Sport
5 November, 2024
Laane shows Beaufort they’re still the benchmark
REDPATH TYRE AND BATTERY SERVICE A GRADE BEAUFORT 114 def by LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 8/221
Terrific top-order batting and an even team performance with the ball allowed Laanecoorie Dunolly to come away from Beaufort with a 107-run victory at Goldfields Reserve.
With runs aplenty last week at the same ground, where the Crows continued their excellent start to the season, Laane saw this as a good toss to win and bat, and they delivered from the outset.
It was a good opportunity for new recruit Tom Hart to get his eye in, and he provided much of the ammunition in Laane’s 96-run opening stand, before Ben Grant struck, forcing a shot to Blake Jantzen to end Hart’s innings on 63.
Beaufort had an inkling that they might have been able to get back into the game when they soon delivered a second wicket, with Joe Lovel trapped in front for LBW by Thomas Alexander.
However, it was Tom Hannett that masterminded everything at the top of the order, remaining a constant for the bulk of the innings, and remaining calm despite wickets, at times, falling around him.
Alex Cook made it to 18 before Alexander took his wicket with a catch off his bowling, and Sam Bartlett got 19 before he was bowled by Joe Kingsbury.
Hannett’s 86 helped get Laane to 200, a terrific knock in itself, before Beaufort were able to claim three quick wickets.
Matt Smith tickled a Jayden Scotland delivery to Craig Grant, before Hannett was removed by Blake Jantzen, with Nick Cushing taking the catch.
Zach Graham was then trapped in front for LBW by Scotland, and Lachie Condie was last man out on the final ball of the innings, going out in a similar fashion to Smith.
Still, the 222 that was set was a reasonable target, although the Crows would have had confidence from their first two wins of the season that they could put up a score.
Scotland backed up his good start to the season with 3/46 off eight overs, while Alexander took 2/40 off eight.
Beaufort needed a start which mirrored Laane’s opening stand, and they were able to get to 23 before Alexander was the first wicket to fall, with Bartlett luring him into a shot to Graham.
Kriss Ellis and Thomas Grant got to work to again put another 21 runs on the board, before two quick wickets turned the game in Laane’s favour once and for all.
Ellis went first, with Cook claiming his wicket, before Nick Stabbins was run out for a duck, with Condie and Hannett combining.
Others were being brought into the game as a result.
Daniel Romeo struck for his first wicket of the season when he lured Thomas into a shot to Graham for 20, and it was soon 5/59 when Graham and Smith combined to remove Jantzen.
Romeo soon had a second wicket, trapping Scotland in front for LBW for four, and Lovel got into the action as well to bowl Zachery Dally for nought, leaving Beaufort in tatters at 7/65.
Kingsbury did provided some decent late hitting, scoring six fours as part of his 28 before Josh Britten struck.
Britten had a good spell, getting a second wicket when he had Cushing trapped in front, and Hannett finished off the game with his first wicket of the season, claiming Ben’s wicket for four.
Britten finished with 2/20 off three overs, while Romeo had 2/21 off four.