Local cricket recommenced on Saturday after the Christmas break at Tim Doolan Oval with the top of the table clash between the local Harden Hornets and the unbeaten Binalong.
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In a closely fought game with fortunes fluctuating it came down to a brilliant run out by young Oscar Knight which removed Jeff Brown that enabled Binalong to cruise to victory.
Mick Paterson won the toss for the visitors and had no hesitation in batting first.
Binalong had a late scratching with Nick Arkoswamy withdrawing due to being gelded the previous day.
Dylan Arabin and George Knight opened the innings and got away to a cautious start.
Both Jeff Brown and Nathan Anderson created a number of half-chances but none went to hand.
Binalong had a late scratching with Nick Arkoswamy withdrawing due to being gelded
- Kelvin Brown
Kai Steele swung a number of bowling changes but the Hornets had butter-fingers and chances were spilled.
The most glaring was a "dolly" to Jayson Smith who grassed it, even his wife with the baby stroller from the boundary line could have caught it!
It was then up to the teams young guns in Jack Nicholls and Jack Glover to take the next two catches to remove Arabin for 25 and Knight for 16. Matt Savins was joined by Mark Dyball with both playing some streaky shots.
Dyball (3) was bowled by Paddy Davis and Savins (31) followed shortly after to a good catch by Jeff Brown off Jack Nicholls.
Mick Paterson decided to tee-off with some lusty shots but was finally bowled by Jeff Brown for 21.
Brown then followed up with the wickets of Oscar Knight (4), Victor Coble (duck), and Jack Finch (duck). After 40 overs Binalong 8 for 127. Best bowlers for the Hornets were Jeff Brown 4 for 19, Jack Glover none for 6 from 4 overs, and Paddy Davis 1 for 5.
Hornets captain Kai Steele decided to restructure the batting order and have the better batsmen in the middle order to bat in the later period of the game.
Shane Abnett opened with Jack Nicholls and got the innings away to a bright start.
However Abnett (7) was first go in the fourth over when a ball from Victor Coble found the inside edge of the bat and cannoned into leg stump.
Nicholls (4) followed shortly after when a ball going down legside clipped his pad and deflected back onto his stumps.
Paul Potts was joined by Kai Steele and both found scoring difficult, it was uncharacteristic for Steele who took eighteen balls to get off the mark.
At the 20 over drinks break, Hornets were only 2 for 34.
Hornets then decide to lift the scoring but lost Potts for 11 and Steele for 15.
Jeff Brown then joined Nathan Anderson and the complexion of the game changed, 8 runs off an over was regularly taken and Binalong started to lose their chirp.
This was short lived when Anderson chipped a slower delivery from Oscar Knight to Victor Coble at mid-on.
Knight was again in action a few overs later when a side-on direct hit from the boundary found Brown short of the crease.
Brown was top score with 21 and hit Coble for a number of towering boundaries.
The tail attempted to wag but the Hornets finally out for 95.
Beau Abnett was not out 5 and batted better than his fielding due to the effect of all night partying had started to wear off!
The Hornets will retain the home ground advantage as they look forward to this Saturday's game against the Yass Golf Club Taipans.
The Taipans sit just below the Hornets in third position and return to pitch having enjoyed an extended rest coming of the bye last weekend.
Sitting just three points ahead the Taipans a victory to the Hornets would cement them in second place.