THE TWELFTH MAN
HDCA – B Grade
CASTERTON Districts has fallen to College at Island Park by three wickets, as the home side pushed the top of the ladder Eagles all day in round 15 of the Hamilton and District Cricket Association B Grade competition on Saturday.
The Maroons entered the game in second spot on the ladder knowing that final ladder placings would decide if the team would host a semifinal or not, as only the top two get to host these games.
The home side won the toss and elected to bat first, but Tim Holmes was on his way from the fourth ball of the game as Lachie Walk struck for College.
Justin Carlin continued his good form with the willow in hand as the opener added 43 to his season tally, to lead the competition run getters list by 80 runs.
The home side never got into a scoring rhythm and finished with 9-125 from its allotted overs, with College skipper, Johnathan Jenkin, throwing the ball at all 10 of his teammates to confuse the batsmen and the tactic worked.
Will Jackson helped the Maroons get to its final tally with 21 – as the only other player to reach 20 – as Will Bourke grabbed 3-6 to grab the bowling honours.
College was in early trouble losing the top three batsmen in the order quickly as the home side roared back into the contest with the ball in hand, but Elton Brinkman with 75-not-out guided the Eagles to their target with seven wickets down.
The loss drops Casterton District to third and with three games remaining it must win all three to claim second spot and a home final.
The other game in the round saw Hamilton claim that second spot with a 100-run victory against St Andrews as Hamish Shipcott (66-not-out) and Robbie Cook (51-not-out) added 95 undefeated runs for the eighth wicket as Hamilton posted 7-203.
In reply, St Andrews was never in contention as they were dismissed for only 103 with Adam Nankivell (23-not-out) and Craig Dimond (24) were the only batsmen to post 20.
