than capable of carving out a big run chase, a win certainly isn’t off the table, showing last round they have the ability, making 212 in 40 overs in a one-day game at Meerlieu.
It could be a thrilling finish late on Saturday afternoon, with Tatnell looming as the danger man with the ball.
In “B” grade Orbost went down by 92 runs to a strong West Bairnsdale outfit, who batted first at Orbost Community College posted 4/261, with Tyson Wilson the pick of the bowlers with 2/25.
In reply the Blues were bowled out with nine balls remaining for 169, when John Welsh was dismissed without scoring.
Though he was pleased to last two more deliveries than son, Jack, who went first ball.
Adam Hardy (57) and Chris Davis, who made 46 not out, both impressed for a Blues outfit that will continue to improve as the season progresses.
There are no matches in “B” grade this week due to the Melbourne Cup long weekend, play will resume next week with a home fixture against St Mary’s Nagle.
