By Tricia Mifsud
WALLAN Cricket Club’s inaugural season in Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup division will continue into finals after a win against Rupertswood.
Despite Rupertswood sitting second last on the ladder, Wallan prepared to bring its A-game at Salesian College, and secured a three-wicket win.
The home side won the toss and elected to bat first, allowing Wallan’s bowlers to do what they’ve done best this season and keep Rupertswood to 117 runs in 41.2 overs.
At number two and three for Rupertswood were Alexander Bond and Daniel Kavanagh, who scored 19 and 30 respectively, to give their side sight of a competitive total.
Campbell Fowler took the wicket of Bond and went on to take a further three, earning him honours as Wallan’s best bowler for the day, which his captain Steve Bell was pleased to see.
“Campbell got four wickets and we hadn’t had him for the last few weeks so it was good to get him back in the team,” Bell said.
“He’s taken a few wickets this season but he deserved more than what he’s taken and he got that at the weekend.”
The remaining wickets were shared across all the bowlers given a go at the crease, with all except Bell taking at least one wicket.
Ryan Bonner’s effort was the next stand out for the Magpies, taking the crucial wickets of Kavanagh, and later Ned Crotty, who tallied up 22 runs.
“Again, our bowling has been pretty consistent all year, and the wickets all were shared around, with every bowler taking at least one except myself,” Bell said.
It was a slow start for Wallan when it took to the crease, with the top four batsmen out for a total of 17.
Crotty took the first two wickets of Bailey Fowler and Kieran Atkin, for two and five runs respectively, with Bryan Vance and Bonner both caught and bowled by Kyle Corcoran and Jayden Swallow for less than 10 runs.
It wasn’t until Matthew Clayton entered at number five the fate of the Magpies changed; with the reliable middle-order batsman making 46 not out.
“There was a bit of a stumble in the top order again, but it was Matty Clayton’s third game in a row where he’s done what he was brought into the team for,” Bell said.
“He has really helped fixed up the middle order and we are getting runs when we need it now.”
Spencer and Russell Whittingham helped finish things off for their side making 30 runs betweem them, contributing to their side total of 7/120 off 38 overs.
Sitting fifth on the ladder, Wallan will most likely remain in the position and face the side that finishes fourth at the conclusion of this weekend’s matches.
The Magpies will host Sunbury Kangaroos in their final match, which Bell expects to be a great fight. A win will mean the visitors could snatch up the last finals spot available.
“We’re going to treat it as a normal game and won’t do anything different than we have,” he said.
“We still want to win and keep the momentum forward going into the first final but we know Sunbury will put up a good fight because they can make finals too.”
