Cricket chaos for OVU Tigers

THE conclusion of Ovens Valley United’s A grade clash with Beechworth was one of the more bizarre series of events you’re likely to find on a cricket field. After resuming at 6/44 chasing 99 for victory, the Tigers were bowled out for 76 runs, with Cooper Thomason (16*) and Kane Fitzpatrick (19) doing their best to drag their team over the line. After Fitzpatrick was removed by a sharp catch, the tail flopped, with ducks for batters nine through to 11. With plenty of time left in the game, the Wanderers had another bat, but were helpless against Geeth Alwis and were bowled out for just 65 in 28 overs. Alwis kept attacking the pads, weaving his way to 5/8 from his 11 overs, with match figures of 10/32 from 25.4 overs in an incredible display of spin bowling. Beechworth held a lead of 87 runs in the second innings, with 28 overs left in the day for Ovens Valley to try the impossible and attempt the reverse outright. Cooper Thomason continued his impressive form from Melbourne Country Week, managing the difficult surface well for his 12. Gregor Fraser (23 from 48) and Noah White (14 from 37) worked well in the middle order, but as the runs required ticked ever downward, the wickets kept falling. Matthew Ryan was the spearhead for Beechworth, taking his 5/33 at three an over, bringing his match figures to 10/48. The match wore on, with both results still well and truly in play. The Tigers were sitting at 9/83 with one over left in the day, needing five runs without losing a wicket. The running was frantic, the bowling was tight, but Ovens Valley could only manage 9/86, just two runs shy of their target. Skipper Dylan Bursill said it was a hectic day of cricket. “It was a bit of a crazy game on the weekend,” he said. “We lost the first innings after a pretty good start between Kane and Cooper Thomason, we put on 30 before we lost a wicket so we were looking good. “When Kane went out to a pretty decent catch, it just went bang, bang, bang and it was all over before we knew it. “It (the pitch) just deteriorated a bit, it was staying low, not much life in it, so it was hard to bat, especially with the spinners. “At one stage there we needed seven off 13 balls, we had four wickets in hand, but we just couldn’t get them. “Credit to Beechworth, they bowled well and fielded really well, there were no misfields or anything, and they took some good catches too.” The result means the Tigers must rely on other matches, and a convincing win over Wangaratta Magpies if they hope to make the finals. They’ll take the next two weeks off with the bye, before heading to the Wangaratta Showgrounds on March 8. “If Beechworth beat Magpies this weekend, it’ll probably be up to the last game,” Bursill said. “We’ll take a lot of confidence in and hopefully finish off our season well in the last round.”

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