Sport
17 December, 2024
Hannett’s majestic 138 gives Laane platform
It was Tom Hannett’s day at True Blue Floors Oval on Saturday afternoon as the Laanecoorie Dunolly opener finally broke through for his first 100 with the club, giving Laane an enormous platform to defend next week.
In muggy conditions, Hannett’s ability to bat all day was extraordinary, putting together a clinical innings to put together a new personal best score of an unbeaten 138 — vaulting him back to the top of the run-scoring charts and at a boosted average of 78 to boot.
Sensing an opportunity to take wickets early on a pitch which looked to provide plenty for both batter and bowler, Beaufort won the toss and elected to bowl first.
But it was Laane who were able to adapt to the slower pace well, with Kamaljot Romana and Hannett able to go at a steady pace early for a Laane team who were missing a few reinforcements.
Both got through to drinks without losing their wicket, giving Laane a good platform to attack the rest of the day.
Romana, however, would not see through the next period.
He was first to go for 49 with the score on 74, with Tom Alexander taking his 13th wicket of the season, and Jayden Scotland taking the catch.
That brought out Daniel Romeo, who was promoted to three for the afternoon, and was looking to provide some fireworks.
Romeo helped progress the run rate, and Hannett started to make his move a little bit as well.
A handy 39-run partnership was the result, but Romeo was soon dismissed for 22 off 26, bowled by Scotland.
Joe Lovel was given his chance higher up the order, and looked to take advantage.
However, his stint would last 16 balls before he was Alexander’s second victim of the day, caught by Lachlan Oddie for 10.
The key partnership of the day would be Hannett and Alex Cook.
Both would give Beaufort a big headache, with both combining well to make sure Laane had the advantage throughout the day.
Hannett continued to push the pace a little bit more, taking the key singles which put more pressure on, freeing up Cook a little bit.
As the day approached its final 10 overs, Hannett was able to put away a shot for three runs, bringing up a long-awaited 100 — his first for Laane, and his first since the 2020/21 season, where he scored an unbeaten 102 for Wendouree.
However, his job wasn’t done, and he continued to vault towards a new highest score — which was 116 coming into Saturday’s play.
With six overs to go in the day, Cook wouldn’t quite see it through, dismissed for 48, with Scotland taking his second wicket, caught by Oddie.
Matt Smith came in for a late cameo, and together with Hannett, combined superbly for a 69-run partnership to finish the day, with Smith providing the bulk of the action.
Six fours and a six helped Smith vault to an unbeaten 44 off just 23 deliveries, while Hannett also provided some late runs to cap off what was an unforgettable day for the opener.
It was a tough day for Beaufort’s bowlers, with Alexander (2/65 off 12 overs) and Scotland (2/71 off 16) the only wicket-takers.