Undermanned Goannas put up good fightagainst Yarra Valley

Cricket Veterans

ASEVERELY depleted Gippsland Goannas Over 60 cricket team travelled to Wandin North to take on the Yarra Valley Veterans team on Sunday.

With Ian Southall opening the bowling for the National Over 70 team in Brisbane, five other regular players attending acarnival in NSW, and captain Rino Metlikovec injured, Yarra Valley won the toss and batted first.

Peter Anton and Rob Bacchetti opened the bowling and the first wicket fell in the fourthover, when Bacchetti bowled the opening bat.

After eight overs Barrie Nunn, and Moe recruit Chris de Vent, came on when the score was 1/33.

Rob Taylor took agood catch from de Vent’s bowling to have Yarra Valley 2/69 after 12 overs.

The bowling changes came thick and fast as six different bowlers were used within seven overs!

Yarra Valley had reached 116 at the 20 over drinks break.

Ray Floyd, Neil Meredith and Andrew Smith were all used before then.

Another recruit,Traralgon’s Mark Brown, entered the attack after drinks and took areturn catch from Bill Dobson in his second over.

RobTaylor bowled some of his straight breaks andinduced an error for Yarra Valley to be 4/170 after 30 overs.

Bacchetti and Meredith both returned for second spells, and de Vent took over the wicket keeping duties to allow Ian Gibson to have abowl.

Ten Goannas had rolled theirarms over,with Bacchetti, de Vent, Meredith, Smith, Brown and Taylor each taking awicket.

Taylor, Meredith, Brown and de Vent each took acatch, and Meredith and Nunn each effected a run out as the Yarra Valleyveterans reached 8/223 from their 40 overs.

The Goannas innings started disastrously as Floyd was run out in the first over, without facing aball: arare diamond duck!

Taylor started well,and had been joined by Anton, who made aquick17before being caught offa slow bowler.

Brown hit 10 before falling in the same way.

Meredith was bowled for one and the Goannas were just 4/41 at this stage.

Bacchettijoined Taylor, taking the score to 79 in the18thover, then Bacchetti was run out for 10.

Taylor had retired for awell-made 42 from 36 ballsand Gibson and de Venttook the Goannas to drinks at 5/88.

Their partnership continued, both retiring after facing 30 balls. Bob Duljas had ashort innings, Jim Armstrong retired after an aggressive innings of 40 from 24 balls, Nunn made five allowing Gibson and de Vent to return to the crease.

They finished with 19 and 17 respectivelyand Andrew Smith was 13 not out as the Goannaswere all out for 185 in the 38th over.

The Goannas face theVic Country Veteransthis weekend in adouble-header.

The Over60teamwill play at the Traralgon Reserve on Sundayand the Over70team plays at Yinnar on Monday.

Practice continues at Glengarry on Wednesday from 4.45pm.