Marshall’s Blayke Sadler takes 5-10 in GCA3 win over Waurn Ponds Deakin

A Marshall Bears pace bowler has emerged with his best first-grade performance after debuting back in round 7, spearheading an early batting collapse for Waurn Ponds Deakin.

Marshall’s Blayke Sadler (middle) celebrates with teammates after taking one of his five wickets. Picture: Mark Wilson

A breakout performance by Marshall pace bowler Blayke Sadler spelled utter chaos for Waurn Ponds Deakin, the Eagles left rattled on 5-1 less than 10 overs into an unsuccessful chase.

Sadler played the role of destroyer in the Bears’ eventual 68-run win over the Eagles, a confidence boost considering an immediate rematch and elimination final between the two clubs starting Saturday.

The left-handed pace bowler ripped through his rivals’ top order, taking four of the Eagles’ first five wickets as lay decimated on 5-1 midway through the 9th over.

It saw Sadler finish with career-best figures of 5-10 from his seven overs, including seven maidens.

“It just feels good, putting in some hard work and seeing it all come together,” Sadler said of his performance.

Marshall bowler Blayke Sadler comes running in for a delivery. Picture: Mark Wilson

Waurn Ponds Deakin batsman Ethan Rogers after being bowled by Blayke Sadler. Picture: Mark Wilson

With fellow opener Tyler Cameron (2-38) snaring the second of the five early scalps, Sadler held high praise for his partner’s role in the early collapse.

“The only plan was to hit a length and try and keep them from scoring,” Sadler said.

Marshall’s Taylor Cameron, who finished with figures of 2-38, bowls to Waurn Ponds Deakin batsman Jackson Ellis Picture: Mark Wilson

“(Tyler) was just bowling a good line and length and not letting them score, and I think just from the pressure from him it allowed me to take some wickets and everything was just going our way to start.”

Starting the season in the second XIs, Sadler, who came through the Bears’ junior pathway, made his first XI debut in round 7.

Since then, Sadler, who has worked hard on his change-ups, has been a reliable wicket-taker, with eight scalp in seven games before Saturday’s breakout 5-for against the Eagles.

Chasing 190, Waurn Ponds Deakin somewhat recovered from its woeful start to push to 8-68, before captain Nick Phillips (56 from 150) and Tom Carroll (29 from 53) dug deep for a worrying 59-run partnership for the Bears.

With leading Bears’ wicket taker Brad Greenwood out after picking up a hamstring injury last week, it was left to Mike Norris (0-9) and Lachie Cameron (3-5) to clean up the tail end.

Waurn Ponds Deakin captain Nicholas Phillips kept his side in the game with a hardfought 150-ball 56. Picture: Mark Wilson

The breakthrough finally came in the 51st over, Carroll playing a sweeping shot off Cameron to deep point and a waiting Jack Burns, with Phillips’ own wicket falling two overs later, the Eagles all out for 122.

“It was getting a bit frustrating there … it was a good team effort and we eventually got there in the end,” Bears’ playing coach Phil Lang said.

In his first year at the Bears, Lang was rapt with the club’s season thus far, capped with their first club championship in at least 17 years after the Bears’ second XI finished minor premiers on Saturday.

But Lang was adamant there was still work to be done, with selection headaches sure to rear this week, including whether Greenwood is available, while Jack Cain’s century in the seconds on Saturday could see him come into conversations.

“I’ve sort of got the mentality, it’s a one club mentality this year, trying to get our ones and twos as fair into the finals series as we can,’ Lang said.

“The real stuff starts now.”

Devils’ skipper delivers all-time performance

Corio first XI skipper Anthony Grace has capped what is now considered as the Devils’ best all-round performance in its 50-year history.

A week after smacking 179 not out at Shell Reserve in their final home-and-away fixture against GCA3 ladder leaders Thomson, Grace followed it up with 8-106 to secure a 19-run win for the Devils.

Corio's Anthony Grace after his 8-for on Saturday. Picture: Corio CC Facebook

It sees Grace unseat his father Paul in Corio’s history books, Paul holding the previous best all-round numbers of 100 and 7-for during the 1997/98 season.

Defending 318 on Saturday, it appeared the Devils might be usurped by the Tigers, a century from opening bat Seb Dew and Stephen Box’s 67 from 62 getting the visitors off to a positive start.

A late cameo from Tigers captain Zac Smith (32 from 28) fuelled greater hope, before Grace, who had toiled in the heat with a hefty 31.4 overs, reaped his reward, dismantling their middle to lower order to ascertain victory for the Devils.

Despite defeat, Thomson still locked away minor premier status, ahead of a two-day qualifying final against Alexander Thomson starting Saturday.

The Devils finish the season fifth, with a 5-7 record.

In other GCA3 results, Alexander-Thomson’s Jake Dubbeldam led the finals-bound Vikings to a 222-run win over Bannockburn, finishing with figures of 5-19, while Manifold Heights needed less than a few hours to close out its four-wicket win over bottom-side Modewarre.

Eagles’ Matt Pratt (48) and Mark Mbofana (41 not out) made light work of a 100-run chase.

Top partnership primes Rosellas for finals

Lethbridge will go into a GCA4 elimination final on Saturday hot favourites, after dismantling opponents Newcomb & District by 179 runs in the lead up.

The third-and-fourth placed Rosellas and Dinos’ round 21 clash had no impact on the ladder, but will be considered a dress rehearsal for their do-or-die final.

A 140-run second-wicket partnership between Sam Giles (89 from 114) and Hayden Spiller (69 from 64) was a linchpin to the Rosellas’ 7-299 innings, while Tom Saunders came on in the middle with 48 from 23, including four sixes.

Failing to match the Rosellas’ run-rate, the Dinos could only scrounge up 5-143 in the same timeframe.

Meanwhile, Little River and Meredith will go into their qualifying final with strong wins behind them.

The Redbacks defeated St Albans Breakwater by eight wickets, led by handy performances by Hunter Wright (3-8) and Andrew Spengler (55 not out), while the Rams accounted for Teesdale by five wickets.

Joel Hart finished with 4-33, while Aaron Hart and Harli Givvens both celebrated half centuries.

Originally published as Marshall’s Blayke Sadler takes 5-10 in GCA3 win over Waurn Ponds Deakin