GCA1: Full wrap of round 1 action
Grovedale has made an early statement of its 2023-24 intentions with an aggressive and emphatic 185-run defeat of Newtown and Chilwell at Burdoo Reserve. Read the full wrap of the GCA1 action here.
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Newly minted skipper Nick Butters emerged as the unlikely hero with the ball in South Barwon’s thrilling three-wicket defeat of St Joseph’s, with the second-year Swan snaring his maiden GCA1 five-wicket haul before striking a vital 49-ball 30 in his side’s win.
“It’s a nice way to start the season, I guess it proves that what you’ve done all pre-season is the right way to go about it,” Butters said post-game.
“I guess it emphasises that, but more importantly it was nice to see a couple of the young guys stand up.”
The Swans were set 170 for victory after the Joeys failed to capitalise on the good work of Andrew Casey (30) and Ryan Simmonds (22) in striking a 64-run opening stand.
The introduction of spin was a pivotal moment for the Swans as Butters (5-29) and Nick Platt (4-33) combined to both slow the scoring and prompt a steady flow of wickets.
“It was just the way the wicket was, it was pretty conducive to those slower straight balls,” Butters said.
“If you look back, there might have been three wickets to pace for the day, so I think it was just more conditions based as you just couldn’t get under the spinners.
“Nick Platt bowled sensationally, but I don’t think we’ll see a lot more of my bowling this year.”
Despite slumping to 5-74, a 61-run stand from Jono Casey (46) and Jackson Bye (35) was the key to St Joseph’s eventually reaching a more competitive, albeit still under par 169.
South’s response started disastrously, losing Leigh Lorenzen (0) to the pace of Tom Smith (2-23), however the visitors response was soon back on track as the experienced Mat Dawson (39) combined with Butters (30) in a 70-run second-wicket stand.
Joeys’ spinner Cam Port (4-31) threatened to turn the game on its head before emerging Swans’ all-rounder Bryson Nicholls revelled in the pressure-packed atmosphere to steer his side to victory with a patient, unbeaten 45.
“It was really good to see, he‘s been away playing in England over the winter, and he’s certainly come back a more compact cricketer, certainly with the stick,” Butters said.
“I thought he just played proper cricket shots, so really stoked for him; would have loved to see him get a 50 there.
“To be fair, it helped having Hornet (Brad Hauenstein) at the other end, just to sort of guide him through.”
Grovedale dominate over Newtown & Chilwell
Grovedale has made an early statement of its 2023-24 intentions with an aggressive and emphatic 185-run defeat of Newtown and Chilwell at Burdoo Reserve.
Despite the loss of early wickets, the Tigers continued to attack the Two Blues’ bowling with Michael McNeel (62 from 65) and Brayden Engelen-Baker (44 from 79), along with a brilliant unbeaten 92-ball 88 from Country Victoria all-rounder Jack Wrigglesworth, driving the home side through the bulk of the innings.
Nick Burke (2-50) toiled manfully, and Dylan Hodge (1-28) maintained tight lines, but just as a string of wickets worked the Combine back into the contest, Travis McDonald emerged at number eight to bludgeon a 41-ball unbeaten 45 propelling the Tigers to an unassailable tally.
“Brayden and Micka (McNeel) set that innings up really well through the middle,” an elated Wrigglesworth said in deflecting praise to teammates post-game.
“Newtown and Chilwell actually bowled really well through the middle of the innings but fortunately we were able to catch up in those last few overs to make a pretty good score.
“A lot of credit should go to Travis McDonald, the way that he was able to expand things towards the end.”
The visitors’ response never really gained momentum after Wrigglesworth (1-6) found the outside edge of Sam Mitchell’s (4) bat and a steady procession of wickets followed.
Towering opener Pat McKenna went on the counter-attack with a blistering 19-ball 30 – peppered with three sixes – although the pace of firebrand Sam Coutts (3-15) and nagging lines of Travis McDonald (2-13) ensured that the Newtown and Chilwell batsmen were given few opportunities to challenge the Tigers’ imposing tally.
Flamboyant spinner Bailey Sykes showed that he’ll once again be a threat throughout this summer taking 2-8 from four overs.
Highton edge out Lara
Highton snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Lara, thanks to a thrilling ninth wicket stand of 57 between Hayden Murrell (46 not out) and Chris Young (27).
The Heat looked done and dusted at 8-136 in pursuit of the Cats’ 9-203, thanks in the main to the work of irrepressible seamer Danny Hughes (4-21).
However, the tailenders had other ideas, edging their way to victory with a combination of selective aggression and judicious running between wickets. Murrell’s crucial innings joined Greg Willows in book-ending Highton’s 9-204 as the Englishman carved out a 58-ball 45.
Earlier, Lara coach Casey Young was the mainstay of the visitors’ innings as he struck 71 from 123 balls, although the Cats were left to rue several starts that failed to develop into match-winning contributions.
Left-arm seamer Chris Young was rewarded for continually testing the outside edge and finished with 3-32.
Originally published as GCA1: Full wrap of round 1 action
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