James Murphy
RENDELSHAM 10/182 d WARRIORS 9/117
Rendelsham was too strong for its Naracoorte Warriors hosts when claiming a good win in Saturday’s Millicent and Naracoorte Cricket Association one-day clash.
The victors won the toss and elected to bat first in the Round 12 meeting, which proved a smart decision.
Despite the early wicket of captain Jake Wight, Dylan Clough entered to settle things at the crease.
He went on to post an undefeated 85 runs in a game-high batting performance.
His partnership with opener Zach Jones rewarded 37 runs before the latter was bowled by Justin Mansell for 22.
Jacob Carger was next to pad up and he combined well with Clough.
The duo added a further 69 runs to the board before he too was clean-bowled, this time by Kieron Hicks, for an individual score of 34 runs.
Rendelshem sat at 4/117 and from there the wickets came more frequently.
However, Clough continued to pile on the runs and by the time James Horn’s wicket fell for five, the team had set a target of 182.
Hicks and Andrew Fitzgerald were the main wicket takers for Warriors with three each.
It was far from the ideal start to Warriors’ chase.
The top order crumbled under the pressure and when Remi Brown was run out by Clough they were 4/8.
Justin Mansell was caught out shortly after and things looked dire at 5/15.
However, captain Loren Bald and Lochlan Dolphin settled the ship somewhat. Their partnership made 47 runs before the skipper was caught out for 39 off a Max Telfer ball.
Dolphin then paired up with Andrew Fitzgerald for another good run.
They added 40 runs to bring the total to 102 when Dolphin was caught off an Ethan Bowman delivery for 23. From there the tail order fizzled out and at the end of the 40 overs Warriors finished up on 9/117.
Fitzgerald finished up with 26 not out, while Simon Cox was also left at the crease with six runs.
Bowman was deadly with the ball and claimed 3/16, while Clough was also impressive with 2/15 and a run out.
KINGSTON 8/56 d MILLICENT 10/52
A low-scoring affair was won by Kingston on its home pitch.
Millicent won the toss and batted first, but when the final wicket fell in the 21st over the total was a mediocre 52 runs.
No player reached double figures, with Michael Gibson and Josh Mason the best performers with the bat making nine runs each.
Kingston’s Mathew Cridland did well with the ball, claiming 3/17 while Alan Harrison had two.
With an achievable target in sight, Kingston took to the crease and had a slightly improved start.
The hosts slowly but surely chased down the target despite a few hiccups.
They lost two wickets at 14 runs, while Harrison Stenner and Sam McGovern were both sent packing with the total on 25.
Another two wickets were claimed on 43 runs, plus two on 45, before Kingston finally pushed over the line to finish 8/56 in the 23rd over.
Mark Collins’ 23 runs was the best score for Kingston, while Cridland’s nine was the next highest return.
Cushion dominated with ball in hand to finish with an impressive 6/17, but it was not enough to defend Millicent’s score.
LUCINDALE 5/239 d FOOTBALLERS FURNER BEACHPORT 8/159
Lucindale batsmen were in fine form on Saturday as they dominated the crease for a big win over Furner Beachport.
They batted first and dropped only five wickets on their way to a 239-run total.
Will Graetz was out for a duck, while Nathan James and Nick Freeman also did not last long at the crease.
However, from there on things changed.
Opener Shane McGurk was joined by Daniel McCarthy and the pair proved impenetrable for Furner Beachport bowlers.
Their 152-run partnership turned the tables and when McGurk was finally caught out for 95, Lucindale had a respectable 199 runs on the board.
McCartny was also caught, with 85 runs to his name, before Michael McGurk and Joshua Smith batted out the innings to finish with 29 and two respectively.
It set a tough target for Furner Beachport and despite best efforts they finished up 80 runs short at the end of the 40 overs.
Lucindale’s Sam Teakle and Jesse Hazelman were the main wicket-takers with two each, as Lucindale claimed its third win of the season.
This weekend will be another one-day fixture for Millicent and Naracoorte cricketers.
Townies will host Lucindale in Naracoorte, while Mount Burr hosts Rendelshem.
At McLaughlin Park Millicent will play Footballers Furner Beachport, while a coastal battle will unfold between Kingston and Robe.
