Sport
9 January, 2023
Laane takes control on opening day, but Owls still a chance
MARYBOROUGH 1/24 trail LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 269 Maryborough will be chasing a further 246 runs on the second day of their clash with Laanecoorie Dunolly after an intriguing day’s play at Princes Park. However, Laane were able to take the upper hand...
MARYBOROUGH 1/24 trail LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 269
Maryborough will be chasing a further 246 runs on the second day of their clash with Laanecoorie Dunolly after an intriguing day’s play at Princes Park.
However, Laane were able to take the upper hand going into the second day, securing a late wicket to ensure that they would only need nine more wickets to take first innings points.
The Owls got off to the perfect start for day one when Harry Lumsden opened proceedings by removing Liam Mottram for a duck, putting Laane on the back foot early.
What it did do for Laane was bring out the dangerous Samit Gohil, who immediately set about building a partnership with Tom Hannett. They were able to succeed with their task, putting on 102 runs before Hannett holed out to Mitch McClure near the boundary rope for 37 off the bowling of Liam Maffescioni.
Soon after, the Owls felt they had a sniff when they removed Gohil just one run short of his half-century, with Gohil skying a ball off the bowling of Lachlan Morganti straight to Sam Bartlett, leaving Laane on 3/107.
New recruit Damith Perera and Benjamin Gunn looked to score quick runs in pursuit of a good total, with Perera in particular showing glimpses of what he could bring to Laane’s formidable batting lineup before hitting the third ball after the second break straight to Bartlett off Tom Hart’s bowling.
Matt Smith came to the crease and immediately led from the front, putting on a 45-run partnership with Gunn before the latter was clean bowled by Maffescioni, leaving Laane 5/177.
Soon after, the Owls would get a sixth wicket, with James Shorney caught by Morganti off Bartlett’s bowling, with the game precariously poised with Laane on 6/196.
Smith’s innings came to an end 14 runs later — likewise with Gohil, Smith would depart just one run short of a well-deserved half century when he nicked a ball from Morganti to Anthony Bourke.
The Owls would have been licking their lips at closing out the Laane innings, but faced even more resistance from Daniel Romeo, who set about helping the tail wag in a good display of shot-making. But on 29, he was Lumsden’s second victim, hitting the ball straight to Lachlan Bursill.
The final two wickets fell cheaply, with Josh Lacey trapped LBW for Maffescioni’s third wicket, before Jarred Russell was Bartlett’s second victim, closing the innings at 269.
Maffescioni was the pick of the bowlers, picking a good line and length throughout his bowling spells and was rewarded with 3/29 off 15 overs, while Morganti (2/37 off 11 overs), Lumsden (2/40 off 12 overs) and Bartlett (2/65 off 18.3 overs) also toiled away.
Maryborough were given the task of negotiating nine overs before stumps, and were looking to counterpunch, surprisingly bringing Bourke and Jackson Goodwin out to protect their frontline batsmen.
Bourke and Goodwin were able to score at a reasonably brisk pace, putting on quick runs before Laane slowed the run rate down by bringing on Gunn and Gohil at both ends with their off-spin.
Laane’s tactics paid off, with Gunn trapping Goodwin in front for 11.
Bourke and Lumsden negotiated the remaining overs to give the Owls a fighting chance for the second day’s play.
