By ONE SHORT

Another week in Grampians Cricket Association and unfortunately another forfeit, this time with Pomonal the offending team and Swifts-Great Western the recipient of easy points. 

At one stage Pomonal had three senior and under-16 and under-13 teams. But the club is now reduced to just one senior and one under-13s team. The situation must be a disappointment to past players who built the club to its former status. 

It might be time for Pomonal and Youth Club, which forfeited the previous week, to talk about amalgamation.

Of the games played, Youth Club and Chalambar staged a ripper at Stawell’s Central Park, with Youth Club sneaking home in a tense battle. 

Winning the toss and batting, Chalambar was all out in the 33rd over for 118, Reece Kettle the standout with 58, while Clubber Nic Baird returned his best figures of 6-37.

In reply, the Clubbers struggled to establish partnerships and with the score on 9-117 it was anybody’s game. But eventually the 10th wicket got Youth Club home, scoring 120.

Jarrod Illig was the hero for the winners with 47, and Josh Bywaters, Teague Vincent and Luke Walker each took two wickets.

In the remaining match, Buangor-Tatyoon had a comfortable 95-run win over Halls Gap. 

Batting first, the Hawks recorded 7-156 at a fraction less than four runs an over, the bulk of which were scored in a 90-run partnership between Tyler Cronin, 62, and Michael Harricks, 52.

The Gappers’ bowling featured a 3-37 from young Dillon Macallef. Hawks bowling honors went to Jacob Bates and James Phillips with three wickets each.

The program of matches for this week is Swifts-Great Western at home to Halls Gap, Buangor-Tatyoon hosting Chalambar, and Pomonal against Youth Club at Pomonal being the match of the round.

The Tigers will be looking to climb up the ladder at the Clubbers’ expense and will look to John Thewlis, Lynden Brewis, Lachlan Dalkin and skipper Lachie Green for a repeat performance.

The Clubbers are hoping for a repeat from Illig and Baird for a victory that might prove crucial at the end of the season. 

The Hawks have not lost a match for points this season, so it’s hard to see them dropping a game to Chalambar. 

Chalambar, while being competitive, will have to bring its best to topple the top team. Similarly, the Combine will not want to fall too far behind the Hawks on the ladder so they will be out to keep in touch by accounting for the Gappers.

This week: Swifts-Great Western v Halls Gap at Stawell’s Central Park, Buangor-Tatyoon v Chalambar at Tatyoon, Pomonal v Youth Club.

Last week: Buangor-Tatyoon 7-156 (T. Cronin 62, M. Harricks 52; D. Macallef 3-25) d Halls Gap 61 (J. Bates 3-12, J. Phillips 3-14), Youth Club 120 (J. Illig 47) d Chalambar 118 (R. Kettle 58; N. Baird 6-37), Swifts-Great Western d Pomonal on forfeit.

Ladder: Buangor-Tatyoon 27 points, 1.85 percent; Swifts-Great Western 18, 2.45; Youth Club 12, 1.07; Halls Gap 12, 1.67; Chalambar 6, 0.60; Pomonal 6, 0.36.

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