Beavers beat Harvey-Benger by 13

Harvey-Benger Cricket Club’s second grade suffered a 13-run loss after a mammoth run chase against Eaton Beavers in Eaton on Saturday.

With the mercury in the high 30s and barely a breath of wind, the crucial toss was won by Eaton, sending Harvey-Benger out to cook in the sun for 50 overs.

The star-studded Eaton line-up got off to a good start reaching 69 before Matthew Chave bowled Billy Boucher for 17.

Chave then ripped a sharp leg break pass the edge of Corey Fitt’s bat, hitting the top of the off stump and leaving the home side 2 for 70.

Eaton batsmen Mick Rodgers and Jimmy Hillery frustrated the Harvey-Benger bowlers with a 58-run partnership before Rodgers was caught on the boundary by Jordan Richards for 82.

Clayton Caltsounis (32) joined Hillery (79) in the middle and the pair posted a 100-run partnership off 86 balls as Harvey-Benger fielders baked in the heat, mentally and physically exhausted.

Harvey-Benger bowlers claimed five late wickets in the final six overs, restricting Eaton to 8 for 248 off 50 overs.

The best bowling figures for Harvey-Benger were Aaron Jovanovic (2 for 37) and Scott Fowler (2 for 51).

With only a short innings break, Harvey-Benger openers Anton Fimmano and Haydn Jones were back out in the sun to chase the big total set by Eaton.

Eaton went on the defence early, pushing fielders to the boundary, knowing that they had the runs on the board.

Jones and Fimmano posted 97 runs opening stand before Jones was dismissed for 55 caught on the boundary.

The spin from Corey Fitt (4 for 49) and Jimmy Hillery (1 for 42) slowed Harvey-Benger’s run chase with Fimmano dismissed for 44 trying to up the run rate.

Francois Roelofsz (21) was stumped off the bowling of Fitt leaving Harvey-Benger 3 for 135, needing 114 off 106 balls.

Harvey-Benger ended their run chase 13 runs short of Eaton’s total, with a score of 8 for 235.