Runs on the board for Caulfield, tricky chase for Ormond
Graeme Rummans went past 800 runs for the season to lead the Fielders to a strong position against Moorabbin. And another former state player, Graeme Vimpani, battled hard to keep Oakleigh in the match against Ormond.
Inner South
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Just for once, Graeme Rummans did not make a century.
However the great left-hander did make a superb 93 to take Caulfield to control of its VSDCA quarter-final against Moorabbin at Caulfield Park on Saturday.
On a slow wicket and snail-slow outfield, the Fielders reached 8-234 off their 80 overs, setting Moorabbin a formidable chase when the match resumes today.
Caulfield was 1-72 off 41 overs at tea, not one boundary having been hit.
But the hosts got a shake-on after the break, with powerful left-hander David Tantsis-Hall blitzing 74 off 89 deliveries.
He hit 6 fours, and cracked 3 sixes off his last 12 balls as the Fielders got the better of a persistent Moorabbin attack.
Rummans’s runs came off 184 balls and included 3 fours.
He was out caught behind off the Binners’ English spinner Karl Carver, who toiled away for 4-98 off 29 overs.
Rummans broke the Caulfield First XI run aggregate last season (743) and he went past it yesterday, his near-century giving him 801 runs for 2019-20.
He said it was hard work.
“Not since Under 10s or something like that,’’ he said when asked if he had encountered such a slow outfield.
“A bit frustrating but it seemed to get a bit quicker in the afternoon. Yeah, slow wicket, slow outfield.
“They (the Binners) bowled pretty well early. We had to get on with it after tea, play a bit more attacking, and Davie Tantsis-Hall came in and hit the ball really hard and played a really good innings.’’
Moorabbin’s appearance in the finals for the first time in 26 years produced a big-turn of supporters, including a number of past presidents and 90-year-old legend Jack Wilson.
At Oakleigh, a patient half-century from former Victorian opener Graeme Vimpani saved the minor premier from collapse against Ormond.
The Oaks battled to 164 off 78.4 overs, with Vimpani contributing 67.
He was the sixth batsman out, bowled by young offie Tom Buchanan, having faced 152 balls and hit eight boundaries.
Fast bowler Alex Jones chipped in at the end with 23 not out as the hosts at least came away with something to defend.
The Monders had made early strikes through Blade Baxter, who removed opener Elliott Fabris for a blob and Oakleigh great Brendan McGuinness for four.
Baxter finished with 2-57 off 22 overs. Buchanan had 2-46 off 17.
Ormond captain James Wild was pleased with his team’s bowling, but said of the chase: “We’ll have to bat well to get them (the runs). We’ll have to take the game on, be positive. It’s a big, slow ground and the wicket can be tricky. It will be tough. But we’ve got the cattle to do it.’’
Wild said Vimpani batted patiently and with skill.
“He let the ball go outside off, he respected the good balls and he sweated on anything short. Even if it was only slightly short he punished it. That’s his game plan. He batted really well. He got a good ball from young Buchanan, who turned it through the gate. But he was the difference between us getting them out for 110, 120.’’
