by Samuel Laffy
Sale-Maffra CA (7/180) def. Warragul and District CA (5/176)
Having snared an exceptional 77-run win over Latrobe Valley in round one of Gippsland Cricket League (GCL) action – and having the bye in round two – the Warragul and District Cricket Association entered their clash against Sale-Maffra full of confidence, but in a curtailed clash the WDCA found themselves falling just short against one of the league's more highly-fancied sides.
Inclement conditions saw the match reduced to 32 overs a side, and Gavin Roulston and Brayden Notman wasted little time in attacking the new ball duo of James Hawkins and Bradley Scott.
Roulston was particularly brutal against Scott's medium pace, with his dismissive six over mid-wicket in the sixth over the highlight of his 34-ball 30.
Notman – who made a magnificent 50, including two huge slog-swept sixes off Jack Rietschel – was equally aggressive, and helped accelerate the run rate early in the piece.
Yashan Samarasinghe (34 from 41) and Kian Burns (21 off 27) chipped in with handy knocks and despite Rietschel snaring 3/49 with his off-spin, the WDCA made their way to 5/176 at the conclusion of their innings.
Aidan Phillips – who has been in exceptional form with the ball at local level for Hallora – removed Zach Hurley with just the fourth ball of the innings, but then found himself on the receiving end of a vicious onslaught from SMCA opener Freddie Fallows; Phillips wristily whipped through the leg side and driven powerfully down the ground in an over that cost 14 runs.
Fallow departed soon after for a 15-ball 27, his stumps disturbed by Ethan Guest, but his early boundary hitting inspired his teammates and despite the WDCA attack creating a number of chances they found it difficult to stymie Sale-Maffra's scoring.
Matthew Hinks (25), James Hawkins (45 from 46 including two huge swept sixes off Ben Clarke), and Jake Wynd (a run-a-ball 40) all batted with great intent and put the pressure on the WDCA bowlers to hit their marks.
Clarke (who snared 2/33 from 7) was the pick of the bowlers, with his wily off-spin causing headaches for his opponents, but lacked requisite support, and the SMCA reached victory in the 28th over, finishing at 7/180.
The WDCA next take on the Leongatha and District Cricket Association in an eagerly anticipated contest on December 8 at Bellbird Park, with the squad no doubt keen to record another victory and keep them in the hunt for a spot in the GCL grand final.