Big win a sign of defending champs’ intent

SOUTH COAST CRICKET
JOEL RITCHIE

OAK FLATS fired a warning shot over the bows of its South Coast cricket rivals with a 67-run, first innings win over Albion Park at Keith Grey Oval on Saturday.

Albion Park had all week to prepare for their chase of Oak Flats’ first innings total of 203, but could only muster 136 in reply.

Peter Abela (31) and Dan Abela (24) were the only Albion Park bats to offer resistance while four Oak Flats bowlers claimed two wickets.

The Park were in early trouble at 3/29 and kept losing regular wickets.

Oak Flats batted again after securing first innings points and reached 3/36 at stumps.

Meanwhile, young gun Nic Maddinson blasted a century as Warilla Sports scored a first innings win over The Rail at Croome Road Sporting Complex.

The youngster, who has been plundering South Coast senior and junior attacks alike for the past couple of seasons, slammed 101 as the Kookas reached 9/238 in reply to the Razorbacks’ first innings total of 131.

Brynley Richards was best with the ball for the Razorbacks, snaring 3/16. The host reached 6/61 at stumps on day two to avoid outright defeat.

Maddison completed a handy double with 2/13 while Frank Hidasi snared 2/6.

At Howard Fowles Oval Lake Illawarra came within two wickets of outright victory against Kiama.

The Cavs resumed on day two at 3/19, 232 runs adrift of their first innings target of 251.

To their credit they battled back to reach 161 for a first innings deficit of 90 runs.

Tim Wolf hit 58 for Kiama while Brendan White (3/39) was the pick of the Lake bowlers. The Lakers made a bid for outright points and declared their second innings at 6/69, setting Kiama 159 to win.

The Cavs managed to hang on and reached 8/96 at stumps, despite a haul of 3/7 by Joel Hill.

The Shellharbour-Jamberoo clash at Tom Willoughby Oval started a week late but the hosts managed to secure first innings victory.

Jamberoo scored 100before the hosts reached 123 in reply.