A top class performance from Tom Sippel has paved the way for Laidley Mulgowie to be ahead of the game following the first two days of the Division One final against Centrals.
Laidley Mulgowie were struggling after losing the toss and being sent in to bat with Anthony Wilson’s 39 the only score of any substance from their top five.
At 4 for 43 Sippel walked to the crease and took plenty of time to get his eye in, intent on building an important innings to get his side to a quality first innings score.
When Wilson fell after his handy innings, Sippel was joined by skipper Alex Welsh and the two turned the tide for the Bluedogs.
Sippel scored a defiant 61 off 120 while Welsh fell for 44 off 71 deliveries, both top scoring and also giving their lower order a chance to make an impact against an older ball.
Tail-enders Ben O’Connell (14 off 63), Samson Noffke (27 off 49) and Nickolas Bischoff (18 off 21) all chipped in late in the innings to see Laidley crawl to a solid first innings total of 260.
With a bowling attack as good as theirs, each run was more to play with considering the grand final is extended to four days from the usual two.
After saving his side with the bat, Sippel completely toppled Centrals with the new ball.
He snicked off Jacob Anderson with the second ball of the innings on his way to a five wicket haul which featured five of Centrals top six batters.
The big quick single handidly dismantled Centrals’ top and middle order with none of them passing 21 runs.
Caleb Risson was the only batter in the top 6 to not fall to Sipple, but he was given out for hitting the ball twice, a wicket not credited to any of the Laidley bowlers.
Despite contributions from number seven Ezekiel Kugel (26 off 67) and eight Charlie Utz (38 off 59), Central fell for 149 and trailed by 111.
Thanks to the extended days, they had a chance to get back into the match with a strong second innings bowling performance and they took their opportunity, getting six wickets for 97 runs in Laidley’s second innings.
Laidley now lead by 208 runs with four wickets in hand and two days remaining.
While still behind in the game, Centrals are still in with a chance should they take a few quick wickets this Saturday.
Laidley are also in the box seat in the Second Divsion grand final, bowling Centrals out for 249 and sitting just three down for 199 in their batting innings.
