WHACK: Glendon’s Zane Nelson gets power behind his shot sending the ball to the boundary for four runs, while Creek’s wicketkeeper Gavin Wake and slip Warren Gillespie watch on.
HOT westerly winds made conditions difficult for Singleton’s senior cricketers on Saturday afternoon.
As the temperatures soared, first grade played the first 50-over match of the season.
At Howe Park, Creeks scored a narrow win over Glendon who won the toss and elected to bat.
Zane Nelson (66) and Harry Morrow (46) were Glendon’s top scorers as they finished their innings on 198 in the 45th over.
For Creeks, Mark Unicomb was the best bowler taking 5 for 39 off 13.2 overs. Glenn Cook (3/56) and Blake Cook (2/39) were the other wicket takers.
Creeks looked in trouble after losing their first wicket with the score on 7, but the middle order of Wake (32), Bourke (34) and Gillespie (38) steadied to get the team back on track.
A tail end knock from Hamid Arain of 20 saw Creeks sneak past Glendon’s total in the second last over of the game.
At Cook 3, JPC had an impressive win over an undermanned PCH. Winning the toss and deciding to make PCH field in the heat of the early afternoon, JPC faced 46 overs to be all out for 267.
Luke Knight scored 102 in an impressive display of batting. He was eventually bowled by under-16 rep player Tully Winsor with the score on 240.
Josh Harvey (42) was JPC’s second highest scorer.
Best with the ball for PCH was captain Dan Oldknow finishing 5 for 61 from 14.3 overs.
The run chase began badly for PCH who stumbled to 2 for 9 in the third over. A sixth wicket partnership between Chris Martin (78) and Tully Winsor (24) added some respectability to the score, but they were never in contention finishing on 141 in the 23rd over.
The result was similar in second grade, with JPC winning the toss and electing to bat.
Robbie Hedges (21) and Ashley Borg (24 no) were the only JPC batsmen to make double figures, with the team finishing on 108. For PCH, Abraham Jones (3/20) and Jamie Tudor (3/21) were the pick of the bowlers. In the run chase Jake Mackaway (20) and Abe Jones (15) were the top scorers for PCH who fell short of the required total. The team was all out for 87.
For JPC, Robbie Hedges was the best with the ball, 2/4 off 3 overs.
At Cook 1 the game between Glendon and Creeks was reduced to 30 overs upon agreement of both captains.
Glendon won the toss and opted to bat but stumbled early to be 2/7 in the second over. Things improved but the third wicket fell with the score on 59.
Max Willis and Daniel Thrift then made an unbeaten 255-run partnership to finish 3/314 off 30 overs. Willis made 112 and Thrift 135.
For Creeks, Daniel Tracey (2/39 off 6) was the best bowler.
Fielding only eight players, Creeks were never in the picture. Creeks were bowled out for 71, with Chris Butler top scoring on 27. Andrew Redmond was Glendon’s best bowler with 3/5 off 3.
In the third grade games, none of the four clubs could field a full side.
The Glendon run-fest continued at Cook 4 with Tim Dunn making 105 against Creeks.
Glendon won the toss and batted, finishing a reduced over match at 3/234.
Creeks managed to face out their full 30 overs and made Glendon earn their win, fielding in the heat, but were way behind in the runs, finishing 5/148.
In the remaining game PCH was defeated by JPC.
The father-son-daughter combination of Andrew, Thomas and Laura Avard was valiant in defeat for PCH who finished 9/110.
For JPC, Dorian Heher (3/7) and Jared Ball-Moxey (4/20) were on target with the ball.
Craig Knox (40) and Garry James (56) were unbeaten in claiming the win for JPC.
Proving he still has what it takes, PCH wicket keeper Andrew Avard did not let through any byes in the 16 overs it took JPC to chase down the runs.
Next week Valley meet Creeks and Glendon play JPC. PCH has the bye.