Sport
4 March, 2024
Graham and Smith shine as Laane make 273
PHIL HOOPER INSURANCE A GRADE COLTS PHELANS yet to bat v LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 273 Laanecoorie Dunolly are in the box seat to claim first innings points thanks to a comfortable innings of 273 on the first day’s play at Hedges Oval. Tom Hannett and...
PHIL HOOPER INSURANCE A GRADE COLTS PHELANS yet to bat v LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 273
Laanecoorie Dunolly are in the box seat to claim first innings points thanks to a comfortable innings of 273 on the first day’s play at Hedges Oval.
Tom Hannett and Luke Smith opened the batting, and quickly got the score up to 47 before Ben Stubbings took the first wicket of the day, getting a nick out of Hannett to Luke Tatchell for 26.
Soon, Smith and Joe Lovel were at the crease and well in a comfortable spot going into tea, putting on a 68-run partnership.
Smith passed his 50, his sixth of the season, while Lovel was continuing a run of consistent form, but was removed shortly after the break, with Dayne Baker claiming his first wicket of the day as he lured Lovel into playing a shot straight to Dave Robinson.
Baker was inspired, and single-handedly caused a wobble in Laane’s middle-order.
Smith was next to go for 64, with Baker catching the edge straight to Tatchell behind the stumps, and Sergio Rosier was next to go, trapped in front for LBW.
Just 15 runs were made before Sam Bartlett was Baker’s next victim, caught by Tatchell, and when Matt Smith was bowled, Baker had a five-wicket haul, and Laane were 6/154 with plenty of cricket to play.
But Zach Graham and Ben Gunn were able to use their years of experience to get Laane back on the right track, and got to work on ensuring Laane were still holding the advantage.
It was a 52-run partnership which saw Laane pass the 200 mark, before Gunn was removed, caught by Nick Henderson off the bowling of Stubbings.
Nathan Leist came to the crease and, together with Graham, put on a quick 31-run partnership, before he was bowled by Rhys Egan.
Another quick partnership was had with Daniel Romeo as Laane’s tail well and truly wagged, putting on 14 in a 27-run stand before Stubbings had his third wicket.
Jarred Russell was bowled on the last ball of the day by Egan for two, while Graham was stranded, unbeaten on 65, but it was an innings which helped take his average for the season to a remarkable 158.5.
Baker’s haul, for the time being, takes him to the top of the wicket-taking charts with 27, having taken five for 33 off 17 overs.
Stubbings took 3/97 off 26 overs, while Egan took 2/95 off 20 overs.