Spring cricket back in swing

Alice Caldow is pictured exhibiting her trademark skill, batting with brother David against bowler Matt Smith.The pair pushed the total to 155 at the end of the 25 overs. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Margie McClelland.

By Mick Cattanach

The first round of the Hay cricket competition for this season was a smashing success.

The competition this year will be a T25 comp with 25 over games played right through the season.

The first game saw newly formed Hay Titans take on freshly named South Hay Crusaders.

Winning the toss and batting first the Crusaders lost Tom McGufficke early, but Zac O’Neil joined Simon Bunyan and the two of them reaching 35 before Zac lost his wicket.

Simon then anchored the innings, getting the total to 125 combining with brother Jason Bunyan and Alice Caldow, before Josh Gardiner removed Simon for 77.

Dynamic brother sister duo David and Alice Caldow then pushed the total on to 155 at the end of the 25 overs in an unbroken partnership.

Josh Gardiner picked up two wickets, while Pintu Goswami was his usual miserly bowler.

In response Jason Bunyan picked up a wicket in his first over, and with Alice Caldow picking up early wickets, put the Titans under pressure from the start.

Pintu and Matt Smith combined in a short partnership but they were unable to hold out the Crusaders bowlers.

Despite Josh reaching double figures later in the innings, no Titans batsman was able to threaten the total as they were bowled out for 55, in the 17th over, Crusaders finishing as dominant winners.

South Hay Crusaders 5/155 (S Bunyan 77, D Caldow 20 not out, Z O’Neil 15, J Bunyan 12, A Caldow 10 not out, J Gardiner 2/11) defeated Hay Titans 55 all out (J Gardiner 13, A Caldow 3/15, D Caldow 2/8).

In the second game the South Hay Colts took on the Riverina Hotel.

Winning the toss and batting, the Colts lost Ferg and Jack Cattanach cheaply, both bowled by Liam Whitbourne and Dean Aylett respectively.

However, this bought Monte Barnes and Jensen Hargreaves together and they batted the majority of the innings building an imposing total, with Jensen the aggressor bringing up his maiden century in a great knock before being dismissed the next ball.

At the close the Colts had reached 166, only three down. In reply the Riv openers, Liam and Dean got the innings off to a flyer reaching 61 without loss in the 9th over, but Isaac Gardiner struck getting Liam caught and bowled.

This changed the momentum of the innings and when Harry Agar lured Dean into a catch at point, removing him for 58, the Riv chase had some work to do at 85.

Jason Aylett led the innings from that point but Josh Gardiner joined the Colts attack and from that point he consistent left armers broke the Riv batsman as he picked up five wickets over a tight five over spell.

Jason was eventually bowled by Jensen, after shepherding the Riv chase. A couple of big blows by Jimmy Caldow couldn’t take the momentum away from the Colts who eventually bowled out the Riv for 143 in the 23rd over.

South Hay Colts 3/166 (J Hargreaves 100, M Barnes 46 not out) defeated Riverina Hotel 143 all out (D Aylett 58, J Aylett 34, J Caldow 14 not out, L Whitbourne 14, J Gardiner 5/16, I Gardiner 2/18, J Hargreaves 2/21).