Sport
1 February, 2024
Top-two clash set to thrill
This game ought to be a much-anticipated one — a meeting of two teams who have been in form with both bat and ball, and what could potentially be a finals preview at True Blue Floors Oval. Laanecoorie Dunolly, no doubt, head into this game as...
This game ought to be a much-anticipated one — a meeting of two teams who have been in form with both bat and ball, and what could potentially be a finals preview at True Blue Floors Oval.
Laanecoorie Dunolly, no doubt, head into this game as favourites, having remained unbeaten, as well as having taken care of Clunes twice earlier in the season.
But the Magpies recent form suggests that they might have the mettle to match it with Laane in their preferred two-day format, and they’ll be looking to give it everything they’ve got over the next fortnight.
Certainly, when one considers their innings and 182-run outright victory against Maryborough, the Magpies, at their best, are very capable of matching it.
After bowling the Owls out for 36 and 57 respectively, they’ll head in with enormous confidence with the ball.
Lachlan Morganti is one that will have the appetite to do well for the Magpies over the next two weeks.
In his last two games, he has taken 17 of his 20 wickets for the season at a simply barely-believable average of 3.5 across that span, which included a nine-wicket haul last Saturday.
With Jaxon Smyth (17 wickets) also moving up to equal-fourth in the bowling charts, coupled with the form of Ash Gunn, who now has 12 wickets, as well as Brett Coon, who played his part with nine wickets, the Magpies top five wicket-takers now have 69 wickets between them — ranked number one in the competition.
With the willow, Mitch Coppick and Jude McGuire have also been in stellar form.
Coppick added to his 88 against Carisbrook with another good knock of 64 against Maryborough, while McGuire has scored 57 and 68 in his two longer-form games this season.
Add in Mark Allen’s 56 two weeks ago, and it was good enough to see Clunes score 275 against Maryborough, which means that the Magpies are now averaging 260 runs an innings in the two-day format.
There’s no question, however, that Laane loves a challenge, and they have the cattle to mix it up to get the win, and basically secure the minor premiership in the process.
Laane’s bowling quintet are just ranked behind Clunes, with 66 wickets between their top five, with Joe Lovel (17 wickets), Daniel Romeo (14), Sam Bartlett (13), Sergio Rosier (12) and Zach Graham (10) all contributing.
With the bat, Laane served a reminder on day one of their match against Beaufort that they run deep with their order, with Graham scoring a memorable 105 to propel them from 7/141 into a score of 238, which was the difference in their 111-run victory.
His knock means that he is now averaging 161 for the season — remarkable for someone who is sitting 16th in the batting charts, but one that also outlines just how powerful Laane’s form has been for the season with the bat that he has bided his time and struck when it was his time in the middle.
Couple that with the form of Tom Hannett, who has scored 331 runs for the season, including four half-centuries, Matt Smith, who is averaging 60.5 for the year, and Sam Bartlett, who likewise averages 46.3.
Then, you can add in Sergio Rosier, who seemed to find his best form in the MDCA’s Sharp Shield match with Grenville, top-scoring with 69, and you get an understanding of just how well-balanced this brilliant team is with the bat.
How this plays out from ball one on Saturday, will be one worth watching, without a doubt.