LEETON recorded a crushing 114-run victory over the top-ranked Riverina side, Cricket Albury-Wodonga (CAW), in the opening round of the Konica Cup at Alexandra Park, West Albury last Sunday.
It was Leeton's most emphatic victory over the border cities for decades and was achieved despite the disruption of losing captain Mick Day and Todd Norton late in the week for personal reasons. It also served as pay-back for last year's demoralising loss to CAW at Mark Taylor Oval.
From the time stand-in skipper Mark Shelley won the toss and elected to bat, Leeton was always in the box seat in a high-scoring contest. But it was the tremendous fighting spirit and determination of the Wolves that put the sword to CAW.
The new opening batting combination of Ashley Fraser and Matt Curry put on a match-winning exhibition of faultless power batting to record a 129 partnership in just 21 overs.
Curry's 77 was all class and came in 96 minutes from just 59 deliveries. Fraser for once was forced to play second fiddle, but his healthy 42 runs came in 92 minutes from 73 deliveries.
After caning the CAW attack for an hour-and-a-half, both openers fell in consecutive overs and the Leeton batting looked to be exposed without the experience of skipper Day. However, Leeton Soldiers Club youngsters Nathan Schubert and Tyler Stiller consolidated the great start with a 64-run stand before Schubert fell for an aggressive 36.
Joined by experienced campaigner Adrian Axtill (29), Stiller added a further stand of 45 before he lost his wicket for 23 valuable runs as he attempted to increase the run rate. His innings lasted 75 minutes and he faced 57 deliveries in a fantastic senior representative debut for his home town.
Frank Iannelli (2) and Axtill both lost their wickets with the score at 230 with Axtill scoring at a run-a-ball.
The party wasn't over for Leeton yet as Colts pair Jaryd Day (29) and Reece Maguire (15) continued to plunder the CAW attack and added another 34 runs. When Maguire departed, Brendon Greatz (18no) and Day belted another 26 runs.
Greatz and Mark Burns (7no) took 15 runs from the final two overs and Leeton had recorded a satisfying 8-305 in its 50 overs. The CAW bowlers had bled exactly 100 runs from the last 13 overs of the innings.
Medium pacer Michael Klienboorschate (3-60) was the pick of the bowlers, while English spinner Ashley Hochin grabbed 2-47 from 10 overs of left orthodox spin. Alistair Rose copped a caning from the Leeton tail, but captured 2-59.
Needing 306 to win on a perfect batting wicket, CAW was met head on by a fiery Greatz (2-32), who blasted out the top order to have them floundering at 2-22 in just five overs. Supported by an accurate Burns and some outstanding fielding, Greatz tormented CAW with six overs of aggressive fast bowling.
With its confidence severely dented, CAW suffered another early blow due to a brilliant piece of fielding by Fraser who ran out James Tonkin to leave them at 3-27.
Worse was to come for CAW as the old-stagers Garth Chambers (2-13) and Axtill took up the attack with sustained and accurate medium pace bowling. Between them they bowled 11 overs in a spell and conceded only 30 runs.
Axtill played his part with another brilliant run-out to dispose of Josh Warren-Marmo, who had scored a fortunate century for CAW in last year's game at Leeton.
With CAW's spirit now broken, spinners Shelley (3-48) and Schubert entered the attack with 22 overs remaining and CAW needing another 180 runs. Shelley prised out two more wickets and Schubert one, leaving CAW on the ropes at 9-183.
Despite a gallant 72 not out from Josh Mallichan, the final nail was hammered into the CAW coffin when Maguire deservedly grabbed a difficult catch off Shelley's bowling in the 39th over to complete the rewarding victory. CAW finished with a total of 191 to lose by 114 runs.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter