By Jackson Russell
RAIN might have cost Wallan its second win of the season as weather affected a number of Gisborne and District Cricket Association fixtures at the weekend.
Wallan had good reason to feel hard done by when play was stopped in the middle of the Magpies’ run chase against St Anthony’s.
After bowling out St Anthony’s for 192, the Magpies looked to be on their way to a win, only needing 19 runs for victory with six wickets in hand and 14 overs still to play.
Young spinner Reuben Rode set his side up well with the ball, taking 4/26 from seven overs during a middle-order collapse.
Rode also helped the Magpies to a solid start with the bat, putting on a 43-run opening stand with Ryan Cumberland before being caught behind for 15.
For the second week in a row, Brenton Hanson put in a good batting performance, finishing one run shy of a half-century before he was dismissed caught and bowled.
Wallan captain Steve Bell said it was an extremely disappointing result.
“We were definitely in a comfortable position to win the game. I thought the umpires could’ve made more of an effort to keep the game going than what they did,” he said.
“Everyone was happy for the game to keep going while we were bowling, but I think in the second half of the game, the umpires handled it pretty poorly.”
Wallan will look to regroup when it travels to Sunbury United on Saturday.
In the McIntyre Cup competition, Romsey’s match against Bacchus Marsh was abandoned after 24 overs with Romsey 6/115.
Chris Burkett looked to be on song before the heavens opened, unbeaten on 32 from 42 balls.
It will be two weeks before Romsey takes to the park again, with a bye this Saturday before facing Sunbury United in round five.
