Sport
26 January, 2023
Beaufort looks to take the fight up to Laanecoorie Dunolly on second day
LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 4/92 trail BEAUFORT 101 It will be interesting to see how Laanecoorie Dunolly manage day two of their match against Beaufort, knowing that they are all but certain to pick up first innings points. The first day’s play continued...
LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 4/92 trail BEAUFORT 101
It will be interesting to see how Laanecoorie Dunolly manage day two of their match against Beaufort, knowing that they are all but certain to pick up first innings points.
The first day’s play continued a trend where no less than 12 wickets have been taken at Beaufort in the two-day season so far, with 17 wickets, 12 wickets and 14 wickets respectively falling in Beaufort’s three days at the Goldfields Recreation Reserve this season.
With that in mind, however, all results are at play on Saturday, with an outright victory still on offer for whoever plays their cards right.
However, with Laane scoring at a brisk pace of 4.38 runs per over in their 21-over stint on day one, they will doubtless look to turn the wick up throughout the first half of the day, and if they can maintain that pace, they will look to put up a total similar to their 269 in their opening two-day game against Maryborough.
Samit Gohil, on 17 not out, will start the day with Matt Smith, and this represents the best chance Laane will have to continue pushing the run rate, especially given both batsmen were able to score 49 against Maryborough.
They still have the likes of Tom Hannett, who has been consistent with an average of 39.4 this season, and Joe Lovel, fresh off scoring two 50s in Country Week, still in the sheds as well, so there is doubtless batting power in reserve.
For the Crows, early wickets are a must on Saturday if they want to stay in the game.
Impressively, after Laane were able to make 1/71 off the back of Liam Mottram’s 44, the Crows have been able to reel themselves back into the game, having taken 3/17.
Blake Jantzen made an impressive cameo late on the first day’s play, taking 2/6 off his two overs, helping ease the pressure that had been placed on Joel Pymer (1/33 off nine overs) and Charlie Dyer (1/37 off six overs).
Interestingly, leading wicket-taker Lachlan Oddie has yet to be called upon by the Crows to bowl, so there is always the possibility of bringing him on as a strike option with an opportunity to try and reduce Laane’s chances of winning outright.
Admittedly, Beaufort will need a lot of luck to win this game themselves, and it appears likely that they will lose on first innings points. But on the basis of last Saturday’s play, they certainly made every effort to keep themselves in the game, and can be represented as a step forward as they continue their search for their first victory of the 2022/23 season.