TRAVIS Graham opens the bowling for Merrivale but before long may also be opening the batting. His case for a rise in the batting order - from number 10 - follows an innings which David Warner would be proud of. With his team in deep trouble against Wesley CBC last Saturday, Graham opted to counter-attack and was rewarded with an unbeaten 41 off 27 deliveries. His stand-and-deliver approach was highlighted in the last of 50 overs, when he faced every ball and clubbed 18 runs. After being 8-90 it lifted Merrivale to 138, which although proving a competitive total wasn't enough to prevent Wesley CBC from recording its first win of the season.
PORTLAND Secondary College and Hamilton College will represent the western region at the state Super 8 finals for year nine and 10 levels on October 30 in Melbourne. The Portland outfit won the boys' zone carnival on Tuesday in Hamilton with a score of 4-140. Its grand final opponent Monivae College made 4-138. In the girls' final Hamilton College 127 defeated Balmoral 93.
WITH slow outfields still an issue for batsmen, Luke Smith's century for East Warrnambool shone like a beacon last weekend. Batting at number four for East's division three side, Smith transformed his team's score from 3-13 to 5-184 with an unbeaten 108 at J. J. Colledge Oval in Port Fairy. It ensured the points against Port, which batted first and was dismissed for 79. Smith sprinkled his innings with 13 boundaries, six of which cleared the fence.
DANNY Rook made a successful comeback from injury after two seasons out of the game, top scoring with 85 for Russells Creek in the division four encounter with Nestles. Rook, who last played with Wangoom in the Grassmere Cricket Association, smashed 85 in a losing score of 166. According to club insiders, his rehab for a knee injury consisted of goal umpiring for Russells Creek's under 14½ football team. It didn't stop Rook putting his hand up for a bowl and quickly claiming two wickets. After lengthening his run-up, the comeback kid soon discovered the limits of his physical capabilities.
WITH the first round of turf matches delayed by a week, division one venues for round four on Saturday are: Allansford v Brierly Christ Church, Brierly Oval; Nestles v Wesley CBC, Wenborn Oval; Russells Creek v Dennington, Mack Oval, Merrivale v West Warrnambool, Nirranda Oval.
A NUMBER of junior cricketers have been selected for the initial WDCA under 14 squad to play against Hamilton and Mount Gambier this summer. The boys, who have been training with the Western Waves during the past six weeks, are Ben Threlfell, Joe Dwyer, Jye Turland, Billy Thomson, Matthew Price, Otto Opperman, Tom Schnerring, Will Mills, Bradley Parsons, Jayden Stokie and Sam McKinnon. The WDCA will play Hamilton at Hamilton on November 29 and Mount Gambier at Mount Gambier on February 7. There will be two sides selected for a trial game at Russells Creek's Mack Oval on Monday, November 16, in preparation for the November 29 game. Other players will be added to the squad based on form. After one round of competition Colin Harwood (Port Fairy), William Templeton, Will Mills (West Warrnambool), Lachlan McLeod, Xavier Beks (Dennington) and Joe Kenna (Brierly) have come under notice. Danny Rook has been appointed the squad manager with Terry Hoy, Gordon McLeod and Terry Beks scouting for the western division. Teams will be announced in the week leading up to the trial game. Any player unavailable to play is asked to contact coach Andrew Thomson on 0409 967 141.
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