Sport
9 October, 2023
Laane take care of Clunes for comfortable seven-wicket win
CLUNES 63 def by LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 3/67 Laanecoorie Dunolly made the first big statement of their quest for five premierships in a row, scoring a convincing seven-wicket victory over Clunes with a stunning spell of bowling. With the game moved...
CLUNES 63 def by LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 3/67
Laanecoorie Dunolly made the first big statement of their quest for five premierships in a row, scoring a convincing seven-wicket victory over Clunes with a stunning spell of bowling.
With the game moved from Clunes to Jubilee Oval after excessive rain during the week left the Magpies’ home ground unable to be readied, Laane took full advantage, eventually taking 9/19 to leave Clunes’ promising start in tatters.
Laane won the toss and elected to chase the game, and their decision was rewarded in the second over when Zach Graham’s first delivery of the season trapped the dangerous Anthony Ellis lbw for two runs.
However, that brought Lachlan Morganti to the crease, and he was determined to show the Magpies how much he could add to their batting.
Morganti was destructive in his stay at the crease, in particular, taking 17 off Joe Lovel’s first over.
However, shortly afterwards, he fell after hitting a Daniel Romeo delivery straight to Lovel at mid-off to fall for 32.
That triggered a collapse as Clunes were looking for quick runs.
Mark Allen played aggressively, but couldn’t make an impact, skying a ball straight to Graham at long on off the bowling of Romeo as he fell for two, before Laane captain Matt Smith took a contender for the catch of the summer to remove captain Mitch Coppick, diving horizontally and sticking out his right hand to hold on to a miracle catch.
At 4/50, Clunes’ situation didn’t get any better when Romeo had his third wicket, trapping Brenton Jones in front, before Lovel had his second wicket as he bounced back admirably after Morganti carted him around the ground, luring Brendan Ingram into edging a delivery to James Shorney for three.
Ben Gunn was left to clean up the tail, and he did so without conceding a run, clean-bowling Fred Penhall, before taking the wickets of Jaxon Smyth, Ash Gunn and Noah Davies to finish with the figures of 4/0 off 3.1 overs.
Romeo also bowled well, taking 3/15 from his four overs, while Lovel finished with 2/22 off four overs.
The Magpies desperately needed wickets if they were to be any chance of securing a miracle victory, and they were successful in their endeavours early on when Tom Hannett played a shot from Smyth straight into the hands of Penhall for two.
However, new recruit Sam Bartlett and Lovel steadied the ship, with Bartlett in particular playing some good shots as he settled in at the top of the order.
Lovel was the second man to go, playing a Davies shot straight into the hands of Muhammed Shehzad as he departed for 13, and Ash’s handiwork helped run out Nathan Leist.
Bartlett and Smith were able to guide Laane home, however, as they were able to cruise past the Magpies with 53 balls remaining. Bartlett finished unbeaten on 28, while Smith scored 14.
For Clunes, Smyth bowled well in taking 1/13 off three overs, while Davies finished with 1/22 off three overs.