Tiger Billy Stanlake makes a “gentle” back on track for first-class summer

Towering Tiger Billy Stanlake made a modest reboot to his career in the CTPL but it was Lindisfarne quick Keegan Oates who stole the show.

Cricket. CTPL. Ihsan Ul-Haq Lindisfarne. Lindisfarne V Glenorchy. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Towering Tiger Billy Stanlake made a modest reboot to his career for Greater Northern in the CTPL on Saturday but it was Lindisfarne quick Keegan Oates who stole the show in the round two one-dayer at Anzac Park.

Stanlake, the Tigers and Hurricanes’ 204cm paceman, is on the comeback from a catalogue of injuries, particularly a back injury that ended his first-class season last summer and delayed the start to this one.

Having stood out of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield opener against Victoria in Melbourne last week, Stanlake gave state selectors hope that he may not be far off a return.

Billy Stanlake. Hobart Hurricanes capture day ahead of the BBL season. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Eased back into the game, he bowled four overs for 1-20, but interestingly big “Stan” smashed a brutal tail-end half-century of 56 runs off 22 balls, with one four and eight sixes on the Raiders’ way to victory over South Hobart-Sandy Bay at Windsor Park.

Cricket. CTPL. Nikhil Chaudhary Glenorchy celebrates a wicket. Lindisfarne V Glenorchy. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

At Lindisfarne, the home side made 200 off 47 overs against Glenorchy, boosted by former opener Harshtik Bimbral, who hit a game-high 70 off 80 balls batting at No. 5.

“Harsh opened last year but we’ve put him down to five and he’s found his place,” said Lindisfarne coach Matt Wilkie.

Cricket. CTPL. Ihsan Ul-Haq Lindisfarne. Lindisfarne V Glenorchy. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“He can work the ball around the field and get off strike and he is relishing that attacking role a bit more.”

In reply, Glenorchy was bowled over for 106 off 25 overs thanks to captain Oates.

After making a three-ball duck, Oates was savage with the ball, taking 6-22 off 10 overs, including five maidens.

Cricket. CTPL. Sebastian Brown Lindisfarne. Lindisfarne V Glenorchy. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Wilkie believes his skipper has set the standard to beat this summer.

“He bowled extremely well,” Wilkie said.

“He attacked the stumps and it was good to see him take wickets after getting hit around a bit last week.

“He was looking even better until he bowled his last over _ he got hit a bit but he wanted to bowl his 10 overs straight.”

Oates had a point to prove after not contributing with the bat.

“He had to do something _ he had some making up to do,” Wilkie said.

At the Twin Ovals, Jesse Willmott (77 not out) anchored ladder-leader New Town’s win over Kingborough.

The Bucks made 6-215 and rolled the Knights for 114 in 28 overs with Mitchell Owen and Joseph Graham taking three wickets apiece.

University had a three-wicket win over Clarence at Kangaroo Bay, despite white ball specialists Riley Meredith (2-18) and Sam Rainbird (2-37) getting among the wickets for the Roos.