With only five games left in the Seymour District Cricket Association, SDCA, season, Eastern Hill remain the team to beat – still undefeated after victory over Alexandra on Saturday.
Alexandra won the toss, electing to bat, getting off to a slow start with 1/8 and then 2/15 before the Redbacks had their biggest partnership with 26.
Eastern Hill’s Matthew Collard took 3/10 for the innings that had the Redbacks at 10/74, off 19.2 overs.
Benjamin Bryant had a strong game for the Eagles with 35 not out while Brayden Speechley scored 22 as their side chased down Alexandra’s score to win the match 3/75, off 14.4 overs.
At Tallarook, the home side defeated Seymour 3/106 to 6/104.
Electing to bowl, Tallarook contained Seymour relatively well early before the visitors had 24 and 32-run partnerships in the middle of the innings.
Managing to slow the run rate down, the ‘Rook’s best bowling efforts came from Xavier Arandt with 2/13.
Tallarook’s Andrew Dundon and Leigh Irving were strong at the bat making 32 and 30 not out respectively, while captain Joshua Rudge had 23.
Rudge said the win was a great outcome for the side.
“Seymour got the win over us earlier in the year so it was great to even the ledger and get some breathing room in second place,” he said.
“We were pretty below our best in the field, which probably cost us 20 runs but it’s pleasing we’re creating so many chances.
“We got back to basics in the last 10 overs of Seymour’s innings which was super important.
“Andy Dundon did a great job up top with the bat and Leigh Irving came in with a strong platform and didn’t miss a beat.”
Seymour captain Brodey Pointon said despite the loss, the side were still in good form.
“We’ve got a bit of work ahead now in the second half of the year to grab back second place, but we’re certainly going okay,” he said.
“Lachy Drummond and Daniel McLarty gave us a solid score to defend but we were probably a little short with a bit of a slow down towards the back end of our innings.
“I think our bowling up front was great. We kept Tallarook’s run rate down but really needed a wicket or two up front to get into their middle order earlier.
“I think the result shows we’re right in the mix and the boys are keen to come back after the break and get a good run on.”
It was a tough contest between Pyalong and Avenel with the home side, Pyalong, going down 7/113 to 2/118.
Pyalong elected to bat but early wickets had the side 4/35 from nine overs.
Captain Jamie Pryor and Daniel Sowden put on a 48-run partnership to give the side a bit of momentum before the fifth wicket, with Sowden and Dermott Clancy pushing hard in the last five overs to get Pyalong to 7/113.
Avenel batsmen had a strong game with Chayse Thomson 46 not out and Duncan Lowis 36, helping to chase down Pyalong’s score.
Anthony Pratt took a wicket in the second over, however a 60-run partnership between Lowis and Thomson gave the side a run on before Pratt took his second wicket.
Pryor said it was a tough day for the side.
“It wasn’t our best day again. We weren’t great in all three facets of the game,” he said.
“We didn’t start well, but our middle order gave us something to defend. We just couldn’t get those breakthrough wickets to swing momentum back our way.
“Not getting the breakthrough with the ball when we need it has been a common theme for much of the season for us.”
The SDCA competition will take a break this weekend before resuming on February 3,
shifting from the T20 format to one-day matches.
