LOCAL cricket returned on Saturday afternoon in the best possible way for North, who claimed a comprehensive 126-run A Grade win over West at the Alma Oval.
With both sides missing a number of important players – many still enjoying their summer holidays – it would be a real test of depth for both clubs.
The 39-degree day also didn’t assist in easing back into cricket after a month off.
The coin had barely settled on the ground when Tobias Hack decided to have first use of the wicket he had prepared during the week.
Returning veteran Scott Rogers and usual opener Michael Maalste began the innings well, with a number of boundaries showcasing the lightning-fast outfield.
A number of extras also helped in establishing a good early partnership, before Rogers was victim to a sharp return catch from the bowling of Casey Ferguson, the partnership coming to an end in the eight over with the score at 23.
Hack joined his fellow left-hander at the crease and he was watchful early in his innings, with the pitch still playing a few tricks.
Maalste departed for 18 after a solid innings which included a couple of boundaries, North now 2/51 after 14 overs.
The heat was beginning to affect the West bowlers, with stand-in captain Laurence Hebbard having to turn to nine different options throughout the innings.
Hack saw this as an opportunity and was quick to jump on the chance.
He along with Austin Wilson plundered the West attack, a mix of power from Hack and some classy drives from Wilson had the score motoring along towards a big tally.
Wilson fell just short of his half-century for 44, but the damage had already been done with North 3/179 after a wonderful partnership of 128.
With seven overs to go, a big total was on the cards for the Dogs as a number of batsmen eagerly awaited some time in the middle.
Unfortunately for those batsmen, Hack and Wilson had been making things look a little easier than it actually was, as Howard (2), Vella (1) and McLean (1) all fell in quick succession.
Meanwhile, Hack continued on his merry way as a pull shot from the bowling of Hebbard bought up his seventh century in the blue and white, and his first for a number of seasons.
If this man can continue this form into the latter stages of the season, it will go a long way towards his team holding onto the shield for another year.
Youngster Campbell Day joined his captain and managed to smack a lovely boundary before the innings came to a close, Day 4 not out and Hack a magnificent 104 not out from 107 balls, including 12 fours and four sixes.
A gargantuan total of 6/221 gave the North bowlers plenty to work with.
Not content with his innings with the bat, Wilson decided he wanted to play his part with the ball also, as he was joined by opening partner Jaxon Cain looking to make early inroads into the West batting line-up.
Things started to move in the right direction when Wilson had Perry caught behind by Hack for 1 to a sharp chance.
This was then followed by Cain (1/22) trapping Kaye LBW, before Wilson rattled the stumps of both Ferguson and Hocking to have West in all sorts at 4/6.
Tonkin and Meehan then combined to frustrate the North bowlers, before the returning Kieran McEvoy did what he has always done – picking up a handy wicket when Tonkin was caught well by Maalste at mid-off for 7.
Hebbard came in and chanced his arm, as is the norm, with a couple of missed chances prolonging his innings before McEvoy (2/10) claimed his second wicket to have West now 6/51.
Meehan was eventually dismissed after a fine knock of 49, caught by Wilson at point from the bowling of Vella (1/16).
That man Wilson then returned to the attack to clean up the tail, claiming the wickets of Baxter (3) and Squire (0) to finish with figures of 5/16. Not a bad return after a solid innings with the bat earlier in the day.
West were all out for 95, and North had managed to take a bonus-point win to begin the second half of the season.
Credit must go to Hack and Wilson for their dominant displays in each innings.
North will hope they can continue this form this weekend in a very important match up with Central at the Jubilee Oval.
North 6/221 (Hack 104*, Wilson 44, Hebbard 2/32) d West 95 (Meehan 49, Wilson 5/16, McEvoy 2/10) by 126 runs.
ON a scorching summer’s day at Norm Fox Oval for B Grade cricket, North captain Joel Sheppard had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss.
With only two players in the side from last season’s premiership team, North called on the services of young debutants Lane Fettell and Jedd Smith, with the experience of Shayne Staker, Jason Harwood, Chris Jones and Brad Pressler also lending a hand.
In a new experiment Sheppard opened the batting with Shayne Staker.
The pair found the boundary on a couple of occasions before Sheppard was trapped in front LBW by Clint Pearce for 5 to have North 1/20.
Staker was joined by Jason Harwood and the pair had no trouble in navigating their way to the 10-over drinks break with North 1/34.
After drinks the pair started to put the foot down as the Warriors attack began to tire in the stifling heat.
The pair took the singles and twos on offer and found the boundaries regularly to guide North to a strong position of 1/97 at the 20-over break.
The pair continued to push forward with Staker notching up a cracking half-century on his return.
Shortly after Harwood was caught at point by Cohan West off the bowling of Chris West for an excellent 45 to leave North in a strong position at 2/117.
Like it often does in a North innings, one wicket soon became three as Chris Jones was bowled next ball for a duck and Dylan Millsteed was caught and bowled by Lachie Bell for 1 to pull North back to 4/118.
Staker was next to go for a very well made 57 trapped LBW by Lachie Bell to leave North 5/124.
Josh Botten was bowled by West for 5, Jacob Muscat was bowled by Lachie Bell for 0, Rhys Pitt trapped LBW by West for 0 and Lane Fettell was bowled by West for 0 as North’s innings evaporated to 9/129, losing 8/12 in very quick time.
Striding out at No.11 in just one pad, Brad Pressler looked right at home as he took on the bowling finding the boundary to add some handy runs.
Unfortunately though for Jedd Smith on 0 he wandered out of his crease and didn’t get back in time to be stumped by Kingsley Hocking off the bowling of Lachie Bell.
North all out for 137 with Brad Pressler finishing 7 not out.
At 1/117, 150-plus was certainly looking on the cards, but losing 9/20 dashed any hopes of that kind of total. In saying all that, 137 was definitely something to bowl at.
Josh Botten and Dylan Millsteed took the new ball. Unfortunately for Botten, Rhys Pavlich was dropped twice in his first over and then again in his second.
Pavlich and King took advantage of these opportunities and with the fielding restrictions in play put the North attack to the sword in a brutal display of power hitting.
Every bowler was in the firing line as further opportunities were missed against Pavlich, the pair racing to 0/101 after 9.5 overs as early drinks were called to search for a missing ball after a huge on drive from King.
The next ball after drinks King smoked a pull shot on 53 to Staker at mid-wicket, Jacob Muscat taking his first senior wicket.
A great reward for Muscat who has worked hard on his bowling over the past two seasons. Warriors 1/101.
Pavlich continued to pound the bowling and West joined the party late. West whacked one over the mid-wicket boundary with scores level as the Warriors secured a bonus-point win in the 15th over.
With some missed opportunities it was always going to be tough for North’s under-resourced bowling attack, but it was a top effort all the same.
The loss leaves North’s season in the balance at three wins and five losses.
North next take on West at Zinc Oval in a crucial clash to keep their semi-finals hopes afloat.
North 137 (Staker 57, Harwood 45, West 5/19, Bell 4/33) lost to Warriors 1/143 (Pavlich 75 not out, King 53).
