WENDOUREE’S Gavin Webb is leading the way as the region’s premier batsman in 2012-13.
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Webb currently tops the Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts batting aggregate and average after a brilliant start to the season.
Centuries against Napoleons-Sebastopol and Ballarat-Redan have helped the top-order bat rack-up 296 runs at an average of 74.
Webb heads the chart from Darley captain-coach Matt Cape.
While yet to crack a ton this season, Cape has made three half-centuries in his 284 runs, which have come at a rate of 47.33.
Brown Hill’s Ryan Knowles, North Ballarat captain-coach Bobby Hind and Ballarat-Redan’s Allister Edmends make up the top five run-getters.
Meanwhile, Matt McMahon is streets ahead in the bowling aggregate.
The Bulls quick has already claimed 28 wickets this season, 12 more than his nearest rival.
McMahon, who has the competition’s best bowling figures of 6-22, has taken five wickets in an innings twice and 10 in a match once already this year.
His average is currently 12.21, with a strike rate of one wicket every 31.25 deliveries.
Mt Clear captain Lincoln Blake and Coronet City all-rounder Brendan Burns are the next most lethal bowlers with 16 wickets, ahead of Golden Point’s Peter Appleton and Naps-Sebas’ Matt Ringin.
Ballan’s Mick Loughnane tops the district division one batting aggregate with 196 runs, while Lachlan Isbister, from VRI Delacombe, has taken 13 wickets to be the competition’s leading bowler.
N BALLARAT v CORONET CITY at Northern Oval 2
MATCH STATUS: North Ballarat 186 (S Wright 37, L Lorenzen 27, A McCafferty 25, B Burns 5-64, P Calvert 2-41) v Coronet City 1-0
KEY POINTS
NORTH BALLARAT
It was far from impressive, but the Roosters eked out a total they will be confident of defending against the struggling Coronet City outfit. A number of batsmen got starts last Saturday but none could turn that into a big innings as North Ballarat was bowled out late in the afternoon.
The timing of the Roosters’ dismissal proved a blessing in disguise, however, as opening bowler Matt Cations struck with an early wicket to put the visitors on the back foot.
CORONET CITY
After putting together a tidy effort in the field, some of City’s hard work was undone late in the day. Donald Cookson was trapped leg before in the one and only over the visitors had to face, leaving them in trouble at 1-0 when play resumes tomorrow afternoon.
Mt Clear v East Ballarat at University of Ballarat
MATCH STATUS: Mt Clear 0-46 (P Jeffrey 32 not out) v East Ballarat 94 (D Thomson 27 not out, S Nicholson 4-13, B Adams 2-13, L Blake 2-18, D Hopkinson 2-21)
KEY POINTS
MT CLEAR
It shouldn’t take long for the Mounties to wrap up first innings points tomorrow.
Paull Jeffrey and Sam McVitty will resume with Mt Clear 0-46, just 48 runs shy of East Ballarat’s total set last week. Providing things go to plan early in the day, Mounties skipper Lincoln Blake will be left with a decision on whether or not to press for outright points. He may consider going on the attack early and sending the Hawks back in to bat in an attempt at securing all 10 points.
EAST BALLARAT
A poor batting display has let down the Hawks once again. East Ballarat battled away for almost 60 overs last weekend, only to post a score of 94. And with Mt Clear almost half of the way to the target – and with a multitude of batting talent still to come – victory looks out of reach.
GOLDEN POINT v WENDOUREE at Eastern Oval
MATCH STATUS: Golden Point 209 (S O’Loughlin 66, D White 42, A Falkner 28, T Beacham 5-40, A Beacham 3-51, D Ellis 2-32) v Wendouree
KEY POINTS
GOLDEN POINT
An important half century from veteran Stephen O’Loughlin has given the Pointies a decent target to defend this weekend. O’Loughlin’s 66, combined with 42 from Daniel White, helped the home side recover from 5-100 at tea to reach 209 before being bowled out late in the day. While many expect Wendouree to haul in the total, Golden Point must be given a chance seeing it has the runs on the board.
WENDOUREE
The Red Caps, barely troubled throughout the club firsts season thus far, get their first serious run chase tomorrow. Captain Heath Pyke and his boys have batted first on three occasions this season – making 283, 272 and 216 – but have not been forced to chase a total higher than 93.
Brown Hill v Darley at Western Oval
MATCH STATUS: Brown Hill 70 (N Hyden 32, M Cape 5-20, A Cape 2-5, P Moore 2-32) v Darley 8-203 (M Cape 89, M Frew 59 not out, J Reichman 4-45, M McMahon 3-38)
KEY POINTS
BROWN HILL
Bulls all-rounder Ryan Knowles will find out early next week whether his injured eye socket will require surgery. Knowles was hit in the face by a Peter Moore bouncer last Saturday and will visit the specialist on Monday to determine what action, if any, will be taken. The injury was the start of a dismal day for the Bulls, which failed for the second round in a row with the bat.
DARLEY
Captain-coach Matt Cape couldn’t have been much happier with how things panned out on day one at Western Oval. Cape’s five-wicket haul helped bundle the Bulls out for just 70, before his knock of 89 shored up first innings points.
With just two wickets in hand, the Lions will likely be back in the field early tomorrow afternoon, leaving themselves plenty of time to try and rip through the Bulls for a second time.
Wendouree will also been keen to bounce back from its Twenty20 grand final loss to Mt Clear.
Ballarat-Redan v Naps-Sebas
at City OvalMATCH STATUS: Ballarat-Redan 92 (J Hayes 27, M Ringin 6-36, D Furness 3-13) v Naps-Sebas 2-102 (D Davies 47, S Ringin 29 not out)
KEY POINTS
BALLARAT-REDAN
It’s basically a fight for survival for the Combine after a disappointing opening day last weekend.
Things went downhill early for the home side, which was bundled out for 92 inside 40 overs and struggled to make inroads into the Naps-Sebas line-up when it came turn to take the field. The absence of opening bowler and handy middle-order bat Simon Allan through injury hasn’t helped Ballarat-Redan, which can expect to be sent back in to bat early tomorrow afternoon.
NAPS-SEBAS
Captain-coach Dan Davies has declared his intentions loud and clear. With first innings points already in the bag, Naps-Sebas will go on the hunt for outright success tomorrow.
Simon Ringin and Jacob Eyers will resume with Naps-Sebas 10 runs ahead with eight wickets in hand.