The chase is on

BEECHWORTH’S A grade side will need to eclipse their highest total with the bat this season if they’re to chase down 264 for victory against Rovers United Bruck and keep their place in the top four. Electing to bowl first at Baarmutha Park, the Wanderers were set on the back foot early with the opening stand of Josh Ansell and Bailey Dale proving hard to break, until the 21st over when Dean Fitzpatrick dismissed Ansell LBW. The Hawks were able to pile on the runs with Dale (61) and Josh O’Donohue (80) the biggest contributors, putting on 81 for the second-wicket partnership to assert their dominance. Back to back wickets late in the day gave Beechworth a slight chance to restrict some momentum, but a quick fire innings from Lucky Shantha (39* off 30 balls) provided the perfect cameo with O’Donohue, as RUB finished the day 5/263. Captain Brenton Surrey said his bowlers performed admirably throughout the day, but were met with an impressive all-round batting display from the Hawks. “They batted really well, the ball did a little bit early and it flattened out nicely, they didn’t give us many chances,” he said. “We probably weren’t able to put the squeeze on as well as we would have liked but we didn’t bowl too bad, it wasn’t our best fielding performance this season but it is a young team and there are some things we can work on.” Opening bowlers Tim Cogger and Gareth Taylor were economic off their 11 overs each but were unable to break through for wickets, as Fitzpatrick, Clancy Ellett, Surrey and Henry Scalzo all took one each. The Wanderers have caused upsets away from home this season which have included wins against RUB and Yarrawonga, but are surprisingly winless at Baarmutha Park with four straight games at home left to play. Surrey said there wasn’t much rhyme or reason to their home and away record, but he’s confident a positive approach with the bat tomorrow will secure their first home win of the season. “We’ll try and remain positive defending, positive scoring and positive with our running between wickets, which we have been all season,” he said. “We won’t try and change the way we’ll go about it, they bowl pretty deep so we’ll certainly have to respect their bowling so it’s going to be a good challenge. “We’re happy to take wins wherever, but we’ve got to start winning at home if we want to make finals.” In other grades last week, B grade was bowled out for a stunning 25 against Wangaratta Magpies, going down by eight wickets whileC grade had the bye. A grade will get underway from 1pm tomorrow.

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