Paynesville scored its fourth win of the Bairnsdale Cricket Association BCA
season, knocking Lakes Entrance of the top of the ladder in the process.
Lakes Entrance went into the clash the round 13 fixture at AJ Freeman Reserve in Paynesville sitting pretty on top of the table and hopeful of an outright win, but it wasn’t to be.
The loss has seen the Seagulls drop to second place on the ladder behind Lindenow South Glenaladale, who reclaimed the top rung it has occupied for much of the season.
Lakes Entrance is assured a top-two finish and a home semi final in the first week of finals and could finish on top of the ladder if it knocks off West Bairnsdale in the final round two-day game at home starting this Saturday, providing the all-conquering Wy Yung can defeat the Bulls.
While the Gulls will go into the final round of matches in seventh place and quietly confident of beating Lucknow, given the two outfits form in recent weeks.
It was a disappointing performance from the Seagulls against the Gulls who have stuck to their task manfully in a long season, since being elevated to “A” grade competition after the round one reshuffle.
The match certainly wasn’t without controversy which may have had some significant impact on the result, but the scorebook indicated a win to Paynesville and that is what will go down in the BCA annuals.
Paynesville won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket which possessed plenty of bounce and the Gulls were quickly in trouble at 4/10 as Jake Le Maitre (4/23) turned the clock back going through the top order with a superb opening spell.
A 40-run partnership between, Lachie Wilmott (40) and Caleb Marsh (20) saw some respectability added.
That combined with 12 from Luke Bond and a more than handy 17 not out from Lochie Wells, Paynesville scrounged its way to 111, bowled out in the 49th over.
Irish left arm spinner Sam Kincaid was again pivotal for the Seagulls picking up 5/63 in another impressive performance from the young man.
Batting wasn’t made to look easy by the powerful Lakes line-up, which has managed to put together significant partnerships in each of its 10 wins thus far this season, but that wasn’t the case against Paynesville, who were up and about and sensing victory.
Jarryd Leworthy (14), Liam Allen (20), Ryan Hooper (10) and Phani Kumar (14) all made contributions but no one looked comfortable against some hostile bowling from Bond and a steady spell from Brayden Radford (2/40).
The Seagulls limped to 6/78 at stumps and could well have been all out had the Gulls held several relatively easy chances.
Bond bowled superbly taking 4/31 from 15 consecutive overs on day one, though he did loss his radar on a number of occasions, delivering several full balls that were clearly over waste height.
One was called a no-ball and the others were surprisingly ignored, which did see the umpires approached by both Seagulls co-captains at the completion of play.
As play began on day two Bond was given an official warning by the umpires for his indiscretions on day one, but this fired the tall Englishman up, responding by taking three wickets in his first over to take his figures to 7/34 as Radford claimed the last wicket, Lakes dismissed for just 81, losing four wickets in 13 minutes.
Paynesville was keen to start the celebrations but the Seagulls were keen to get back out in the field.
The Gulls were dismissed in the 60th over for 127, with healthy contributions from Radford (28), Schoultz (31) and Rod Clack, who made 31 from 26 balls, including four lusty struck maximums.
Kincaid was again superb taking 6/45, making it 11 wickets for the match, while Josh Sackfield chipped in with 3/48.
Rain caused the abandonment of play as the Seagulls prepared to embark on an unlikely run chase, 157 from 16 overs.
The Seagulls have a few days to do some soul searching before embarking on a huge weekend of cricket, including Sunday’s one day final against Lindenow South Glenaladale at the Lakes Entrance Recreation Reserve, which may give everyone a clearer picture of where they sit in the BCA finals calculations.
