Grand United’s Glenn Sullivan took 2/73 with the ball to go with his half century the previous week against Point Cook. 75349 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By Adem Saricaoglu
GRAND United Cricket Club failed to defend its 230 against Point Cook at Parsons Reserve on Saturday, going down by five runs in the WDCA round 10 clash.
Grand United made its 230
in 78.4 overs on day one of the
two-day game, but a steady middle-order partnership from Nico Kruger (78) and David Hicks (55) ensured Point Cook reached its target relatively comfortably in 69 overs for sevens wickets.
Kruger and Hicks added 87 runs to the total for the seventh wicket.
Grand United coach and bowler Dean Comensoli was very complimentary of the Kruger/Hicks partnership.
“The two of them really took it away from us after the tea break,” he said.
“They put on a magnificent partnership but we still should’ve held onto a few catches in the field.”
Grand United’s defence was off to a wonderful start on day two with Laka Ullah Khan dismissing Point Cook captain and opener Daryl Groves caught and bowled for a duck early in the innings.
Andrew Morton was next to go after making 29, before Karan Raichura was caught off the bowling of Troy Smith for 12, leaving Point Cook on 3/52.
Fifty runs were added for the next wicket, with Andy Peters joined at the crease by Kruger after Raichura’s dismissal.
Glenn Sullivan eventually broke the partnership when he had Peters caught by Adam Wilson for 33.
That wicket then brought Hicks to the crease.
Dean Comensoli’s only wicket for the game broke the 87-run partnership, trapping Kruger LBW for 78, however Stephen Luedi (14) helped Hicks chase down the remaining 33 runs required for victory.
Comensoli said losing close matches was a reality of the game.
“We’re a bit disappointed because we thought we had enough runs but (Point Cook) just batted extremely well.
“We’ll go back and work on our fielding because some of those errors yesterday really cost us.”
Grand United is expecting to
bolster its side for its upcoming
two-day match against West Newport with star bowler Clinton Chugg,
who has conceded just 52 runs off 40 overs so far this summer and batsman Darren Jury due to return this Saturday.
