Sport
16 March, 2023
Clunes looking to crash Laane party in semi
While unbeaten Laanecoorie Dunolly will be favoured to beat Clunes over the weekend, the Magpies come into this game boasting some good form of their own in the recent past. Both teams had impressive victories in the final round, with Clunes needing...
While unbeaten Laanecoorie Dunolly will be favoured to beat Clunes over the weekend, the Magpies come into this game boasting some good form of their own in the recent past.
Both teams had impressive victories in the final round, with Clunes needing just half an hour on Saturday to dispose of Beaufort after laying most of the ground work on day one, while Laane pulled out a win from nowhere after they were on the back foot, with just a 73-run cushion against Colts Phelans at the conclusion of the first day, with Colts also having eight wickets to spare.
Which brings both teams to this game, which will determine the right to go to the grand final in a week’s time.
For Laane, it’s an opportunity to cement themselves once again as the team to beat at the right end of the season. That they were able to get themselves out of the biggest trouble that they have been in for some time and take what ended up being a reasonably comfortable victory in the end over their nearest challenger is some statement to make, but it will all count for nought if they don’t get the job done this weekend.
Clunes, meanwhile, needed the final round win to get into the finals, and there would be no better retribution for their grand final loss last year than taking it right up to Laane.
To do that, however, they’ll need to improve on all three of their meetings this season, all of which have gone Laane’s way.
In round five, Laane got their season off to a solid start after a month of waiting with a 30-run victory over the Magpies. Captain Matt Smith top-scored with 29, while Tom Hannett added 25 and Zach Graham another 20 as they finished on 5/115.
In response, Mark Allen helped Clunes get off to a good start with 36, but they were unable to sustain the challenge, making 6/85 off their 20 overs.
Competition-leading wicket-taker Ben Gunn took 2/10, while Joe Lovel took 2/16.
In round 10, Samit Gohil made his first big statement performance of the season when he clubbed 104 to help Laane make 3/270. Hannett scored 70 to play a good support act, while Gunn stole the show late with a quickfire unbeaten 50.
While Clunes gave it their all in response, with Brendan Ingram scoring 38 and Jude McGuire unbeaten on 30, Laane proved too good. Gunn took 2/31 and Graham took 2/23.
The two teams last met in round 13. On that occasion, Gohil was dominant again, scoring an unbeaten 128 to help guide Laane to 6/240 off 40 overs.
In response, Clunes had an encouraging outing, with Anthony Ellis scoring 27 and Todd Featherston scoring 49, but it was all to no avail as Clunes were bowled out for 172. Gunn starred again with the ball, taking 4/25, while Gohil and Jarred Russell took two wickets each.
Laane will be determined to avoid a repeat of their final game of the season, where they fell to 4/35 in the early stages.
It probably sounds incredible given the strength of their batting lineup, but since their first game of the season in round five, Laane haven’t had an opening partnership that has lasted beyond 18 runs. But with an average second-wicket partnership of 60 runs, thanks to the work of Hannett and Gohil throughout the season, Laane have been able to recover often, which has included three partnerships of 100 runs or more. That included a 172-run second-wicket stand in their round 10 encounter with the Magpies.
Clunes will take confidence out of restricting Beaufort to a season-low 56 last week, however. In their last two games, they have been able to take 10 wickets in an innings, and chief to their improvement has been Ashley Gunn.
Gunn leads their wicket-takers with 15 for the season, and that included 6/24 in their victory against the Crows off just 10 overs. It’s likely that both he and Jaxon Smyth will be called upon in the early stages to try and cause chaos in the Laane batting hierarchy.