Sport
12 November, 2024
Laane at their dominant best in big win over Clunes
REDPATH TYRE AND BATTERY SERVICE A GRADE LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 7/297 def CLUNES 103
A splendid Alex Cook hundred — the first of the A grade competition this season — has lifted Laanecoorie Dunolly to a dominant 194-run victory over Clunes.
Cook’s unbeaten 116 came off just 80 balls, hitting 17 fours as his innings was one of sheer class.
It was also the debut game for Kam Romana, slotting in after a stint in Canada with ease.
However, it was Clunes that got off to a good start.
Brad Stevenson has been bowling well for Clunes, and was rewarded in the early overs when he took the wicket of Tom Hart for eight, hitting a ball straight to Paul Coon.
But Romana came in and steadied the ship for Laane, playing some innovative shots to increase the run rate.
Stevenson would soon have a second wicket, getting the in-form Tom Hannett for 11.
Romana would continue pushing the run rate, and would eventually pass his 50 — his innings seeing him hit eight fours and a six as he managed the feat at more than a run a ball.
Around him, wickets were still falling. Joe Lovel was next to go, with Noah Davies claiming him thanks to Thomas Hardy’s catch for 14.
Romana would fall for 66, with Davies taking his second wicket, and Laane were sitting at 4/135.
But it would be Cook who would help accelerate Laane again after Romana’s job in helping push the run rate.
Cook and Sam Bartlett would combine for an excellent 102-run partnership, with Bartlett providing an anchor role while also going at around a run a ball. However, he wouldn’t be able to see it through to the end, with Brett Coon continuing his good run in claiming his wicket, with Dylan Davies taking a catch.
Late in the innings, Cook would pass a well-deserved 100, helping to set up what would be a formidable Laane total.
Zach Graham provided some good support, but was undone on 18 and run out by Anthony Ellis, while Matt Smith was dismissed for a duck, with Mark Jenkin getting his wicket.
Laane would eventually finish on 7/297 off their 40 overs — clearly, plenty of runs were there in the wicket.
Stevenson again bowled with good line and length in taking 2/31 off eight overs, while Noah would also take two wickets, but conceded 59 runs from eight overs.
In response, Clunes started well. Although they were needing almost seven and a half runs an over, they were able to bat with some discipline to get to 33 without loss.
However, the pressure to score would soon overwhelm the Magpies.
Jenkin was first to go, with Zach Graham getting a tickle from the bat to Hannett behind the stumps for seven, and soon, Lucas Rais-Colvin was also out, caught by Thang Nguyen off Graham for three.
Next up, Cook would again strike, this time with the ball, as he first claimed Jude McGuire for a duck, before claiming Daniel Fordham’s wicket soon after, caught by Bartlett and Graham respectively.
Cook would have his third wicket, trapping Dylan in front for a duck, giving him three wickets for the game on top of his 100, and leaving Clunes lagging on 5/54.
Romana would soon be on the act to claim his first wickets for Laane, with Stevenson bowled for six, before Noah was the next victim on one.
Through it all, Ellis was batting superbly in the face of Laane’s pressure, and would score a very well-deserved 50 as stand-in captain for the day.
Brett was Clunes’ eighth wicket, with Josh Britten striking, and soon, Nguyen would end the innings of Ellis for a well-made 62 with Smith taking the catch.
Nguyen finished off the game with his second wicket, with Hardy out for four.
Cook’s day of dominance saw him finish with the figures of 3/10 off his eight overs, while Romana took 2/13 off eight, Nguyen 2/5 off 1.4 overs, and Graham 2/21 off five.