IONA seconds had a scare against bottomplaced Warragul at the weekend, but narrowly escaped defeat to move into second place on the table.
Iona won the toss and elected to field and started well picking up an early wicket through mediumpacer Ross Donoghue. S. Wood then came to the crease and was lucky to survive a couple of close lbw shouts.
Wood along with Ray Watkins put on a handy partnership for the second wicket before Watkins edged one behind on 32 off the bowling of Phil Medley.
Wood continued to play his shots but was caught and bowled by Jason Sheedy also for 32 and Warragul was 3/78.
From there Iona was able to put a clamp on proceedings as Shaun McCormack and Gary Donoghue both bowled superbly.
Thomas Carey made a handy 17 and B. North made a shortlived 11, but they were the only other batsman to reach double figures as McCormack and Donoghue took 3/12 and 3/19 respectively to see Warragul knocked over for 116.
The Iona innings then started poorly with Sean McCormack and Jason Kelly bowled in consecutive overs and then an over later Matt Duffy was trapped in front as J. Wright picked up his second wicket and Iona were 3/19.
The rot didn’t end there as Roger Bain edged one to become Woods’ second wicket and then 11 runs later Jason Sheedy was bowled around his legs.
Bob Rogers then guided one to slips and Russell Ferguson was bowled by a brilliant delivery to leave Iona reeling at 7/43 with no player yet to register double figures.
Skipper Gary Donoghue came to the crease and he and Oscar Braaksma went about getting Iona in the game and both worked the ball around nicely in a wellconstructed partnership of 43.
Donoghue then top edged one on 12 with the game still far from won with Iona now 8/83.
Braaksma was now set and began to punish any bad balls that came his way as he flayed them to the boundary.
Phil Medley played a good support role and Braaksma reached his 50 with three runs needed for victory but it was the support act in Medley who scored the winning runs.
Braaksma went out soon after for 53 and Medley was the last to go as Iona finished allout for 125.
For Warragul J. Wright took three wickets.
FIRSTS
Iona’s took on Buln Buln in a twilight match and winning the toss elected to bat, but lost Luke Ferguson early for 13.
Daniel Tomasetti and acting cocaptain Craig Byrnes then combined in what was a very aggressive partnership as both batsmen, Tomasetti in particular looked to take on the Buln attack as they produced some excellent stroke play.
The pair registered their 100 partnership, but two runs later Byrnes was trapped in front by B.J. Lewien for 38 and ten runs later Tomasetti was cleaned up by J. Taylor.
Fellow cocaptain Shaun Taylor then creamed the Buln bowlers falling on 40.
Josh Saik made a handy 19 and Davidson a quick 14 to see Iona finish 7/211 from its 40 overs.
For Buln, Corey Jagoe continued his good season with the ball picking up three wickets.
Buln was determined when it out to bat, but J. Jagoe was out early for 17 bowled by Michael Neilson.
B.J. Lewien and Clinton Rowe then combined for Buln and in wet conditions for a put on a matchwinning partnership of 122 for the second wicket, both scoring half centuries in that time.
Luke Ferguson came back and broke the partnership, taking a good caughtandbowled to dismiss Rowe for 64 and shortly after Lewien also skied one off Ferguson and ’keeper Byrnes took the catch too see him out for 82.
Iona thought it had a chance, but Buln captain Corey Jagoe put an end to any hope as he blitzed the bowlers, scoring an unbeaten 37 to take his side to victory.
For Iona Ferguson took three wickets.
THIRDS
Iona went to Longwarry, batted first and lost both the Campbell’s early.
Skipper Nathan Vistarini found some form with the bat scoring 74 and Brad and Carl King each scored 20 odd, for Longwarry Madden and Thorne took two wickets each as Iona finished 8/187.
Longwarry then batted and started well as D. Sell scored 53 at the top off the order, along with fellow opener D. Holland who made 28.
Vistarini picked up four wickets, but it wasn’t enough to get his side home as the two Bourke’s combined with 47 and 34 each to take Longwarry to victory.
CRICKETERS WANTED
Anyone interested in playing senior or junior cricket is welcome to attend the Iona Cricket Club at Murray Rd, Iona on Thursday afternoons for training from 5pm or contact Andrew Davidson on 0438 709 705 or Michael Neilson 0438 295 966.
