By JARROD POTTER
WGCA SUB-DISTRICT DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 5 (Day 2)
OUTRIGHT triumph has pushed Tooradin out to a handy lead in the Sub-District premiership race following an innings-and-13-run beating of Nyora, while Lang Lang and Catani went agonisingly close to outrights of their own.
NYORA v TOORADIN
WELL placed after first innings blitzes from Kane Latham (100 not out) and Tim Lenders (6/26) – Tooradin set about destroying the remnants of the Nyora (64 and 74) attack.
Feasting on Maroons’ wickets all Saturday was Seagulls’ Steven Hamill (8/31) who snared career best figures in a brutal 17.1 over spell. Hamill eclipsed his best figures – but this eight-for might not be his favourite haul considering where his prior top statistic was accrued. That haul was a 5/32 effort in the 2012 Premier grand final triumph over Merinda Park and given his return to form – and his return to the long run up following improvement with his troublesome back – he should be well considered for Premier selection. Nyora lost Luke Tagliaferro (13 retired) and played a man down in the second dig. This week top of the pops Tooradin takes on Cardinia away while lucky last Nyora hosts Clyde.
PAKENHAM v CLYDE
THE late order work of Shannon Mitchell (71) pushed Pakenham (243) to victory over Clyde (227). Adrian Buller (3/33) and Nathan Powell (2/64) exposed the Lions’ middle order early, leaving the heavy lifting to up-and-coming wicket keeper-batsman Greg Interlandi (57). At 5/94 chasing down a double-ton target, Interlandi steadied the ship and finally found some help via Mitchell at number seven. Mitchell and Interlandi saw off the Cougars’ main attack and struck to add 105 for the fifth scalp and guide the Lions towards the first innings win. Interlandi and Mitchell would succumb with the tally in sight, as part-timer Clayton Blair (1/15) broke the partnership before Buller sent Mitchell’s pegs flying. It left 22 for the tail to accrue, but to the credit of Brett Irvine (14 not out) and Nathan Goodes (12), they found enough in the tank to give the Lions win number four. Pakenham will now host the high flying Catani while Clyde heads to Nyora.
LANG LANG v CARDINIA
SHOWING a lot more backbone in the second innings, Cardinia (57 and 164) gave something for Lang Lang (139 and 6/72) to chase. The Bulls pushed ahead despite another three-wicket haul for William Wykes (3/28) and left the Swamp Tigers with 82 to chase for an outright victory. The home side fell just short of the tally as Trent Wheller picked up the valuable top-order scalps of Wykes (1), Hayden Laidlaw (0) and Glen Easton (15) for a pittance. Lang Lang didn’t have enough in the tank – or enough overs remaining in the day – to find those extra 10 runs despite the hit around efforts of captain Jeremy Gray (15). The win leaves Lang Lang fifth on the ladder before its clash against Emerald while Cardinia needs to knock off Tooradin to keep in touch with the top four. (Cardinia scores unavailable.)
CATANI v EMERALD
ONLY 26 runs separated Catani (9/221dec and 1/21) from outright success of their own as Emerald (128 and 140) doggedly held on to keep the points away from the Cattery. Catani bolted out of the gates to set Emerald something difficult to chase as captain Luke Gilbert (89), Ross Kortholt (54) and Tom Keily (46) pushed the run rate up. Catani closed the innings after 59 overs, leaving Emerald to chase 93 to avoid outright defeat.
Catani struck early but couldn’t find those last few wickets quickly enough as Cam Williams (47) batted out most of the day and kept the Cats away from the crease. In at 4/59, Williams was the second last wicket as he held on for grim life. Most importantly, he burned away the overs and ran down the clock, leaving the Cats with a two-over smack about to try and get the runs, but could only belt 21 in pursuit. Catani now heads to Pakenham while Emerald is also on the road against Lang Lang.
