Sport
11 February, 2025
Laane hold off Carisbrook in thrilling run chase
Carisbrook gave it their all, but Laanecoorie Dunolly did enough to get over the line at Deledio Recreation Reserve and grab first innings points.
With Carisbrook setting 181 on day one, Laane openers Tom Hannett and Tom Hart were keen to navigate the opening overs and get the host’s run chase on the right track.
Liam Hurse had other ideas for Carisbrook, grabbing the wicket of Hart in the fourth over for five after he was caught by Martin Mark.
It wasn’t all great news for the visitors, as that dismissal brought the dangerous Kamaljot Romana to the middle, who combined with Hannett had scored 714 runs going into round 11.
Carisbrook needed to break the partnership fast, and they got their wish three balls later with Romana hitting a ball to Martin Mark off the bowling of Atticus Cullinan for a duck.
With one in-form batter out without troubling the scorers, another entered at 2/11, as Alex Cook steadied the ship alongside Hannett.
The pair seemed in fine form to wrestle the game back for Laane, looking to settle in for the long hall.
With Carisbrook desperate not to squander their great start, they turned to round 10 hero Ritik Yadav to make the difference.
He delivered in his first over, dismissing Hannett for 23 after he was caught by Hurse.
The next man in, Joe Lovel, looked to build off Hannett and Cook’s 42-run partnership and get his team into a more comfortable position.
The new pair would add another 36 runs before Lovel was run out by Dean Nalder for 13.
With Laane now at 4/89, and Cook joined in the middle by Matt Smith, the league leaders looked in a strong position to take first innings points after their early-innings hiccup.
But Carisbrook was certainly not done yet, generating another double breakthrough to turn the game on its head.
First, Yadav removed Cook for a well-made 50 after he was given out LBW.
Carisbrook kept the pressure going, with Smith and new batsmen Sam Bartlett unable to score a run for 15 straight deliveries before Bartlett was run out for naught and all of a sudden Laane was on the back foot at 6/100.
Carisbrook had their tails up, creating a great opportunity to grab their first win over Laane in A Grade since 2015.
However, Smith and new man in Zach Graham ensured the visitor’s momentum hit a brick wall.
Their 68-run partnership stifled Carisbrook’s attack with smart batting, picking out holes in the field, generating runs with aggressive running between the wickets and limiting attacking shots for Carisbrook to capitalise on.
Cullinan opened a window of opportunity for Carisbrook, catching Smith off his own bowling for 19 with Laane 14 runs away from victory with three wickets in hand.
The hosts were three runs away when they lost their eighth wicket, this time it was the big one of Graham, run out by Hurse after a vital 51.
New batsmen Daniel Romeo and Thang Nguyen got Laane past the target and were allowed to continue their innings after surpassing 181.
Despite losing the contest, Carisbrook was determined to make their stays short.
Yadav picked up his third wicket with an assist from William Coutts to stump Romeo after he made 16.
Cooper Mark would grab the final wicket of the innings after Nguyen was caught by Hurse for three, leaving Laane all out for 196 and Lachlan Condie not out on five.
Fifty’s from Cook and Graham were instrumental in Laane’s chase, with both players anchoring the innings for long periods.
Carisbrook deserved to walk away with some points for their efforts, headlined by Yadav’s 3/66 from a mammoth 24 overs, Cullinan’s 2/35 and three runouts in the field.