General News
1 December, 2024
Young quick helps Biddon-Tooraweenah to important win
While early missed opportunities in the field made the eventual success hard work, two key catches to economical inswing bowler Oscar Spora helped Biddon-Tooraweenah to a 22-run win in Saturday’s Bendigo Bank ABC Shield cricket round four match against USC-Marthaguy at Warren’s Victoria Park.
Spora was also an important player with ball, the young quick bowling six maidens, including four consecutively between his third and sixth overs. Biddon-Tooraweenah’s 5-157 off 40 overs proved enough with hosts USC-Marthaguy in reply bowled out for 135 in the 39th over.
After Biddon-Tooraweenah had shelled chances in the field, Hugh Duncan (50) and Ben Storer (26) capitalised in a 78-run second wicket stand. The hosts were well-placed at 1-77 after 22 overs, but soon fell to 4-96 and then 6-117. However, Spora caught both set batsmen, including one great grab at deep mid-off where he dived low and held onto a tough chance. Biddon-Toora team-mates nickname Luke Harrison ‘The Mop’ because he can clean up tails. In this match, it proved so as Harrison (4-41 off 7.2 overs) removed both Duncan and Storer and then picked up two lower-order wickets to play a key role alongside Spora. The rest of Biddon-Tooraweenah’s attack was solid with Jon Kilby (2-27 off eight overs), Paul Lambell (1-22 off seven overs) and Clint Walker (1-37 off eight overs) all claiming wickets.
USC-Marthaguy’s Hugh Maunder (30) hit two sixes and threatened to take the game away from Biddon-Toora but when Spora bowled him it left USC-Marthaguy 8-127 and in deep trouble. Earlier, Biddon-Toora was patient in accumulating its good total on a low but consistent Victoria Park wicket which played well. Will Lambell (43) and skipper Jaimie Zell (21) put on 71 runs for the second wicket and were determined to bat time and make life easier for Biddon-Tooraweenah’s middle-and-lower-order. After being 1-43 at drinks, Biddon-Toora were able to smash 114 runs from the final 20 overs, including 67 from the last 10.
Bevan Peart (38 not out) played a key role after walking to the crease with Biddon-Toora at 4-90 in the 30th over. Harrison (17), Lambell (14) and Jon Kilby (12 not out) also made fast contributions in a good team batting display, which skipper Zell thought was enough. “It was important we set a platform with the bat and it was a good total,” he said. “The wicket was really good … Bevan played an excellent knock and we felt it was enough. He was able to put the food down hard. We dropped some chances and made it much harder than it needed to be but were able to hold on for a good win.”
