A FRUSTRATING Country Week came to an early end for the Gisborne District Cricket Association, with two close losses putting them out of the running by mid-week.
By the time Gisborne finally put together impressive performances with the bat, it was already too late.
Gisborne’s first game last Monday came up against finalists Warrnambool Moyne, with Gisborne struggling from the outset, with Damien Edwards dismissed with the first ball of the match.
Romsey’s Benjamin Way played his part in scoring 24 deliveries, but it was not enough as Gisborne was dismissed for 152.
However, it was another Romsey man, Taylor Stevenson, who kept Gisborne in the game for long periods, running through the top and middle orders to take 5/53 off his 10 overs.
It wasn’t quite enough, and Warrnambool Moyne chased down the target with just one wicket to spare in a thriller.
The second day’s play saw Gisborne play LaTrobe Valley, and again, it was a day where Gisborne didn’t get its way with the bat.
Stevenson and Way opened, with Stevenson adding 17 and Way making 41 to continue his consistent form.
However, Gisborne was well-held throughout its 50 overs, making 9/177.
LaTrobe Valley came out swinging, particularly through Amal Athulathmudali, who made 75 off 73 balls, but it was Macedon’s Cameron Clayton who almost became a hero by taking 6/22 off his 10 overs.
But it wasn’t enough as LaTrobe chased down the target of 178 in 48.3 overs with two wickets to spare, eliminating Gisborne in the process.
Gisborne finally got it all together on day three against Bellarine, and it was Romsey’s Chris Burkett who set the team up for its first victory.
Burkett played with precision, scoring nine fours and two sixes as he brought up a memorable 100, setting Gisborne up to make 6/304 off its 50 overs.
From there, Gisborne was never going to let it slip, and four wickets from Gisborne’s Jarryd Vernon and a further two from Stevenson helped restrict Bellarine to 240 in response.
Gisborne’s best performance came on Thursday in a dead-rubber against South West, winning by 184 runs.
Way was again superb with the bat, scoring 86 off 90 deliveries, supported strongly by Edwards, who scored 75.
Stevenson provided some strong runs for the tail, scoring 25 off 16 balls, as Gisborne posted 303.
Stevenson then cleaned up the tail, taking 3/14 off just 1.5 overs as South West was rolled for 119.
Gisborne finished fifth in the standings, with Maryborough and Warrnambool Moyne winning through to the final, which was eventually won by Warrnambool Moyne.
