By David Nagel
It had all the ingredients of the classic story-line…with the tortoise taking on the hare!
In this case, the tortoise, Cardinia (2/34), welcomed Cal O’Hare and his exciting Tooradin (121) side to Gunton Oval on Australia Day in the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association Match of the Day.
And after day one, the home side holds a slight advantage.
Heading in the question was, would slow and steady win the race or would the thrill-and-spill style of Tooradin – dominant in the one-day form of the game – translate seamlessly to two-day cricket?
The Gulls were hoping so, because the remaining three rounds of the season – and finals – will all be decided over a prolonged 80-over journey.
As for Cardinia, if the tortoise analogy with the bat seems harsh – take these stats on for size!
Before their round-12 engagement began, the Bulls had made just 1524 runs this season – second lowest to Merinda Park (1493) – and have an average partnership of 19.
The Seagulls on the other hand were the only team to have surged past the 2000-run barrier (2228) and average 38 runs per partnership.
That average is second only to Pakenham (44), and it’s no coincidence that those two teams sit three games clear at the top of the table!
On paper this round-12 contest looked a one-act affair, but the thing that balanced that out was the frugal formation of the Bulls’ attack.
Of the 14 bowlers with the best economy rates in the league, the Bulls had seven players on the list with Trent Wheller (2.14), Dean Henwood (2.40), Morteza Ali (2.54), Jack Bacon (2.55), Travis Wheller (2.78), Lachlan Volpe (2.81) and skipper Jake Prosser (2.86) all with their names in lights.
Not one Tooradin player sits inside that company!
Only Henwood (1/13 off 6.4), Trav Wheller (0/15 off 7), Volpe (3/50 off 18) and Prosser (2/20 off 16) played on day one, but it gives an idea of the strategy that Prosser employs.
All four bowlers once again went at less than three an over, with Josh Grogan (0/13 off 6) and Cam Stow (1/7 off 7) adding to the pressure that the Bulls can apply on their home deck.
The Seagulls did have their moments on day one, with O’Hare (39 off 99) and Tom Hussey (16 off 74) patiently taking the score to 2/83 before the Bulls – courtesy of Volpe – bounced back hard.
The lethal leggie had Hussey caught behind, O’Hare trapped in front, and Dylan Sutton (13) caught by Wheller, while Ben Parrott (2) was run out by Grogan.
From 2/83, the Gulls lost 8/38 in one of the biggest collapses of the season.
The Bulls chase didn’t start well, with Jacobus Hynes (1) bowled by Russ Lehman (1/15 off 7), before Brad Butler (1/4 off 3) had an aggressive Welsh (20 off 25) trapped in front to give the reigning champs some hope heading into day two.
The two teams will have just two nights sleep before reconvening on Saturday.
In the other huge game this week, Clyde host Officer in a contest that is sure to have massive ramifications come seasons end.
The loser becomes favourite for relegation, while Officer can virtually assure itself of not being in that tense fight if it can find a way past the Cougars over the next fortnight.
We’re tipping four teams to be locked on 42 points each after round-12, with the Cougars to salute on their home deck.
In other games, Pakenham should be too strong for Carlisle Park, while Kooweerup will start a pronounced favourite against Merinda Park.
Expect Luke McMaster to bounce back strongly after shouldering arms last week…and lead the Demons to victory.
