Above: Beaconsfield batsman Brad Miles cuts a ball during his innings for the WGCA.– Brad Kingsbury
WEST Gippsland Cricket Association’s senior representative side was told a few home truths after a lethargic effort against the Yarra Valley Cricket Association at Pakenham on Sunday.
The WGCA conceded a gettable total of 204 with Dwayne Doig taking four wickets, but capitulated to be bowled out for only 106 in a lamentable effort against spirited opposition.
Excluding a gritty 36 from Beaconsfield batsman Kris Fletcher, the defending Country Week champions looked anything but a top team and WGCA co-ordinator Brett Armitage gave the players a blast after the game.
Armitage said that it was a good wake-up call for the team and warned that last season’s defeated rival leagues had already targeted the WGCA as the yardstick in the coming interleague competition.
The three junior teams to represent the league, the under 18s, under 16s and under 14s were on their games and had good victories over Yarra Valley combinations.
The under 18s played at Merinda Park, while the other two teams travelled to Seville for their games.
The highlight was the under 16 team bowling out its rival batsmen for only 19 in the 19th over of the day.
Jack Ryan was the standout performer with the ball taking 3/5.
Inexperience on turf wickets hampered the under 14s in their first hit-out a fortnight ago, but the youngsters adapted to the unfamiliar turf wicket well this week and won convincingly.
Full details and scores will be published in next week’s Gazette.
