Orbost recorded a well deserved maiden victory in the 2024/25 Bairnsdale Cricket Association season, chasing down previously unbeaten ladder leader Lindenow South Glenaladale in round seven at the Lindenow South Recreation Reserve last Saturday.
It was a hard-fought win with plenty of players making contributions with the bat for the Blues, but ultimately it was the effort of all rounder Luke Endley who belted 50 from 42 balls, including four boundaries and a couple of towering sixes into the trees, who got his side home with three wickets in hand. But there were some anxious moments.
Orbost resumed at 1/30 after losing hard-hitting opening batsman Jayden Price last week for 14 with stumps in sight.
They got handy runs from Mikael Hulme (21), Alfie Lindsay (22), captain Curtley Farley (29) and Alex Hulme (14), who all
threatened to take charge of the bowling but weren’t able to convert starts into significant scores.
The Blues looked to be cruising for victory at 5/173, but when Freddie Wilkinson (14), who had been a good ally for Endley, and Nicholas Hulme went in successive overs, the Bulls had a sniff.
But a cool-headed knock from Braeden Ross (eight not out) under the guidance of Endley saw the Blues home, breathing a sigh of relief, the team happy to be on the board after a tough few months.
Nathan King bowled superbly for the Bulls taking 5/63 from 14 overs, his best performance with the ball since joining the team in the pre-season.
The Bulls remain on top of the ladder despite the loss and the Blues remain on the bottom of the table, but they could climb above St Mary’s Nagle if they can overcome the Saints this week.
They set high standards out at Lindenow South and the team did plenty of soul searching post match, spending plenty of time analysing the effort on the ground before retiring to the changerooms.
Co-captain Haydn Erfurth was disappointed in the batting on week one and feels the side has become complacent in recent weeks.
“Training numbers have declined and we got ourselves out last week, leaving too many runs in the shed and they capitalised. We need to regroup and work on our one percenters,” Erfurth said.
Lindenow South will host Paynesville in a one-day match at the Glenaladale Recreation Reserve this week.
