Match-winning efforts by Matthew Latham with the bat and Tim Burton with the ball helped City United to their first win in first grade since round two.
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Latham’s 56 and contributions of 26 by Jason Morris and 13 by Tim Baker saw City recover from 6-85 to be all out for 193 in the 43rd over.
Burton then backed up with the ball taking his first five-wicket haul in first grade, finishing with 5-24 as Wests were bundled out for 113 in the 27th over.
“It wasn’t our best performance with the bat obviously losing five for five but we showed some good depth and Matty Latham and Jason Morris got us out of trouble,” City skipper Matt Trappel said.
“It was a bit of a weird game. We were 1-80 of 15, with Benny Davies (41) doing really well at the top of the order. We were looking at a score of over 250 as par and Wests got some momentum and the next thing they had claimed five for five.
“At 6-85 it looked like were were really in trouble. but were able to put that partnership together and put 193 on the board.
“The score was not reflective of how good the wicket was. The Robins Oval outfield is unbelievable and the wicket is as good as any in the town, So I thought 250 or 300 was achievable. But after losing five for five we did well to scramble to 193.”
Trappel was the other major contributor with the bat making 31 as Luke Kealy claimed 2-41 and Matt Shone (2-19), Mitchell Fisher (2-54) and Glyn Hayes (2-31) picket up two wickets each.
City made a great start with the ball with Tim Baker having Andrew Trappel caught in slips for a duck and Davies claiming the crucial wicket of Aaron Mahony for eight.
”We got two early wickets and then Timmy Burton was our best by far,” Trappel said.
“He was unbelievable, he was very difficult to get away and always looking a chance to get a wicket. His first five for in first grade was very well deserved.”
Burton’s five-wicket haul included opener Tom Irwin who top scored with 33 for Wests. Tom Rumbel was the other major contributor for the Plovers making 27.
Trappel said the victory was important in setting the tone and establishing momentum for the team after the Christmas break.
“We wouldn’t have been totally out of contention if we lost, but the momentum we got from the win going into the second half of the season that was the most important thing for us.
“We’ve got a pretty good run home, we’ve played Norths twice and Wests twice which just leaves Raymond Terrace from the top three.
“Next round against Kurri Weston is very important for us. If we can get back-to-back wins it will kick-start our season.
“Once we click we are going to perform a lot better, but we’ve still got the collapses in us and we need to address that.”
Norths grab important win
Northern Suburbs recorded an important 110-run victory against Eastern Suburbs to resume the first grade season after the Christmas break.
Strong contributions from the lower order enabled Norths to recover from 5/101 to reach 8/272 in hot conditions at Lorn Park on Saturday.
The bowlers backed up the effort dismissing Easts for 162 in the 43rd over.
“One of our strengths is that we have not been reliant on the same players at any stage,” Norths skipper Mike Wilson said.
“It was really pleasing to see some good contributions by the lower order. To get us up to 272 from five-for-100 was a really good effort.
“There were a lot of contributions with Lincoln making 53, Matthew Wilks 32 Luke Stewart 37, Cal Gabriel 23 and Jordan Callinan 34.
“Terry Humphreys finished on 39 not out and Cael Smith was 24 not out to get us a good target to bowl to.”
It was another even performance with the ball with Ben Sayers returning the best figures of 4-38. Mills took 2-32 and Gabriel finished with 2-16. After a rare failure with the bat Will Fort got a wicket and forced a run-out.
“We have a bye now, so it was very important to get the win,” Wilson said. “Winning by so much we should still be on top.
“Having two byes in the second half of the year it was really important to get points on the board and now establish a bit of a break along with Terrace on the opposition.
We have no cricket next week, but we have the Twenty20 finals on the following Sunday. It’s one trophy we haven’t won and are keen to.”
Terrace batsman smash Warriors
A rapid-fire 138-run partnership between Jaymes Thomas and Jacob Page helped Raymond Terrace to a 301 total against Kurri Weston.
However, man of the match honours went to Lions’ teammate Mitchell Pinch who claimed 5-33 and made an important 38 not out in his side’s 79-run win
Thomas clubbed 75 before being dismissed with the score on 176 after the two came together with Terrace precariously placed at 3-38.
Page continued to accumulate runs and finished with 83 as the Lions tail wagged furiously. Joseph Harden added 21 before Pinch and Will Maher (22no) saw Terrace post 8/301 from their 50 overs.
Warriors paceman Alex Seamer claimed 3-51.
Tyler Power (52) and Danial Foster (37) got Kurri Weston off to a solid start. Tim Harding was forced to retire on 38 and Liam Dalibozek made 31 as the Warriors were all out for 222.
Shannon Bills took 2-12 from seven miserly overs.
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