East Albury has almost guaranteed itself a finals berth after humbling Lavington for only 63.
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The Crows ended the Panthers’ eight-match unbeaten streak by tearing through the second-placed outfit for one of its lowest scores in years.
“Our bowling was just spot on, it was a game dominated by bowlers, and Cameron White and Alex Ridd won us the game,” coach Dylan Weeding said.
Captain White claimed his first five-wicket-plus haul in two years, snaring 6-19, while Englishman Alex Ridd took 4-18.
Our bowling was just spot on, it was a game dominated by bowlers, and Cameron White and Alex Ridd won us the game.
- Dylan Weeding
Andrew Mackinlay top-scored with 13, while Ridd dismissed Panthers’ captain Sam Harris early on day two.
Both Weeding and Lavington coach Robbie Mackinlay said the Alexandra Park wicket was fine, the Crows’ mentor adding it was wonderful to play on a pitch where batsman and bowler could shine.
All up, 34 wickets fell for 387 runs.
“The 143 they made on day one was about 40 more than they should have made,” coach Mackinlay said.
After the Crows demolished Lavington, the home team was bowled out for 101.
The visitors then needed 182 from 13 overs for an outright, but finished on 4-80.
“We went into the game on day one complacent, no doubt about that,” Mackinlay said.
‘It’s a bit of a wake-up call for us too, we’d won eight games in a row, it’s an incredibly tight comp and we’re between number one and eight.”
And Weeding says he can understand Lavington’s thinking.
“I don’t know whether I’d say they were complacent,” he said.
“I’d say they were confident and I suppose when we only got 143, they just expected to get them and fair enough too.
“They’re a good side and have some good bats, 143 is not a huge total to chase and you’d expect to get that more often that not.”
Despite the loss, Lavington has retained second spot, while the Crows jumped into fifth.
And the win has put the club in the ideal position to contest finals.
“To play finals we wanted to beat a side above us before the end of the season,” Weeding said.
“So to beat them and hopefully beat Belvoir next week is a big chance for us.
“And we then finish with New City and Wodonga Raiders.”
Of the teams still in contention for the six, East Albury and St Patrick’s have the easiest draws, with two of their three matches against the bottom teams, New City and Raiders.
A win over Belvoir could well see the youthful club finish fourth, which would be a superb achievement, given it only won two games last season.
Ridd has been one of the association’s finest overseas recruits, averaging 30 with the bat in the lower order, and taking 27 wickets at 15.
