By Tricia Mifsud
A HORRID start to Wallan Cricket Club’s batting innings led to the side’s defeat to last-placed Diggers Rest Bulla in Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup competition.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Wallan captain Steve Bell said the decision came to try something different, and proved to be the right move, bowling the home side out for 116 in the 44th over.
Taking three wickets for Wallan was Chris Vecchie, all in which resulted in duck dismissals of Warren Berry, Dillon Norton and Stephen Morris.
Bryan Vance, who seldom bowls for Wallan, also impressed his captain, taking the wicket of Jacob Grant for one and bowling three maiden overs.
Jayden Schwarze and Lincoln Grant were Diggers’ best with the bat, making 37 and 40 respectively.
“Our bowling was one of the positives to come out of the game, to get them out of low score,” Bell said.
“Bryan generally doesn’t bowl but he bowled well and will probably get another opportunity to bowl again and Chris bowled very well too to get the bottom order out quick.
“Bowling first was something we’d thought we’d try. I think the last three or four weeks, our bowling hadn’t been as good as it was before Christmas.”
Wallan’s opening partnership of Ryan Bonner and Bailey Fowler were unable to perform as well as they have done in previous weeks for the Magpies, both leaving the crease for ducks to the hands of Rhys Berry and Marcus Ciunik respectively.
Dismissing Fowler was one of four wickets taken by Ciunik, later dismissing Jarrod Jones, two, Bradley Bishop for a duck and Kieran Atkin, 27.
Despite the fall of the first five batsmen, Wallan’s middle order pulled together to attempt the comeback, with Vecchie making 27 and Matthew Clayton 25.
With only nine further runs to be made from the final three batsmen, Wallan were handed defeat in the 41st over, going all out for 108.
Bell said he was disappointed in the batting efforts, but made note of Clayton’s performance after coming up from the seconds.
“It was a disappointing result, and it was our batting in general that let us down,” he said.
“To be 5/16 was obviously disappointing, we had a good middle period, but even at end, it was four quick wickets that we lost.
“A special mention to Matty Clayton though who we brought up for the reason to help us out with the middle order. The kid has been good all season and I was very pleased with his performance, and he’ll definitely get more games.”
A win against Diggers Rest Bulla would have almost confirmed Wallan’s position in the finals, but Bell said even with the loss, he was not particularly worried where his team currently sat.
“At the start of season, we had no expectations on how we’d go. I’m not concerned where we finish but one more win and we should makes finals,” he said.
This weekend, Wallan will host Woodend at Greenhill Reserve, which is only one win behind Wallan on the ladder.
