Rats close in on prize

Oak Flats have continued their late charge toward the South Coast cricket minor premiership after taking first innings points against Shellharbour at Geoff Shaw Oval on Saturday.

Needing to take maximum points against the Scorpions and relying on premiers Warilla Sports to down leaders Lake Illawarra to clinch the coveted top spot, the Rats bowled Shellharbour out for just 133, with spinner Phil Dell’Orefice taking 6-36 off 15.1 overs, claiming first innings points before stumps.

Ben Mitchell, Ned Taylor and Mitchell Phelps all got starts for the visitors but none could go past Phelps’ 28, while veterans Kerry Penfold (54 not out) and Darren O’Connell (49 not out) will lead the race for quick runs next weekend as they try to extend their eight-run lead.

Lake are in a lot of trouble in a low-scoring match at Oakleigh Park, still needing 37 runs with three first innings wickets in hand to take first innings points against Warilla.

Youngster Adam Tracey carried the Sporties innings on his back with a polished 51 as his side was bundled out for 133, with Brendan White bowling superbly for the Lakers and finished with 6-68 off 20.4 successive overs.

In reply, another young batsman, Lake’s Kerrod White, played a similar lone-hand before being dismissed for 39 as Lake slumped to 7-97 at stumps.

Spinners Gavin McCauley (3-36) and Scott Cox (2-11) routed the Lake batting, while Corey Piccarillo also bowled well to finish with 2-19, leaving Mark Ulcigrai and the Lake tail a big task next weekend.

A superb innings of 94 by The Rail allrounder Col Yeaman has ended Gerringong’s hopes of overtaking The Rail and gaining a semi-final spot at Croom Rd.

Gerringong gambled and sent the home side in to bat and for a while it looked like paying off as The Rail slumped to 4-34, but Yeaman slowly gained momentum and with support from several other batsmen, allowed his side to finish with a neat 200.

Travis McMahon finished with three wickets and Dan Jones, Jesse O’Hare and Steve Brooks two apiece for the Jets, who will resume at 0-13 next week.

A gallant late-order innings from young Jamberoo batsman Lachlan Staniforth has given Jamberoo the upper hand in their match against Albion Park at Keith Grey Oval.

Jamberoo were struggling at 5-93 and 6-130 before Staniforth bludgeoned an aggressive 82, including sharing a last wicket partnership of 56 with Josiah Riddington, similar to the one Riddington shared with Scott Adams against Oak Flats last round, as the Roos finished with 244.

Trent Burns, Paul Schofield and Hayden McKay took two wickets apiece for the Eagles. In reply the home side lost McKay before stumps to be 1-21.