By One Short

Bowlers dominated round-four of Grampians Cricket Association matches on Saturday.

Some good figures were returned as batsmen struggled to make runs. 

At Great Western, an 80-over match moved from Alexandra Oval was finished after just 27 overs as Chalambar collapsed for a mere 42 runs. 

Clubber’s bowlers Damon Folkes and Cam Kimber both took five wickets. 

In reply Clubbers passed the tally with three wickets down. 

Halls Gap fared even worse, dismissed for just 35, chasing St Andrews’ 142.

Batting first, the Saints were dismissed in the 39th over with Ned Bohner, 36, and Michael Harricks, 40, the principal run getters. 

Josh Reid was the best Gapper bowler with 4-33. 

Bohner completed a fine double by taking 4-6 from seven overs. 

In a more balanced game at Central Park, Stawell, Swifts-Great Western completed its first win by defeating Pomonal by 47 runs. 

Invited to bat, the Combines innings finished on 6-158 with all batsmen getting a few, the best Tom Eckel on 56 not out. 

In reply, the Tigers’ wickets fell regularly until they were dismissed for 111. 

Mick Armstrong was the best of the Tigers’ batsmen with 43. 

Former A-Grade premiership captain, all-rounder Jackson Dark, made a comeback and took the bowling honours with 3-12.

This Saturday sees the start of two-day games, which is a repeat of the round-one one-day fixture, with Youth Club versus Swifts-Great Western once again the main game. 

The Clubbers had a sound victory in round one, a crushing win last week, and will go into this match full of confidence.

Their bowlers will be hoping for a repeat performance from Kimber and Folkes in order to make early inroads into the Combines long batting line-up, which was strengthened by the inclusion of Dark last week.

 The Combine was missing a few of their better players last game, but you can bet most of them will be back for this traditional clash. 

Pomonal is at home to St Andrews, who are looking like the big improvers this season and will have to be on their mettle against the likes of Tom Mills, Michael Harricks, Ned Bohner and others who can post a winning score. 

The Tigers innings against the Combine was reasonable, but each batsman must give a bit more if they are to give bowlers Dalkin, Armstrong and co some runs to bowl to. 

The Tigers can take heart that the Saints were bowled out last week in under 40 overs. 

The remaining match sees Chalambar take on Halls Gap at Alexandra Oval. Both sides failed last round, but both would eye this match as an opportunity to post a win. 

Gappers bowlers Reid and Brian Driscoll were good enough to bowl the Saints out last match and if this is repeated, might give them a show, although from the scores of both sides last week, an outright win is on the cards.

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