Eyes on the sky

GCA - Swifts/Great Western will be hoping there is not a repeat of last week's wild weather as the final round of the A grade Grampians Cricket Association moves into its final day.

Sitting at 2/9 in reply to Youth Club's first innings offering of 96 runs, the Combine are currently in a precarious position.

Having already lost James Devery and Sam Cocks for no runs, it will be up to Travis Nicholson (six not out) and night watchman Jamie Bach (three) to get quick runs on the board.

With Gary Ranton and Rick Peters to come, the Combine are likely to surpass Youth Club's first innings total but it all depends on the weather.

If it is a damp turf wicket at Central Park, the Clubbers bowling attack led by Jamie Solyom, Steve Le Gassick, Cam Kimber and Jack Kelly will be set to pounce.

Le Gassick and Kimber have already picked up a wicket and must add to their total to prevent Swifts/Great Western from picking up early points.

Should Youth Club bat again and this is somewhat likely, the pressure is on Steve Le Gassick, Marcus Marrow, Tim Seymour and Matt Delzotto to make a decent score and prevent the Clubbers second outright loss in a row.

However if the Clubbers are again on a soggy wicket and with Combine bowlers Marc Brilliant, Jamie Bach, Jackson Dark and Damien Scott in good form, the odds may be stacked against them.

Aradale are set to claim maximum points tomorrow when they meet Pomonal on the final day of their two day encounter.

Pomonal's batsmen had no joy again last weekend, posting a paltry 74 runs in their first innings.

Aradale didn't have any trouble chasing down the total and eventually declared at 5/121 with their eyes firmly on an outright win.

Pomonal resume their second innings at 3/13, having already lost three top order batsmen in Rick Oliver, Nick Madison and Alex Malligan.

Nick Scott and Lee Oliver would be out to restore some pride for the visitors, who face another year of finishing on the bottom.

They will need assistance from Robert McKinnon, Lynden Brewis and Luke Roberts but face an almost impossible task of getting past in-form Aradale bowling trio Brent Tate, Matthew Baldock and John Butler.

Tatyoon is set to build on its first innings score on day two of their clash with Buangor.

Buangor showed plenty of promise last week, posting a total of 214 on the opening day of play.

In reply, Tatyoon have made a perfect start and currently sit at 0/58 with Andrew McDougall (28 not out) and Lachlan Laidlaw (27) to resume at the crease.

Tatyoon have plenty of batting depth and, barring a disastrous collapse, should be able to secure the points.

The pressure will be on Buangor bowlers Ben Hargreaves, Shaun Allen, Harry Ganley and Jack Ganley to break the partnership between McDougall and Laidlaw.

Although with premier all-rounder and captain Jarred Blandford as well as reliable batsmen Andrew Ward and Darren Beer to come, Buangor face an uphill battle to stop Tatyoon in their tracks.

Highlight of the round so far has been provided by Nic Clough, who scored an unbeaten century on day one to put B grade Swifts/Great Western in the box seat against Chalambar.

A grade

Swifts/Western 2/9 v Youth Club 96

Aradale 5/121 v Pomonal 74 & 2/13

Tatyoon 0/58 v Buangor 214

B grade

Navarre 3/110 v Pomonal 112

Chalambar 4/39 v Swifts/Great Western 2/235

Youth Club 0/67 v Halls Gap 126

C grade

Aradale v St Andrews (ARA)

Chalambar v Buangor (GS)

Pomonal v Navarre (POM)

Rhymney/Moyston v Halls Gap (MOY)

Willaura - bye.

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