Taking their chances

Lake Illawarra and Kiama have made the most of their superior first day performances last week to claim outright wins in the latest round of the South Coast Cricket first grade competition on Saturday.

While the Lakers and Cavaliers prospered, Oak Flats probably batted a bit too long in their first innings against Warilla and allowed the Kookaburras to escape with a first innings loss, while The Rail kept their semi-final hopes alive after scoring a first innings win over Jamberoo.

Shellharbour’s semi-final hopes took a massive blow when they turned in their worst performance of the season to be defeated outright by Kiama at Kiama Sports Complex.

Resuming in trouble at 3-30 chasing Kiama’s 242, the Scorpions sank almost without trace in their first innings to be bundled out for just 91, with the consistent Mick Norris (3-20) and Ben King-Gee (4-20) doing most of the damage.

Forced to follow-on, Ned Taylor (49), Ben Mitchell (21), Pat Moulton (23) and Sam Powell (40 not out) batted better as their side tallied 166, with King-Gee (3-57), Norris (2-21) and Ryan Gunning (2-8) pick of the Cav’s bowlers.

Set just 17 to win, Kiama made short work of the task with Ben King-Gee remaining 16 not out.

Albion Park have slipped seventh spot on the competition table after slumping to a huge outright loss to competition front-runners Lake Illawarra at Howard Fowles Oval.

With the massive task of chasing the Lakers 298, the Park resumed at 3-30 and were bowled out for 99, with Mark Ulcigrai completing a great double with 5-27 after scoring 75 last week.

Following on, the Park against struggled for runs and were dismissed for 135, with Jesse Hancock (29) and Steve Milgate (35) the only ones to show much fight.

Ulcigrai (3-34) and Sam Constantinou (4-25) did most of the damage in the second innings.

A huge 153 partnership between Darren O’Connell and Ty Cherry was the highlight of Oak Flats first innings win over Warilla Sports at Oakleigh Park.

After Warilla were bowled out for 55 last week, Oak Flats resumed at 7-174 and continued to plunder the Kooka’s attack as O’Connell hit 23 fours in his unbeaten 152 (his second century of the season), while Cherry, who destroyed the Warilla batting last week, did likewise to their bowlers with his 64 including eight fours and two sixes as they declared at 8-293.

Batting a second time, the Sports batted better and at stumps were 7-182, with Mick Perry (40) and Allan Sullivan (55) best of the Warilla batsman, while Dave Insley and Phil Dell’Orefice each taking two wickets for the Rats.

The Rail’s lingering semi-final hopes stayed alive after scoring a comfortable first innings win over Jamberoo at Croom Road.

Resuming on 6-140 chasing Jamberoo’s 193, The Rail loost an early wickets, but returning representative batsman Bryley Richards (46 not out) and Andrew Warren (31) pushed their side to the lead, with the declaration made at 9-236.

Jamberoo safely negotiated the rest of the day and were dismissed just before stumps for 192, with Chris Oborn (42) and Chris McDonald (44) best of the batting, while wicketkeeper-cum-bowler Adrian Bartlett surprised the early Jamberoo batting and finished with 4-47.