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WANDO Vale batsmen hammered the Dergholm bowling attack to all parts of the batsmen-friendly Wando Vale Recreation Reserve in a powerful batting display during day one of round six in the Casterton and District Cricket Association on Saturday.
The Vale’s first innings total of 8-314dec is the highest score to date in season 2011-12 and featured a belligerent century from Lionel Balzan (110), which made life difficult for the Scrubbers while Troy O’Connell sent the fieldsmen scurrying into the bush in search of multiple big sixers during his score of 75.
Dergholm was 1-36 at stumps
Edenhope took advantage of the reduced Merino bowling attack, due to a wedding, to reach 136 in a late afternoon rally. The Wombats have started slowly to be 1-23 at the close of play.
Three Staude brothers made major contributions to a successful day for Pigeon Ponds as the depleted Maroons’ batting floundered. Murray Staude and Joel Staude were stars with the ball, while their brother Will used the bat to his team’s great advantage.
A team total of 63 will not win many games. At 7-128 overnight, Pigeon Ponds already has the eight first innings points and will be pressing to extend this to 20 with an outright win.
O’Connell wins toss
Wando Vale skipper Troy O’Connell won the toss and opted to bat. Scrubbers’ bowlers Brett Vaughan and Jacob Shannon grabbed two quick wickets of Toby Murrell (9) and Sam Brody (0) to have the Vale struggling, but Lionel Balzan then came to the rescue when he joined skipper O’Connell in a third wicket partnership of 116. O’Connell (75) belted the bowlers to all parts of the Wando Vale Reserve, including four sixes in successive balls from a tireless Jacob Shannon.
Not to be outdone, Balzan quickly posted his century and his five sixes helped to keep the scoreboard moving for the Vale. Balzan (110) was finally dismissed to a brilliant Shaun Robinson catch from the bowling of Brett Vaughan.
At 5-247, the Dergholm bowlers then fought back as Jason Cowland (6), James McArlein (0) and Mitchell Baugh (2) went quickly to the bowling of Neil and Jacob Shannon. Jack Gartlan (36 not out) and Jock Cleary (24 not out) again took to the bowlers in an unbroken ninth wicket partnership as the Vale increased the scoreboard pressure on the boys from Dergholm.
At 8-314, Troy O’Connell called it a day and closed the innings. Multiple wicket takers for the Scrubbers were Neil Shannon with 2-29, Jacob Shannon (2-51) and Brett Vaughan (2-85). With 15 overs remaining before stumps, the Wando Vale bowlers hoped to make big inroads into the Dergholm innings.
Leonard Dixon (0) went quickly when he edged Troy O’Connell to ‘keeper Kyle Carlin. The ball fell out of his gloves, but he breathed a sigh of relief when it lodged in his pads and the catch was completed. Brett Vaughan (19no) and Shaun Robinson (12no) survived a few anxious moments to reach 1-36 at stumps.
The Scrubbers have a big run chase next week and the Wando Vale bowlers will be keen to emulate the positive performances of their batsmen. The Wando Vale Oval is very fast and the Scrubbers are in with a chance.
