A dramatic late order collapse has seen Orbost defeated by St Mary’s Nagle by 105 runs in round four of the Bairnsdale Cricket Association premier competition at the Orbost Recreation Reserve last Saturday.
The signs were promising early as the Blues tried to chase down 274, with openers, Jayden Price (48 from 55 balls) and Mikael Hulme (41 from 52) keen to take on the Nagle bowling led by the competition’s reigning Bairnsdale Advertiser Cricketer of the Year, Ricky Tatnell (0/56).
Unfortunately, the score slumped from 0/90 to 2/95, when Nagle spinner, Harvey Spaxman (6/41) picked up both openers in consecutive overs.
Fletcher Morgan (10) and Alex Hulme (24) began a rearguard action for the Blues, as the scoring rate slowed dramatically.
Bowling in tandem with Spaxman, Danny Hack (4/30), turned the game well and truly in the visitors’ favour, when he picked both batters up in quick succession, Orbost making hard work of it at 4/129.
Skipper, Curtley Farley (22) batted well and pushed on, trying to get his side back in the game, but he was eventually part of disastrous late order collapse, the Blues losing 5/8 to be all out for just 169.
Spaxman and Hack spinning Nagle to its first victory of the season, gaining some much-needed confidence after a poor beginning to the campaign.
The Blues left to ponder what might have been, but they are showing some positive signs in their play and a win seems just around the corner.
In this week’s matches, Orbost will tackle Lakes Entrance in “A” grade, a two-day fixture at the Lakes Entrance Recreation Reserve.
The Seagulls have been impressive winning all four games thus far this season.
The Blues will be mindful that regardless of the standings of the two sides on the ladder, matches between the combatants are always close, with this week’s match expected to go down a similar path.
The Blues have some dangerous strikers at the top of the order, capable of taking the game away from any side quickly if on song, so Lakes will need to remain in the zone if they want to make it five in a row.
Bairnsdale Cricket Association lower grade and junior cricket resumes this week after a week off.
In “B” grade this week, the Blues will host St Mary’s Nagle in a one-day match at the Orbost Recreation Reserve.
