Sport
13 November, 2023
Laane take first blood for season 23/24
It was Laanecoorie Dunolly’s day on Sunday as they weathered everything that Clunes threw at them to maintain their hold of the Col Trickey Cup, winning by six wickets. Despite suffering from a top-order collapse that left them reeling at 4/55 for...
It was Laanecoorie Dunolly’s day on Sunday as they weathered everything that Clunes threw at them to maintain their hold of the Col Trickey Cup, winning by six wickets.
Despite suffering from a top-order collapse that left them reeling at 4/55 for a second week in succession, the work of Luke Smith, who scored an unbeaten 51, and Zach Graham, who contributed with 26, helped guide Laane towards their target of 101.
Clunes won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to take advantage of a good batting pitch.
However, it wasn’t quite to be in the early stages, with Sam Bartlett and Graham nullifying the scoring power of Brenton Jones and Mark Allen.
In the end, Bartlett would take the first wicket, bowling Allen for one.
Shortly after, Jones was next to go, with Graham claiming his wicket for five.
It meant that Lachlan Morganti and Mitch Coppick were called upon very early, not just to settle things down for the Magpies, but guide them towards a competitive total.
Morganti, however, only lasted eight deliveries before a Luke Smith delivery tickled past his bat into the hands of James Shorney behind the stumps, leaving the Magpies in dire straits at 3/17.
To Coppick’s credit he was playing a good innings, and was proving to be an anchor for the Magpies, and Jude McGuire tried to do his bit by holding up the other end.
However, it was slow going for the Magpies, who were restricted to just 30 runs off the first 10 overs, with Laane in control.
Eventually, Coppick in particular started to pick things up, making regular runs.
McGuire wasn’t able to hang around, clean-bowled by Daniel Romeo for 11.
Jaxon Smyth was in to make quick runs, and showed how aggressive he was prepared to be by hitting a four with his first ball.
But on his second, a straight drive was hit straight to Romeo, who took a spectacular one-handed catch on his follow-through to leave Clunes in desperate trouble at 5/55.
Coppick, together with Brendan Ingram, needed to put together quick runs, and they were able to make a solid partnership of 16 before Bartlett struck, with Coppick’s run-a-ball 32 ending when he picked out Graham at deep mid-wicket.
Ingram and Josh Thompson did well to push the score past 100, with Thompson playing some solid shots in an entertaining knock of 16 off 11 deliveries, as Clunes finished their innings on 7/100.
Smith finished with 2/19, while Bartlett took 2/23 and Romeo 2/26.
Laane were determined to maintain their reign as T20 premiers, and with Smith and Tom Hannett at the crease, the duo made a fast start, sitting pretty at 0/28 after just two overs.
However, Ash Gunn would soon strike, clean-bowling Hannett to open the third over, and then made things happen again for the Magpies the very next ball when he trapped Bartlett in front for LBW.
Smith was joined at the crease by Sergio Rosier, and the duo were determined to get things back on track.
Soon, Clunes would make a change, with Lachlan Morganti coming on, and he made an immediate impact, striking first ball to remove Rosier, who hit it to McGuire behind the stumps.
Captain Matt Smith came out to bat, but soon, Morganti would strike again, as he hit a ball straight to Ingram at extra cover to leave Laane 4/55.
With the game on the line, Luke and Graham took control, with Luke in particular playing some excellent strokes, while Graham held up his end of the bargain by holding up the other end and scoring at a run a ball.
Eventually, and fittingly, Luke brought up his 50 as he tied the scores, in an excellent technical innings which yielded nine fours.
Graham hit the winning runs, scoring his third four of the day to leave Laane 4/105 off 14.3 overs.
Luke was awarded best on ground thanks to his 2/19 and his unbeaten 51.
