Youth Club batsman Matt Delzotto is pictured preparing to smack this delivery from a Buangor opponent on Saturday. Delzotto managed to make 13 runs before becoming Jack Ganley’s second victim for the afternoon. Picture: MARK McMILLAN
GCA - A century by Jarred Blandford has helped Tatyoon gain the upper hand against Swifts/Great Western following day one of their two day A grade Grampians Cricket Association encounter.
Batting first, Tatyoon got off to a shaky start with opener Nathan O'Brien trapped leg before wicket without scoring, leaving the visitors vulnerable at 1/0.
Blandford then took to the crease, putting on a 70-run partnership with Andrew McDougall before McDougall was bowled out by Marc Brilliant on 45.
Brilliant then claimed Andrew Ward for just three runs and the Combine seemed to be back on track.
However Blandford was proving to be a problem for bowlers, making his way to 129 runs before being run out courtesy of Gary Ranton.
Middle order batsmen Tim McDougall (38), Lachlan Laidlaw (29) and Michael Harricks (18) chipped in while Gary Ranton claimed two of the last three wickets to end Tatyoon's innings on 320.
Ranton was the best of the Combine bowlers, returning 3/45 while Marc Brilliant and Jamie Bach claimed two wickets each.
In reply, Swifts/Great Western are sitting at 0/5 with James Devery (1) and Sam Cocks (3) set to resume batting this weekend.
Youth Club has already taken first innings points in their clash with Buangor.
The Clubbers sent Buangor in to bat and were in control from the outset, with Steve Le Gassick producing a sterling performance, picking up 4/18.
Jack Kelly claimed 3/40 while Angus Barham continued his rise with 2/6 off just four overs as Buangor were bowled out for an underwhelming 94 runs.
Youth Club's innings got off to a slow start with opening batsmen Steve Le Gassick and Matt Delzotto falling victim to the dangerous Jack Ganley.
However, Clubbers allrounders Marcus Marrow and Tim Seymour steadied the ship and produced a partnership that would guide their team past the set target.
Seymour was eventually dismissed for 54, while Marrow continued on, remaining unbeaten on 65, which included 10 boundaries.
Aradale is in a commanding position following day one of their two day match against cross town rivals St Andrews.
Jon Townsend did most of the damage with the bat, making 89 runs before falling victim to Jacob Bates.
Brent Tate and Cameron Ralph helped out with 29 runs apiece while Tyler Cronin added 24 as Aradale notched up a first innings score of 234.
Leading the way for Saints bowlers was John Hosking with 5/55, including the vital wickets of Cronin and Matthew Stasse (12).
St Andrews didn't get off to the start they would have liked, losing opening batsman Bart Wilson for just one run.
Saints are sitting at 1/6 in reply, with Tom Schwab and Jacob Bates to resume the run chase this weekend.
Alexander Rogers claimed 5/29 for Navarre in the B grade clash against Swifts/Great Western while Jacob Johnson took 4/6 in Willaura's C grade win over St Andrews.
