Sport
10 December, 2024
Laane deliver five-wicket win over Clunes
REDPATH TYRE AND BATTERY SERVICE A GRADE CLUNES 9/156 def by LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 5/158
They didn’t have it all their own way, but Laanecoorie Dunolly took care of business with a five-wicket win over fierce rivals Clunes at Bull Millgate Oval.
In what was at times a fiery match, Clunes’ young bowlers did well to threaten to make the game a contest, but Laane seemed to always have the situation under control.
The Magpies won the toss and elected to bat first, backing in the form of Anthony Ellis, with Lucas Rais-Colvin alongside him.
Lachie Condie emerged as a surprise first wicket-taker of the day, coming into the attack for his first wicket back with Laane as Rais-Colvin nudged a ball to Tom Hannett behind the stumps.
Zach Graham would then claim Jude McGuire’s wicket in a similar fashion, with Hannett taking a second catch to remove one of the Magpies’ most dangerous scorers for four.
It looked like it would be a comfortable day for Laane when they were able to get the wicket of Ellis, with Alex Cook playing him out of his crease, and Hannett doing the rest to stump him for 17.
At that point, Laane had Clunes 3/33, but Brenton Jones and the returning Mitch Coppick went to work.
Together, the duo would put on 80 runs as they frustrated Laane at times.
However, as they looked to push the pace, wickets would start to fall.
Coppick was first to go, with Graham claiming his second wicket. Condie took the catch to remove the Clunes captain for 31.
Soon, Thang Nguyen would emerge in the mix, and he would take two quick wickets to swing things Laane’s way.
He bowled Mark Allen for a duck, and would get the key wicket of Jones for 44 to leave Clunes wobbling at 6/125.
There was some late hitting, with Brendan Ingram and Dylan Davies combining for a 17-run partnership, but Graham would clean up the lower-middle order.
He bowled Ingram for 10, before combining with Nguyen to remove Brett Coon for three.
Graham would have a five-wicket haul when he bowled Davies for 19, while Oliver Erickson and Jax Coon would finish unbeaten on one apiece for Clunes to finish on 9/156.
Graham’s 5/30 saw him finish with his best figures of the season so far, while Nguyen’s 2/24 saw him move to five wickets for the season off just 11 overs of bowling.
It was a look to the future for Clunes as they opened the bowling with young duo Brett and Jax, and while they did have a big task ahead of them to hold Laane up, they weren’t overawed by the task.
Indeed, it was Jax who struck first, with an excellent, low-pitching ball rendering Tom Hart bowled for 12.
Hannett was the constant at the crease as he continued his good, consistent form as he guided Laane past 50.
Clunes would have a second wicket later on when Brendan Ingram struck, with Coppick taking a sharp catch at cover to remove Kamaljot Romana for nine.
Soon, the Magpies would have a small look at perhaps an upset victory, with two wickets in quick succession.
Cook was removed for 19, with Anthony Ellis catching him off Ingram’s bowling, while Davies would get Hannett to tickle a delivery to Rais-Colvin behind the stumps for 36.
At that stage, Laane were 4/97, and while still favourites, they would still need Matt Smith and Graham to get to work.
Both were up to the task, with the two combining for a 56-run partnership to help guide Laane towards the finish line.
Smith wouldn’t quite see it out, with McGuire claiming his wicket for 22, with Brett taking a catch.
But Graham’s electric day ensured he would help see out the Clunes challenge, finishing unbeaten on 28 alongside Joe Lovel, who was unbeaten on two, with Laane getting past the total with 83 deliveries to spare.
Ingram bowled well to claim 2/25 off seven overs to lead the way for Clunes.