Reigning premier West Bairnsdale made short work of a struggling Metung Swan Reach outfit in round nine of the Bairnsdale Cricket Association last Saturday at the Swan Reach Oval.
The game was effectively over before the afternoon tea break with West chasing down the Swans’ miserly total of 67 in 19 overs without losing a wicket.
With the addition of the six points for victory, West moved up a spot on the ladder to third, going above Meerlieu who suffered a disappointing loss to Paynesville.
Metung Swan Reach remains in seventh place on the ladder after the loss but will face pressure from Paynesville, Lucknow and Orbost to maintain that position in the coming weeks.
The Swans appear to still be coming to terms with the loss of key allrounder Mark Hopgood to a season-ending suspension.
Swans skipper Forhad Haque won the toss and decided to bat and at 2-30 things were tracking along okay, but with only Sam Tindley Roe (20 not out) and Hywell Nicholls (19) offering any real resistance, the tail feel away quickly, dismissed disappointingly in the 29th over.
Patrick Halford (4/15) and Jack Lind (3/9) did the damage with the ball for West, the Swans left to rue two disastrous run outs.
In reply the unmovable Brodie Anderson (31) and Sam Stewart were untroubled in the run chase.
Metung Swan Reach will be hoping for a better performance this week at home against an improving Lucknow, while West Bairnsdale will face a test at Bullumwaal Road, when it tackles current boom side Wy Yung.
