Orbost is well-placed to cause an upset and post its first victory of the 2024/25 Bairnsdale Cricket Association season when its resumes on day two of its round seven clash against the unbeaten Lindenow South Glenaladale at Lindenow South, needing 157 runs to win with nine wickets in hand.
The Bulls have taken all before them this season, but after winning the toss and electing to bat first, they certainly didn’t have things go all their way in a day’s play where time was lost due to the rain storm which impacted the region mid afternoon.
The consistent Scott Dare (33) again impressed at the top of the order for the Bulls, who looked in trouble at 5/79, but with co-captain Haydn Erfurth batting superbly with the tail, they manufactured their way to 186, dismissed in the 66th over.
Erfurth faced 140 balls in the accumulation of his classy 78, which included eight well timed boundaries.
He formed significant alliances with Mel Irish (8) and Will O’Keefe (18) as the ladder leader battled manfully to register a total which its outstanding bowling attack will look to defend.
Orbost bowled superbly, led by skipper Curtley Farley, who took 3/48 from 18 overs, ably assist by Nick Hulme (3/25 from 15 overs) and Alex Hulme (2/15).
The Blues got off to a good start in the run chase working along to 1/30 at stumps off 12 overs, but will be disappointed to lose key batter, Jayden Price for 14 with stumps in sight off the bowling of Nathan King.
Mikael Hulme has looked solid compiling an unbeaten 13, and it will be the left to Farley, Luke Endley and the Hulme brothers to do the bulk of the scoring if they are to score a morale boosting victory.
Irish, Seth Smith, Logan Dunkley, King, Jamie Donnelly and Griffin Sherritt are a formidable bowling attack which will test the Blues.
Rain caused the abandonment of the “B” grade fixture last Saturday at the Orbost Recreation Reserve with the match heading for an intriguing finish after Orbost was dismissed for just 72 after winning the toss and electing to bat.
The innings mainstay was Adam Hardy who compiled an excellent 43 from 65 balls, adding some much-needed substance to the innings.
In reply, Lucknow reached 3/36 from just seven overs when rain caused an abrupt halt to proceedings.
Lucas Shanahan impressed taking 2/12 with the new ball.
Last week’s match of the round under 16 clash between the fourth Orbost/Bruthen and fifth-placed Paynesville abandoned due to weather concerns.
This week the under 16s are at home last Saturday morning against Lucknow, while the under 13s are at home on Friday night against Bruthen.
