IONA’S C-grade side moved to second spot on the ladder after a thrilling win against top side Hallora at the weekend.
Hallora won the toss, elected to bat and started well with A. Pratt and C. Youngman putting on 51 for the first wicket.
Then Mick Jusic was introduced into the attack with great effect, dismissing the top three batsmen in quick succession.
It didn’t stop there as Jusic soon had another one and Nathan Vistarini claimed the first of his three wickets and Hallora was in trouble at 5/65.
Hallora was finally all out for a moderate 120.
Jusic, 4/17 and Vistarini, 3/17, were Iona’s best bowlers.
Iona lost its first two wickets for just 22 runs, but opener Sean McCormack and the in-form Jusic steadied the ship adding 43 for the third wicket until Jusic fell for 23.
Sean McCormack played well and made 40, but Iona fell away to be 8/107 before Phil Grant with 19 and Chris Addison got Iona over the line.
A GRADE (2)
Iona moved to second on the table after defeating Bunyip. Iona batted first and started solidly with the first wicket falling at 27.
William Grbic and Glen Bawden played well, taking the score to 63 before there was a middle-order collapse with the next three batsmen falling cheaply.
Bawden continued to play nicely and had good support from captain Andrew Davidson as they took the total to 121 until Bawden was dismissed for 43 and Iona was soon all out for 133.
The Iona bowling innings started well with Mick Neilson taking two early wickets before Troy Ferguson ripped through the middle to lower order, finishing with 4/29 and Bunyip was out for 94.
B GRADE (2)
Iona took on Bunyip in a one-dayer and bowling first, started well as Ross Donoghue and Jason Kelly both picked up an early wicket.
Thanks to an excellent partnership between D. Pronk and A. Rakip, Bunyip added 67 for the third wicket.
The Bunyip batsman continued to chip in and the finished 6/160.
The Iona innings started terribly as A. Begg and J. Stirling decimated the Iona top order to have them in all sorts of trouble at 5/15.
Richard Mitchell and captain Gary Kelly led the recovery with a partnership of 97, but when Mitchell fell for an excellent 61 the required amount proved too much and Iona finished its 40 overs 7/116.
UNDER 14
Iona is taking on Waterloo in a two-day contest.
Waterloo batted well and made 4/141 in 40 overs with B. Hamilton the top scorer making 35.
Leigh Donoghue was Iona’s only multiple wicket-taker with 2/22 from his seven overs and Dominic Sheeran did well taking three catches.
NEW PLAYERS WANTED
Any new player wanting to play for Iona is invited to contact Andrew Davidson on mobile 0438 709 705 or 5623 1282 (after hours) or alternatively Russell Ferguson on 5659 9207.
Training is on Tuesday nights at 6pm at the Murray Road Ground for juniors (under 12, 14, or 16) or Thursday night at 5.30pm if a senior player.
