By KATELYN PINAL AND RUSSELL BENNETT
WGCA SUB-DISTRICT DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 5 (Day 1)
CATANI v EMERALD
Catani (2/98) is primed to chase down Emerald’s (128) total this weekend on the back of a top-notch bowling performance. The Bombers went in to bat and while most of the batting order watched on from the rooms, Cam Williams (30 not out, 1/13) came in and added some needed runs to the total. Tom Keily (3/38) was best with the ball for the Blues. Catani is in a strong position thanks in no small part to Luke Gilbert (39 not out) and Ross Kortholt (42 not out), who are both still at the crease. There was a brief early scare, losing a wicket with just the one run on the board, but Gilbert and Kortholt steadied and got the Blues back on track. With eight wickets still in hand, they need just 30 runs to catch the Bombers for first innings points.
LANG LANG v CARDINIA
It was a low-scoring affair between Lang Lang (139) and Cardinia (57, 1/1) on the first day of their clash. The Bulls won the toss and sent Lang Lang in to bat, which paid dividends as the Swamp Tigers collapsed. Jess Grima (64 not out) was Lang Lang’s saving grace as Trent Wheller (5/33) and Cardinia’s other bowlers sent them packing. With only a small run chase in their sights, the Bulls got to work. But it didn’t last long as Jeremy Gray (6/16) ripped through them like a hurricane. The Bulls were no match for the Swamp Tigers bowling as the middle order fell without scoring a run. Patrick Nolen (24) tried to make a go of it, but there was no one to help him. Lang Lang sent the Bulls back in to get the outright win, and it is looking promising with Cardinia sitting at 1/1 when play resumes this week.
NYORA v TOORADIN
A pair of standout individual performances from Seagulls’ skipper Kane Latham and young seam bowling cult figure Tim Lenders have their side perfectly placed to secure outright points against the Maroons this week.
Batting first at home, Nyora was rolled for just 64 in 36 first innings overs. The magical mullet of Lenders struck with freakish regularity for the Gulls, finishing with the dream figures of 6/26.
Tooradin wasted no time in its reply, with Latham blasting his second senior ton in Seagulls’ colours. Following up from his B Grade century last season, Latham (100 not out) was particularly attacking after drinks on Saturday chasing quick runs – smashing 17 from the first over after the break. He declared immediately after reaching his century with his side on 1/151 in just 25 overs with Ben Spicer (37) the other not out batsman.
Nyora is again in all sorts in its second dig – set to resume on 1/12 at the start of the 17th over this week.
PAKENHAM v CLYDE
Clyde (227) has set a big challenge for Pakenham to take on this Saturday at Toomuc Reserve. Shane Jack (47) and Adrian Buller (47 not out) were the best with the bat for the Cougars, which came close to batting out the full 80 overs. Jason Fisher (5/54) took some crucial wickets with Shannon Mitchell (2/81) pitching in as the pair bowled more than half the day’s overs between them. Still, it couldn’t stop the Cougars from making it past the double century mark. The Lions will take up the chase on Saturday.
