Splattered: Oakleigh opening bowlers skittle Malvern in key Subbies clash

Alexander Jones and Michael Splatt shared six wickets as the Oaks routed the Roosters to give the club its 19th consecutive First XI finals series.

More wickets: Oakleigh star Michael Splatt.

Oakleigh captain Brendan McGuinness knows he’s blessed to have Alexander Jones and Michael Splatt as his opening bowlers.

They’re Sub-District cricket’s best new-ball pairing, one left-arm, one right, together tilting back top-orders.

“I don’t have to do too much. I just throw the ball to them and tell them to go nuts,’’ McGuinness was saying this morning.

Often they do. They certainly did on Saturday against ladder leader Malvern.

Batting first, the Oaks established a strong position after hitting 5-179 off their 40 overs at Warrawee Park.

Jones and Splatt made it unassailable by running through the Roosters’ classy top-order and sending it on a crash course of 60 all out.

Left-armer Jones had Alistair Michener LBW for 0 and Malvern captain Luke Walker (1) edging to Splatt at second slip.

The visitors were 2-1, which became 3-1 when Splatt trapped Tom Rickarby leg-before for 0. He then removed Glen Parker (7) caught behind as Malvern fell to 4-9. It never got back up.

Jones finished with 2-8 off six overs and Splatt went on to 4-26 off eight. Zachary Raymond (2-22) and Geoff Latham (2-4) did the rest as Oakleigh took over first place and Malvern slipped to fourth.

Alexander Jones bowling for Oakleigh.

“We had a good day out. We managed to put together close to a complete game against a team that was on top of the ladder,’’ McGuinness said.

“We batted very well to post 180 and the bowlers came out and bowled some aggressive lines and created opportunities and we took them. It was great to make early inroads … Malvern have an incredible batting line-up. We thought with 180 on the board it wasn’t anywhere near done.’’

He said of Jones and Splatt: “They complement each other really well, work well together. They’ve been at the top of their game for quite a few years. I think they feed off each other.’’

Walker said Malvern was disappointed with its performance.

He said the Roosters’ form going into the match had been good and the batting had been “pretty solid all season’’.

“We definitely expected better than what we produced,’’ Walker said.

“With these stand-out, runaway teams on the ladder, if you drop a game you’re going to be dropping a few spots.’’

He said Jones and Splatt were “the leading new-ball bowlers in the competition by far’’.

“They consistently ask questions of the batsmen and get the ball in good areas. Pretty basic formula and it works very well for them.’’

The victory ensured Oakleigh would be playing in the finals for the 19th consecutive season.

McGuinness said it was a remarkable effort and reflected the “hard work a lot of people have done behind the scenes for a long time’’.

“Amazing feat … Oakleigh were easybeats and a few people put the foundations in place to set us up with guys like Graeme Vimpani and Jarrod Travaglia coming to the club,’’ he said.

“The sustained success has been fantastic.’’

Oakleigh moved to 51 points, as did Brighton (second) and Caulfield (third) with their wins.

The Tonners (6-171) put in a strong chase to grab Bayswater (167), opener Brenton Murphy instrumental with his 81, made off 123 balls and with seven boundaries.

David Tantsis-Hall batting for Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

With the ball, Luke Shimmin nabbed 3-20 off eight overs to go 16 wickets for the season.

Caulfield was too strong for Noble Park at the Pat Wright Senior Oval, making 5-191 and dismissing the Parkers for 151.

The top four combined to give the Fielders their excellent total: David Tantsis-Hall hit 65, opening partner Josh Agar 23, captain Jacob Thorne 46 and Graeme Rummans 31.

Thorne kept his influence up with the ball, taking 3-23 off eight overs, including the wicket of Parkers thrasher Amal Athulathmudali for two.

Dale Denny weighed in with 3-36 off his eight overs.

Young Blake Hinchliffe’s 50 from the opening slot was a highlight for Noble as it fell out of finals contention.

Jacob Thorne cuts for Caulfield. Picture: Valeriu Campan