By Jackson Russell
Broadford is under pressure to hold onto second place on the Seymour District Cricket Association A Grade ladder after being bowled out for 137 by Tallarook in a rain-affected day one.
After losing the toss and with the winner likely to receive the home-ground advantage in a second versus third semi-final between the two, it was crucial for Tallarook bowl well and keep Broadford’s total within reach.
Tallarook did just that, with Jarrod Flint getting the early breakthrough, bowling Broadford opener Blair Hobba for four.
Ashley Wood and Braden Hickey were able to get their feet back under them, putting on 49 before Wood was caught for 39 and Hickey bowled by Lovepreet Singh for 14 with Broadford 3/61.
Liam Collier and Evan Mills combined for a 33-run fourth-wicket stand before they too fell one after the other with Mills run out for 25 and Collier caught by Lachlan Mitchell off Mitchell Itter’s bowling for 11.
Rain delayed play at the 38 over mark and it didn’t take long after play resumed for Tallarook to make an impact as Jeremy Bradshaw was caught by Luke Marshall off Leigh Irving as Broadford fell to 6/105.
Shaun O’Neill and captain-coach Greg Hobba were able to put 20 on the board before each lost their wicket, first O’Neill was bowled by Lachlan Watts for 10 then Hobba claimed by Irving for 16. Broadford was 8/125.
Broadford’s tail didn’t last much longer as Watts took the final two wickets to bowl out the visitors for 137 from 55.4 overs.
Watts finished with figures of 4/50 from 14.4 overs with four maidens while Irving took 2/35 from 14 overs with four maidens.
Broadford captain-coach Greg Hobba said the total gave his side a competitive score to bowl to.
“We had a number of players get a start but they couldn’t go on. We need players, once they get in, to build partnerships and unfortunately they couldn’t do that,” he said.
“The first session will be interesting, it could make or break either side.
“The boys really need to bowl a good line and length and continue to put pressure on the batsmen.
“If we get a couple of early ones, you never know.”
Kilmore is up against it after day one of its home fixture against Eastern Hill.
Despite rain wiping off close to 20 of the day’s 80 overs, Eastern Hill made 6/192 before stumps was called after 63 overs.
Eastern Hill looked to make a solid start, with a 29-run opening partnership cut short when Shane Topham caught opener Daniel O’Sullivan off Brett Buttler for 21.
Michael Brown and Ben Bryant put on a 51-run partnership before they were dismissed one after the other with Topham and Bailey Dennehy taking and catching a wicket each as Eastern Hill fell to 3/80.
Kilmore looked to be regaining control as Dennehy bowled Brayden Speechley and Topham bowled Dallas Bergowicz to have Eastern Hill 5/110.
The visitors were able to steady the ship with Seamus Feery and Matthew Collard putting on 66 runs before Feery was run out – a run short of a half-century.
Topham took 2/37 from 13 overs with three maidens while Dennehy took 2/21 from eight overs with two maidens.
Collard (43*) and Alan Sinclair will resume Eastern Hill’s innings on Saturday.
Seymour are in trouble against ladder-leaders Yea, finishing the day 7/84.