Sport
29 January, 2024
Laane too good for Beaufort as they go 10 from 10
PHIL HOOPER INSURANCE A GRADE LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 238 def BEAUFORT 127 Laanecoorie Dunolly continued their dominance, dispatching of Beaufort by 111 runs to make it a perfect 10. It makes for a tantalising top-of-the-table blockbuster over the next...
PHIL HOOPER INSURANCE A GRADE LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 238 def BEAUFORT 127
Laanecoorie Dunolly continued their dominance, dispatching of Beaufort by 111 runs to make it a perfect 10.
It makes for a tantalising top-of-the-table blockbuster over the next fortnight against Clunes, fresh off their own dominant performance.
Laane started the day off in perfect fashion, with Matt Smith as wily as ever in the field to run out Kriss Ellis for five.
Laane were bowling in good areas to prevent the Crows from scoring quick runs, and soon had a second wicket, with Sergio Rosier collecting Nick Cushing’s wicket for 10.
A 20-run partnership followed between Nick Stabbins and Lachlan Oddie, but it was slow going, with Laane’s trait of bowling terrific lines and length frustrating them.
Eventually, the Crows cracked, and soon had a middle order collapse.
It started when Oddie was run out for nine, before Jack Smith was next to go, hitting a Joe Lovel delivery straight to Josh Britten for a duck.
Stabbins went soon after, with Lovel luring him into nicking a ball to Tom Hannett behind the stumps for 13, and Daniel Romeo was soon on the scene, securing the wicket of Jay English for a duck.
When Lovel got his third wicket in a supreme spell, with Cooper Cahill gone for a duck, Beaufort had lost five wickets for five runs and were 7/43.
To the Crows’ credit, they didn’t lie down, and with Joe Kingsbury and Zachery Dally at the crease, they were able to fight out the game, putting on a 51-run partnership.
Dally was particularly aggressive, scoring two sixes in his total of 22, but would soon go out to Matt.
Kingsbury continued to push on towards a well-deserved half-century, and along with Craig Grant, were able to keep Laane from cleaning up the tail quickly.
Lovel would eventually claim his fourth wicket, getting Grant for 14.
Kingsbury soon brought up a well-deserved 50 off 87 balls, but that was a far as he got as he was left stranded, with Jarred Russell claiming the last wicket of the day, bowling Ben Grant for a duck.
Lovel continued his terrific form for the season, picking up 4/22 off 12 overs, while Matt, Russell, Romeo and Rosier shared in four wickets, taking one apiece.