By Nick Creely
WGCA
KOOKABURRA CUP – REVIEW (Round 3)
RECORDS tumbled in the WGCA last night, with Devon Meadows star Brad Miles playing the sort of innings that needed to be seen to be believed.
In the third-round of the Twenty20 Kookaburra Cup, the left-handed champ displaced Emerald star Geordie Scott for the highest individual score in the competition this season, striking 127 not out off just 57 balls in the Panthers thumping win over Clyde at Glover Recreation Reserve.
But he was left just four runs short of the highest score in the competition’s history, with Rory Gilliatte’s 131 off 50 balls for Nyora in a semi final against Beaconsfield in the competition’s first year just hanging on.
Amongst his 57-ball effort, Miles hit six maximums and a dozen boundaries, with a total of 47 scoring shots in the mighty knock, all with a strike rate of 222.81.
His stroke-play was sublime, with a full array of shots to all corners of the ground.
Miles’ ton came off the 16th over, belting a ball to deep mid-wicket for two runs. But just moment earlier, he was dropped on the fence for 96.
And his foil, Chris Benedek, a talented batsman from Casey-South Melbourne, was outstanding in his own right, playing a near chanceless 80 not out off just 63 balls, combining with Miles for an unbeaten partnership of 232.
In fact, the partnership is the highest by over 50 runs in the competition’s history, while the Panthers created history of their own, making their highest ever T20 score as a club, all without seamingly breaking a sweat.
In reply, the Cougars battled hard, but were ultimately overcome by the Panthers class, with Scott Clark (4/19), Lucas Carroll (2/16) and Brad Miles (2/5) ensuring they would be bowled out for just 107 off 15.3 overs.
Meanwhile, Kooweerup has easily brushed aside Gembrook, with Demons star Ben Spicer (54 not out) continuing his electric form with the blade.
After the Brookers mustered up 112 off their 20 overs, with Jess Mathers (4/15, including two maidens) starring with the ball, the Demons knocked off the total in just 13.1 overs.
Fresh off his second century of the season days earlier, Spicer was a class above after coming in after two relatively early wickets by the Brookers.
Pakenham flexed its muscles at the right time, knocking off a Carlisle Park side featuring Melbourne Renegades all-rounder Trent Lawford.
The Vikings had a bat first, and after being three wickets down in the first two overs, big Lawford (37) played a cameo, and combined with Mark Henry (44), were able to muster up 107 before being bowled out.
Lions bowlers Tom Tyrrell (2/12), Jason Williams (2/9) and Chris Savage (2/15) were all important in the middle of the innings.
And despite a slow start, mainly due to the class of Lawford (2/14) with the ball, the Lions – through Zac Chaplin (36) and Rob Elston (29) – were able to guide their side home with 2.5 overs left to spare.
Last but not least, a powerful batting performance from Upper Beaconsfield has seen them comfortably defeat Pakenham Upper/Toomuc.
Winning the toss and batting, the Maroons put on a clinic, with Bathiya Perera and Alam Raza making brutal half-centuries, as they posted an ominous 5/224 off their 20.
The Maroons’ openers were well supported by HSD skipper Kaushalya Weeraratne (45) and Jono Caderamanpulle (35), while Scott Pitcher (2/16) and Kyle Gibbs (2/24) did most of the damage with the ball.
In response, the Yabbies were persistent, with nagging wickets halting their progress, and were left at 7/129 at the end of the match.
Consistent opening bat Daniel Strahan (27) excelled, while Casey Thomsen (23) chimed in with some valuable runs.
All winning teams will now play off on Sunday 22 January, with both the semi and grand finals to be played on the same day.
Check out next week’s edition of the Gazette (18 January) for a full preview of the T20 finals.
