CRICKET U16 Delatite vs Benalla 8/156 TAKING on the second ranked team at the Rose Garden in Benalla, Delatite skipper Nick Hoskin won the toss and sent the home side in to bat. The bowlers started well, making runs hard to score and collecting regular wickets. Josh Cook (2/20), Nixen Martin (2/24) and Finn Stokes (1/10) were bowling beautifully and were among the wickets early. A 66 run partnership for the fifth wicket made things difficult, but the boys kept their heads up and some excellent fielding by Stokes resulted in a run out with a direct hit from the outfield. Will Benton (1/1) and Hoskin (1/31) also claimed a wicket to leave the Delatite team with a very manageable run chase of 157 to win next week. A Reserve Delatite 4/162 def Ovens Valley United 6/148 AFTER a couple of tough losses, Delatite were keen to get back on the winners list and stay in touch in the race for the finals. Bowling first on a very good surface at Lord's once again, the effort and intent in the field was outstanding. Nick Hoskin (2/39) got things rolling with an early wicket, but frustratingly, many edges went just over or just wide of the slips. Runs were difficult to score for Ovens due to the excellent pressure in the field and wickets did start to fall. A chase of 149 was manageable, but for the third game in a row, Delatite lost early wickets and were in a bit of trouble at 3/34. This brought Mitch Copey and Trent Berry together and they completely dominated from that point on. Anything short was dispatched to the boundary, while also rotating the strike with annoying singles. A 96 run partnership ended just a few runs short of the target with Copey falling for an excellent 77. Berry continued on to register his first half-century in senior cricket, unbeaten on 51, to guide the team home with a couple of overs to spare. A great win by the boys which keeps us in touch with the top four.
