THE Wangaratta and District Cricket Association sits winless towards the bottom of the division two ladder after the first three matches of Country Week.
Tuesday’s match between the WDCA and their Gisborne counterparts was a shocker.
After winning the toss and bowling on a green top at Windy Hill, WDCA couldn’t restrain the Gisborne batters, who hammered 7/325 from their 50 overs.
In reply, WDCA was rolled for 135, a loss of 190 runs.
Early signs were good for WDCA, with skipper Paddy McNamara picking up the early wicket of Gareth Sharp for eight runs in the second over.
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Opener Riley Vernon and new batter Marcus Stewart would make light work of WDCA bowlers, building a partnership of 109 before Tyler Nanson dismissed Vernon for 55.
After Gregor Fraser picked up two wickets in consecutive balls, the door was open for WDCA to rip through the Gisborne middle order.
However, it was promptly shut, with Stewart and Nathan Fowler keeping the runs flowing for Gisborne no matter who was tossed the ball.
Fowler would bring up his half century off just 30 deliveries, while Stewart would cross into triple figures and keep going, ending unbeaten on 152* from 169 balls.
Paddy McNamara (3/62 off 10) and Gregor Fraser (2/51 off 10) were the pick of the bowlers, but everyone in the attacked copped a bit of stick - the lowest economy rate was Fraser’s 5.10 an over.
Set 326 to win at a required run rate of 6.52 an over from ball one, it was always going to be a tough one for WDCA.
Charith Perera provided some entertainment early, taking the first over from Harrison Sheahan for 13 runs and belting his way to 27 from 22 balls before he was dismissed in the seventh over.
Jack Ryan only lasted three deliveries before he was back in the sheds without troubling the scorers, with Cooper Thomason failing to back up his efforts in the last match with an edge to the keeper on one.
Paddy McNamara (46 from 65) would try and keep his side in the match, and built a fine 32-run partnership with Gregor Fraser (18 off 40), but neither could revive the innings.
Josh Willis (3/21 off seven) and Taylor Stevenson (3/30 off 10) did the damage for Gisborne, with Matt Barake busy behind the stumps, pouching five catches.
Wednesday’s clash with Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association was a chance to clear the cricketing palate.
Played on a tricky deck down at Hogan’s Road Reserve in Hopper’s Crossing, WDCA was sent in to bat and lasted their 50 overs, putting 9/193 on the board.
Cooper Matheson (34 from 45) and Tyler Nanson (26 from 39) put on 60 for the first wicket, but had little support from the rest of the top order, with James Thewlis (0) and Paddy McNamara (3) failing to fire.
Cooper Thomason provided some handy middle order runs with his 37 from 57, with contributions from Jack Ryan (16) and Dylan Bursill (10).
Gregor Fraser (17* from 33) and Ryan Collier (18* off 30) would see out the innings.
The WDCA defence started well, with Bellarine 1/6 after the first two overs.
Matt Ryan and Jimmy Thewlis bowled a tight line, forcing the required run rate ever upwards, with Paddy McNamara snaring the second wicket in the 13th.
Shane Murdoch and Ben Robertson dug in for Bellarine, happy to let the dot balls from WDCA pile up.
The dam would burst in the 31st, when some sharp fielding from Josh Nanson would run Robertson out for 29, with Gregor Fraser castling Matthew Sampson-Barnes for a duck two balls later, Bellarine 4/88.
A stunning 104 run-partnership from Murdoch and Ben Norgrove (46* off 55 deliveries) would be the difference, and no matter who was brought into the attack, no WDCA bowler could break the partnership until the penultimate over.
Matt Ryan managed to get Murdoch out caught for 76 off 116 balls, and when the next delivery went for a leg bye, Bellarine were 5/193, scores level with an over to go.
Skipper McNamara brought it down to the wire, with dots from the first three deliveries bringing WDCA close to a draw.
However, a wayward one was sent to the boundary by Zac Jones, WDCA defeated by five wickets.
Jimmy Thewlis was the pick of the bowlers, picking up a wicket and going at just 2.30 an over from his allotment of 10 overs.
WDCA rounded out their Country Week campaign on Thursday against South West CA – match report in Wednesday’s Chronicle.
