Sport
3 November, 2022
Laane, Clunes look to get season underway
It’s been a long wait for the reigning T20 and one-day Maryborough District Cricket Association champions, but it looks like Laanecoorie Dunolly will finally get their chance to show their response to being the hunted when they host Clunes in...
It’s been a long wait for the reigning T20 and one-day Maryborough District Cricket Association champions, but it looks like Laanecoorie Dunolly will finally get their chance to show their response to being the hunted when they host Clunes in their first meeting since the one-day grand final.
It’s certainly been an interesting pre-season for Laane, making big changes with the promise of more to come. But at the end of the day, they are still the team to beat, and Clunes will look to end their chances of winning the T20 competition immediately.
Clunes knows all too well that Laane are very hard to beat on their home deck at True Blue Floors Oval, but their T20 meeting last year should give them some hope.
On that occasion, Laane were successful in a dramatic run chase by two wickets, achieved with four balls to spare.
Clunes were able to make a solid 4/125 off their 20 overs, with all their batsmen making starts. Brenton Jones top scored with 29, while Mark Allen made 27. Mitchell Coppick (22) and Sam Williams (21) also made more than 20 runs, while Benjamin Gunn was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2/20 off his four overs.
In response, Clunes could not have dreamed of a better start when they restricted Laane to 2/6. But thanks to steadying knocks from Gunn (22), Zach Graham (26) and Tyler Hinds, who top scored with 35, Laane were able to get themselves back into the game.
However, Clunes, inspired by Williams (2/19) and Brendan Ingram (2/17) were still truly in the game, and when Ingram took the wicket of Liam Hurse, there was everything to play for, with Laane 8/123 still needing three runs.
James Shorney was the hero, scoring the winning runs as Laane were able to eventually get the win.