Loading ...Originally written by DEAN MILLARD
THE Portland Tigers continue to go from strength to strength, taking one of the most convincing one-day wins in recent Portland and District Cricket Association A grade history by
defeating Colts by 176 at Hanlon Park on Saturday.
Colts won the toss but following that everything else went right for the Tigers in their first game for the season on their home turf wicket, with opening batsmen Michael Blomeley
and Mick Wilson getting the side away to another impressive start.
The pair was rarely trouble by the Colts’ attack, racing the score to 100 before Michael Phillips bowled Wilson for 42.The wicket had little impact on the run rate, however, with
captain Terry Baker taking little time to get going with Blomeley.
The experienced pair of Tigers continued to work the ball around and dispatch anything loose from the Colts’ attack in a 76-run stand for the second wicket which was eventually
broken late in the innings when Phillips again snuck one through the defences to bowl Baker on 35, but by that point Colts already had a fair total ahead of them.
Blomeley was able to guide the innings home despite a string of wickets at the end as the side chased some quick late runs, finishing unbeaten on 88 having taken his side to
6-197 from the allotted 40 overs.
Phillips was the pick of the Colts bowlers, taking 4-31 from eight overs, while Stefan Barr picked up 2-27.While 197 was always going to be a reasonable total to chase down it
did not take long in the Colts innings for it to start to look absolutely colossal, with Tigers recruit Brad Gottwaltz and Paul Young having Colts in all sorts of trouble right from the
start.
Colts’ best partnership of the day came with the opening stand between Lachie Hope and skipper Luke Andrews, with the pair taking the team into double figures before
Gottwaltz bowled Hope (4) with the score on 11.He then had Tom Peddie trapped in front of the wicket with no further score being added and the day continued to go down hill
from there.At the other end Paul Young was keeping it very tight, conceding no runs from his first few overs before being rewarded for his solid line and length bowling with the
wickets of Andrews and Cameron Hope, both out leg before wicket, to see Colts at 4-12.
There would be no middle or lower order revival from the Colts side, with Gottwaltz and Young tearing through the remaining wickets to have them all out for 21.Only four players
in the Colts’ line up scored on the day, Lachie Hope (4), Andrews (2), Daniel Chisholm (3) and Matheau Banks (2).
Gottwaltz finished with the remarkable debut figures of 7-18 from seven overs, while Young finished with the equally impressive figures of 3-0 from six overs, with no other
bowlers required for the Tigers to get the win.Gottwaltz has been quite a find for the Tigers, having been cleared from South Portland only last week, having taken five wickets for
South in B grade this season prior to making the move.Baker said he could not have asked for more from his side in the game, saying it was a real team effort to bring up the
points.“I think we are going pretty well,” Baker said.“We made 402 last game, and bowled a side out for 21 this week, so I think we are going alright.
“I am not really sure what records stand (for lowest total in A grade), but we had a really good day.”
He said Gottwaltz’ performance in his first game for the club was very impressive, saying he had been a very good addition to the club.
“Brad opened the bowling for us with in his debut effort and he did quite well.“
To get seven for not many is really great for the club.“He is a real team member, same as everyone else, so it was a real team effort on the day.
“I think we are all pretty happy that he chose us as his club, he is fitting in really well down there and he did really well in his first game.”
He said the wicket had played very well on the day, as evidenced by his side scoring so freely at the top of its innings.
The win keeps the Tigers out in front of the competition at the half way mark of the season, with South and Tyrendarra still hot on their heals and the gap back to fourth growing by
the week.
PLEASE don’t rattle… Tyrendarra all-rounder Darren Killmister survived this nervous moment to make 36 and help his side defeat Drumborg-Heywood by exactly that margin, 36
runs, at Henty Park on Saturday.Picture: JOSH NASH 081129jn044
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