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Sport

29 October, 2024

Laane’s new spin king Cooks up a storm in big win

LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 3/135 def COLTS PHELANS 131

By Michael Thompson

Alex Cook couldn’t quite get this ball which headed to the boundary, but everything else went right for the Laane off-spinner on debut.
Alex Cook couldn’t quite get this ball which headed to the boundary, but everything else went right for the Laane off-spinner on debut.
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Laane won the toss and elected to bowl first, believing that the game would come to them as the innings wore on. As things transpired, they would be on the money.

However, in the early stages, it appeared that it would be Colts who were going to take full advantage, and in particular, it was Rhys Egan who would start the innings off with some excellent shot-making.

With Laane finally getting their first chance to play for the season, there was some rust from their opening bowling duo of Sam Bartlett and Joe Lovel, with Colts quickly getting the score out to 50.

But with the introduction of Cook at one end, followed by the return of Ben Gunn at the other end, Laane were successful in slowing down the run rate, and, more importantly, took wickets to shift the momentum their way.

Cook was doing all the damage. He first lured Rhys Wagstaff into popping up a shot straight to Josh Britten, who took a good catch running back with the flight.

Matt Smith’s diving catch to remove Egan for a well-made 36 was even better, covering plenty of ground before pulling out a one-hander to electrify his teammates.

That included Lovel and Bartlett, who shrugged aside their early struggles to deliver the next two wickets.

Lovel would clean bowl Max Jackson for six, before Bartlett would do the same to Ben Evans for 12, and suddenly, Colts were 4/79 at drinks.

In the second half of Colts’ innings, it was all Cook as he dominated the game.

Colts did manage to yield a 22-run partnership between Regan Goundry and Charlie Scorer to get past the 100 mark, but Cook would soon put pay to any chance of a good total.

Goundry was first to go, bowled with the score on 101, before Cook took a catch off his own bowling to remove Scorer for seven. Harrison Kurzke was next to go soon after, bowled by Cook for three, before Tom Hart caught Dayne Baker for two to leave Cook on the staggering figures of 6/7 off eight overs on debut after arriving from England, which included four maidens.

Gunn would get the wicket his bowling deserved late in the innings, with Johno Melton hitting a ball straight to Bartlett, before Bartlett would bowl Luke Tatchell to finish off the innings, with Nick Henderson stranded on 16 not out.

Alongside Cook’s show-stopping figures, Bartlett would take 2/32 off 7.4 overs.

Colts needed early wickets if they were to make an impact, and they succeeded early on, with Jackson luring Tom Hart into tickling a shot to Tatchell behind the stumps for two.

But Tom Hannett and Lovel got to work on ensuring that Colts’ early salvo wouldn’t be rewarded, and in particular, it was Hannett who was able to take the edge off the new ball, keeping himself at the crease to ensure that Laane would be able to see the innings through with some ease.

Colts would have a little bit of hope with the score on 31, with Lovel hitting a Goundry delivery to Tatchell to be removed for 13.

But just as he did in the bowling innings, Cook would again take the game away with the bat.

Cook helped Laane accelerate, going at a run a ball which included four fours and a six as he combined well with Hannett.

The duo would put on 63 runs for the third wicket as they ensured they could go at a leisurely pace for the remainder of the innings.

Cook wouldn’t be able to see it through to the end, however, as he was Tatchell’s third catch of the innings off the bowling of Jackson.

Hannett and Bartlett would finish strongly, ensuring Laane would cruise past the target score of 132 with eight overs to spare.

Hannett finished unbeaten on 61, while Bartlett finished not out on 13.

Jackson bowled very well for Colts, taking 2/22 off his eight overs, which included two maidens, while Henderson was unlucky not to be rewarded, having bowled economically in conceding 13 runs in six overs.

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