Wallan’s undefeated season in Gisborne District Cricket Association’s Johnstone Shield continues after taking home an important win over Broadford at the weekend.
Electing to send the competition newcomers into bat, Wallan – with the help of four wickets from Todd Keenan – worked through Broadford’s batting line-up in 36.4 overs, leaving itself to chase down 123 runs.
Once again headed by captain Bryan Vance with an unbeaten 53, Wallan racked up 127 runs to comfortably surpass the hosts – the final scores 6/127 to 123.
Wallan coach Steve Bell said the team had to adapt to playing on turf at Harley Hammond Reserve but was happy to come away with the win.
“I think we adapted reasonably well, some of us may have found it a bit challenging but overall we handled it well,” he said.
“We expected a tough game against Broadford being second on the ladder, but I thought we did well.
“Our bowlers bowled well with the conditions. Overall it was good to get a win on turf against the second-place team and continue the good start to the season that we’ve had.”
Keenan’s four wickets was a standout for Wallan, which alongside two from young gun Kavindu Ratnayake, helped contain the likes of Broadford’s Mitchell Collier, Jeremy Bradshaw and Braden Hickey, who managed a combined total of 43 runs.
Broadford’s Taylor Shell took three wickets but had no response for Vance, who backed up his 123 not out from the previous round to maintain his superb record this season – he’s still yet to go out in four matches.
“Bryan once again led the way for us, he’s probably had the most experience on the turf pitches of us all and the whole innings that he did was handy for us,” Bell said.
“We all love watching him bat and he’s definitely one of the better batters in the comp, and to see him do it on turf as well was great to watch.
“I thought [Ratnayake] bowled very well, he’s a young 16-year-old kid in his second game in the ones with us and in both games he’s done really well.”
Round six this weekend will be the first of the two-day matches for the season, with Wallan set to host Eynesbury as the competition gears up for the new format.
“We’re excited for the two days, and we’re playing a club that I don’t think any of us have ever played against before,” Bell said.
“They seem to be tracking well, sitting around the middle, so it’ll be interesting to see how we go.”
In the Johnstone Shield seconds competition, Wallan was also victorious over Broadford while Kilmore took home a win in an away match against Rupertswood.
Broadford will travel to face East Sunbury for its first two-day match this weekend, while Kilmore’s firsts will return from a bye to play away against Riddell in a bottom-of-the-ladder clash.
McIntyre Cup
Romsey has remained one of the two untouchable teams at the peak of McIntyre Cup competition, taking out a dominant victory after hosts Diggers Rest Bulla Village were bowled out for 47.
Electing to bat first, Romsey racked up 8/200 runs in 45 overs with Matthew Milne and Corey Day scoring 54 and 47 respectively, backed up by respectable efforts of 29 for Tim Dale and 22 not out from Aaron Paterson.
Diggers Rest’s innings were a landslide of wickets, as Jamie Taylor and Daniel Paterson ripped through the batting order, taking five and four wickets respectively, knocking out all batsmen in just 19.5 overs.
The result keeps Romsey at the top of the ladder, equal with Gisborne after the latter’s victory over Woodend at the weekend – both sides undefeated in five matches so far.
The McIntyre’s seconds match-up was also a success for Romsey on Saturday, with an easy victory over Diggers Rest, 0/38 to 10/37.
Diggers Rest chose to bat first and scored 37 runs before they were all out in 32.2 overs as Jack Rees collected a bag of wickets by taking five.
Romsey was able to surpass the total in just three overs, with Jack Thorsen’s unbeaten 22 and Sean Day scoring 10 not out.
The first of the two-day matches this weekend will feature Romsey’s firsts at home against Macedon, while key rivals Gisborne will face Rupertswood.
