Lakes Entrance suffered its second loss of the Bairnsdale Cricket Association (BCA) season during its round 13 fixture against Paynesville at AJ Freeman Reserve in Paynesville last weekend.
The loss has seen the Seagulls drop to second place on the ladder behind Lindenow South Glenaladale, who reclaimed the top rung it has occupied for much of the season.
Lakes Entrance is assured a top-two finish and a home semi final in the first week of finals and could finish on top of the ladder if it knocks off West Bairnsdale in the final round two-day game at home starting this Saturday, providing the all-conquering Wy Yung can defeat the Bulls.
It was a disappointing performance from the Seagulls against the Gulls who have stuck to their task manfully in a long season, recording their fourth win of the season since being elevated to “A” grade competition after the round one reshuffle.
The match certainly wasn’t without controversy which may have had some significant impact on the result, but the scorebook indicated a win to Paynesville and that is what will go down in the BCA annuals.
Paynesville won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket which possessed plenty of bounce and the Gulls were quickly in trouble at 4/10 as Jake Le Maitre (4/23) turned the clock back going through the top order with a superb opening spell.
A 40-run partnership between Lachie Wilmott (40) and Caleb Marsh (20) saw some respectability added. That combined with 12 from Luke Bond and a more than handy 17 not out from Lochie Wells, Paynesville scrounged its way to 111, bowled out in the 49th over.
Irish left arm spinner Sam Kincaid was again pivotal for the Seagulls picking up 5/63 in another impressive performance from the young man.
Batting wasn’t made to look easy by the powerful Lakes line-up, which has managed to put together significant partnerships in each of its 10 wins thus far this season, but that wasn’t the case against Paynesville, who were up and about and sensing victory.
Jarryd Leworthy (14), Liam Allen (20), Ryan Hooper (10) and Phani Kumar (14) all made contributions but no-one looked comfortable against some hostile bowling from Bond and a steady spell from Brayden Radford (2/40).
The Seagulls limped to 6/78 at stumps and could well have been all out had the Gulls held several relatively easy chances.
Bond bowled superbly taking 4/31 from 15 consecutive overs on day one, though he did loss his radar on a number of occasions, delivering several full balls that were clearly over waste height.
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One was called a no-ball and the others were surprisingly ignored, which did see them approached by both Seagulls co-captains at the completion of play.
As play began on day two, Bond was given an official warning by the umpires for his indiscretions on day one, but this fired the tall Englishman up, responding by taking three wickets in his first over to take his figures to 7/34 as Radford claimed the last wicket, Lakes dismissed for just 81, losing four wickets in 13 minutes.
Paynesville was keen to start the celebrations but the Seagulls were keen to get back out in the field.
The Gulls were dismissed in the 60th over for 127, with healthy contributions from Radford (28), Schoultz (31) and Rod Clack, who made 31 from 26 balls, including four lusty struck maximums.
Kincaid was again superb taking 6/45, making it 11 wickets for the match, while Josh Sackfield chipped in with 3/48.
Rain caused the abandonment of play as the Seagulls prepared to embark on an unlikely run chase, 157 from 16 overs.
The Seagulls have a few days to do some soul searching before embarking on a huge weekend of cricket, which may give everyone a clearer picture of where they sit in the BCA finals calculations.
It will be another double header of cricket for Lakes with the final of the BCA one-day competition to be decided on Sunday at the Lakes Entrance Recreation Reserve.
The match against Lindenow South Glenaladale will start at 10.30am, both sides keen to go home with the silverware.
In “B” grade, Lakes Entrance was competitive against premiership contender Wy Yung. The Seagulls sent the Tigers into bat, the visitors helping themselves to 4/210 from their 40-over allotment, with Jacob Sackfield finishing with 2/46.
In reply, Lakes finished on 9/147 with Sackfield top scoring with 48, support coming in a solid cameo from James Daly (27), Jack Reggardo (21) and Harper Davis, who finished on 16 not out.
The Seagulls will head east this week to play Orbost at the Orbost Recreation Reserve.
The Lakes Entrance White under 13s recorded their first win of the season with Kade Watson the player of the match, while Lakes Entrance Maroon went down to Orbost, despite the efforts of Jackson Lawrence who was awarded the player of the match.
In this week’s matches the Maroon team heads to Bairnsdale to play Lucknow, while the White side hosts Buchan at St Brendan’s on Friday night in the final round of the season.
