IONA’S first XI has gone to the top of the Warragul and District Cricket Association divisiontwo table with a good win over Bunyip on Saturday.
Bunyip won the toss electing to bat and started solidly with both openers looking in good touch.
Scott Hoare got the first breakthrough for Iona with a good caught and bowled to dismiss S. Witchell.
Former Iona players M. Jusic and K. Johnson soon followed and from there the innings went pear shaped for Bunyip as big leftarmer George Lineham got stuck into the middle order, picking up three quick wickets.
He had good support from the likes of Luke Ferguson and Michael Neilson who also grabbed a wicket each.
It was only thanks to some late hitting from A. Rakip (24), who also became Lineham’s fourth wicket, that Bunyip was able to mount a mediocre total of 9/84.
Lineham was the standout for Iona, snaring 4/7 from five overs and Scott Hoare chipped in with two toporder wickets.
Bunyip started well dismissing both of Iona’s openers with the score on 17, Josh Saik made a handy seven in a solid partnership with Andrew Davidson and when Saik was caught with Iona now 3/38.
Iona skipper Scott Hoare came out and took away any chance that Bunyip might have had as he began to cream its, dominating in a 47run stand with Davidson, Hoare scoring 36 of the runs.
Hoare fell one run after Iona had surpassed the Bunyip score, Davidson pressed on before falling for 32 and with the match over, the Iona tail fell away mostly thanks to D. Berryman who picked up three wickets.
Iona finished 9/130 from its 40 overs.
SECONDS
The Iona seconds started the season in fine form making short work of Bunyip.
Iona won the toss and elected to field starting superbly with Phil Medley continuing his great form from last week, picking up two wickets in his first over.
Brad King threw down the stumps to run out R. Jacobs and Medley soon had his third wicket with Bunyip in tatters at 4/7.
D. Hill made a solid 19 at the top of the order, but when he was dismissed by Gary Donoghue the spinner had little trouble finishing off the Bunyip tail, grabbing 3/6 to go with Medley’s 3/10. Bunyip was bundled out for 42 in just 21.1 overs.
The Iona openers then set out to make short work of the Bunyip total, lead by Jason Kelly. He and fellow opener Roger Bain went past the Bunyip total in an opening stand worth 68.
Kelly played some excellent shots, one in particular a pull shot that went for six.
Roger Bain went after making a solid 21 and Jason Sheedy fell cheaply.
The Kelly brothers then combined and continued the assault, punishing the dejected Bunyip attack, blasting the bowlers to all parts of the ground.
Dave Kelly reached his firstever 50 in senior cricket, but brother Jason was headed for a bigger milestone as he pressed on to bring up his maiden century in the final over of the innings and what was even more fitting was that brother Dave was there to share the moment.
The pair ended with an unbeaten stand of 113 for the third wicket as Iona finished 2/200 from 40 overs, Jason Kelly unbeaten on a superb 108 and David an excellent 56.
THIRDS
Iona defeated last season’s premiers Trafalgar in a close contest.
Trafalgar batted first and lost both openers cheaply, both falling to Richard Mitchell.
With the score at 2/33 A. Blaser and B. Dawson combined for a big thirdwicket partnership, putting on a stand worth 84 until Dawson fell to Will Braaksma for 33.
Blaser though continued to play well, hitting out towards the end of the innings finishing unbeaten on 73 to lead his side to a total of 4/175.
Richard Mitchell was the best of Iona’s bowlers with 2/21 from 7 overs.
Iona then started the innings very nicely with Brian and Raymond Campbell putting on 47 for the opening stand until Raymond was trapped in front on 20.
Brian Campbell made 30 and Iona was 2/66. Richard Mitchell then took control of the innings as he began to blast the Trafalgar bowlers to all parts of the field and dominating all partnerships he was involved in.
Mitchell eventually fell for 93 but with Iona only needing another five runs for victory he had done his job.
Trafalgar picked up a few cheap wickets at the end through Blaser and Smart who took two each as Iona finished the day 8/186.
