Tallarook Cricket Club hunted down Yea Tigers in the final Seymour District Cricket Association, SDCA, round before the Christmas break.
Winning the toss Yea elected to bat and it was a rough start.
Tallarook had Yea at 2/12 early before the next partnership proved to be Yea’s biggest, adding 35 runs to the total.
The home side took another wicket before claiming the wicket of Yea’s leading run scorer Jake Fish and then enforcing another duck for the Tigers.
The next Yea partnership put on 25 runs before another wicket as Tallarook continued slicing through the batting order – including two ducks for the final wickets.
Yea’s innings was over early with the side all out for 107, off 26.4 overs.
Tallarook vice-captain Kalon Winnell was formidable, taking 4/16.
Tallarook captain Lachlan Watts said the side got the jump on the Tigers early.
“We were on top of Yea from the start thanks to some tight bowling from Blake [Munari-O’Dwyer] and Dale [Short] who had them a few down very early,” he said.
“They got a little partnership on in the middle overs but we were able to keep that under control and Kal Winnell mopped up the tail really well, finishing with four wickets.”
Tallarook’s opening batsmen – Joshua Rudge and Andrew Dundon – made themselves comfortable at the crease.
Dundon hit 31 off 36 balls before being caught, ending a 54-run partnership with Rudge.
Watts then stepped in with Rudge and the pair continued stacking up the runs before Tallarook reached 1/109, off 15.1 overs, to win the match.
Watts said it was a great win before the break.
“It’s always a massive boost getting a big win in before the Christmas break,” he said.
“Sometimes the small total can be a little challenging, but Andy Dundon came out swinging and we were off to a flyer.
“Josh Rudge is having a great year and finished with eight boundaries. To chase down over 100 in 15 overs is a great effort.
“We still feel our best cricket is ahead of us, so we’re pleased to be sitting in third going into the break knowing there’s plenty of room for improvement.”
At Chittick Park, Seymour 3/85 defeated Alexandra 10/82 while its Seymour neighbours at Kings Park, Eastern Hill remain undefeated beating Avenel 6/207, 45 overs, to 10/103, off 34.1 overs.
It was the final SDCA round before the holiday break with the competition resuming for round 10 on Saturday, January 13.
