FIRST GRADE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Paul Jobber
LED by a Jack Lupton half-century Port City Leagues Magpies stayed on top of the ladder following a 20-run victory over Port Panthers Pirates at Oxley Oval on Saturday.
After losing the toss and being sent in on a slowish deck the Pies scratched their way to 122 before bowling Pirates out for 102 in the 36th over.
While pleased with the win captain Luke Jephcott was disappointed with a batting performance which saw his side lose the final seven wickets in a hurry.
"We were cruising at one stage and then fell in a bit of a hole and lost seven for 21 so the captain isn't impressed," he said.
"To lose that many wickets and not bat out our overs in a one-dayer is really disappointing, but hopefully lesson learnt."
Kyle Bray provided support for Lupton at the top of the order with 22.
"With the exception of Jack we all probably threw our wickets away," Jephcott said.
Wicketkeeper Kade Fens was the only other player to reach double figures.
"The way he batted he knew you don't have to hit every ball for four and for such a young kid he did exactly what we needed although he tried to guide one through the slips and that was how he got out," Jephcott said.
"He's come along in leaps and bounds and was very tidy behind the stumps as well."
Consistent wickets punctuated Pirates run chase in a match they needed to win to give itself any chance of making the finals.
"We took early wickets and then they fell fairly regularly after that," Jephcott said.
"While it's disappointing to lose seven for 21 we backed it up well with the ball once we pitched it up."
Across town Macquarie Hotel kept the pressure on the Magpies with a comfortable nine-wicket win at Wayne Richards Park.
Comboyne batted first and was skittled for 28 with Macquarie quick Brendan Badenoch again in amongst the wickets before Macca cruised past the target for the loss of just one wicket.
Captain Michael Pelley said it was a day where everything went right.
"It was just one of those days where catches went to hand and decisions went our way," he said.
"There was a fair bit of resistance from them at the start and we didn't get the first wicket until the fifth or sixth over, but then we rolled through them."
While disappointed some of the batsmen didn't have the chance to spend long out in the middle, Pelley was happy there wasn't a repeat of last year's corresponding match when Comboyne picked up an unlikely win.
"Batting wise it was a bit unfortunate some of the boys didn't get much of a hit but our main focus was on winning so if we beat Port City next week we go into another grand final," he said.
"It was a good opportunity for our bowlers so that was pleasing."