IT was a case of so far so good for the favourites after the first day’s play of Murray Towns A grade two-day cricket on Saturday.
The top two teams of Imperials and Monarto have already secured first innings points against Jervois and Meningie respectively.
They should have little trouble in making the result an outright victory when the games are completed on Saturday.
The other games are more evenly poised with Karoonda and Mypolonga in the box seat.
Imperials v Jervois
Imperials are on a target for a crushing outright win against Jervois after yet another commanding display with both bat and ball.
After winning the toss Jervois elected to bat, but things went downhill immediately for the bottom side.
Imperials’ bowlers tore through the Bluds’ batting order, dimissing them for a disappointing total of 59.
What was even more impressive about this performance was that Imperials were missing half their regular bowling side, including Shaun Golding, Clay Leckie and Jarrad Thoman.
In their absence Tyson Wait and Nathan Williams stepped up, with Wait taking 3/13 and Williams 2/10 to be the best of the Blues’ bowlers.
Not one Jervois batsman made double figures with the top score of 14 coming from the sundries.
In response Imperials have racked up a big total in quick time, finishing the day on 7/189.
Contributions from all through order helped the home side to the total, with Todd Hillam (35), William Lipp (33), Tyson Wait (30), Luke Harrowfield (23 not out), Wayne Gilgen (22) and Craig Kempe (19) all worth a mention.
It was a great team effort by the Blues, with an outright victory appearing a mere formality next week.
Karoonda v Mannum
The home side won the toss and elected to bat first but was soon on the back foot losing the in-form Rhys Bullard for a duck.
From there Karoonda’s three key batsmen took over with Corey Knight, Luke Hocking and Scott Huxtable all compiling telling half centuries.
Huxtable finished on an even 50 while Hocking and Knight scored 55 each to see Karoonda go from 1/0 to 3/153.
Contributions from Bruce Kerr (29), Todd Schulz (11 not out) and Ryan Paech (10) down the order helped the Magpies to a highly competitive 231 before they were dismissed.
Zakk Bullard was the best of Mannum’s bowlers with 4/65, while Danny Walker and Shaun Richardson took two wickets each.
Mannum had to face out four overs before the end of the day’s play and sent bowlers Walker and Matt Jamieson to face the music, with Walker caught behind by Hocking for a duck to see them 1/2 at the end of the days play.
Jamieson was not out on one with Adrian Vivian yet to score.
While Karoonda’s total is imposing Mannum have a chance of overhauling it with big guns Dwayne Krollig, Zakk Bullard, Noel Hartman and Michael Trotter still to bat.
Meningie v Monarto
Because of work being done to Meningie’s oval the match was moved to Unity College in Murray Bridge.
Meningie won the toss and decided to have a hit.
The Lakesiders were on the back foot straight away with both openers removed for ducks, including the in-form Richard Boscence.
Monarto contributed to regularly make inroads in Meningie’s batting order with only captain Stewart Willis showing any resistance with a typically gritty 37.
Meningie were eventually dismissed for just 71, with Monarto’s Lyndon Grove (3/8) and Neil Anderson (3/27) the main destroyers.
Monarto were off to a solid start in response to the low score, losing their first wicket at 17.
Troy Cowland made a handy 17 opening the batting, while a 40-run four-wicket stand between Ty Pfeiffer (40 not out) and Harry Webb (34) allowed the Black Caps to cruise to first innings points.
They will continue this Saturday at 6/141, with Ty Pfeiffer resuming on 40 and brother Sam on 16.
Mypolonga Wanderers
Due to not receiving a summary sheet the report for this match will be brief.
From what I can understand Mypolonga batted first, occupying the crease for the majority of the day to reach a respectable 171 before begin bowled out.
Aaron Zrim top-scored with a dashing 72, while Mark Oborn (20), Gene Robinson (17) and Jack Daniell (17) all made handy contributions.
Jeff Hunter reported captured four wickets for the home side, while big bad Bryce Jaensch nailed a couple himself.
In reply Wanderers are in trouble at 1/0 at stumps with Zrim removing the dangerous Geoff Abdulla for a duck.
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