By JARROD POTTER
WARRAGUL AND DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION – ROUND 7 (Day 1)
WESTERN Park (6/157dec) has first innings points and an outright victory all but certain against Bunyip (109), which folded to the might of Victorian junior representative Kade Burns (5/34), who was playing his first match after Victorian Premier Cricket duties took his priorities for the start of the season.
Half tons from Sam Batson (61) and an unbeaten 50 by captain Allan Chandler led a quick declaration before sending Bunyip back in to face a nerve-wracking last 16 overs.
Nine wickets separates the home side from maximum points while Bunyip will need to bat all day to stave off the outright.
A little bit from everyone led Ellinbank (7/232) to a big tally against Yarragon, led in particular by a middle order 72 via Michael Pandolfo.
Two tons will be a tough chase for Buln Buln (1/12) against Hallora (200), who were ably led by Ryan Williams (87).
Williams’ half-ton added stability to a wobbly order decimated by Ryan Bishop (5/50).
Neerim District (74) folded faster than Superman on laundry day against Drouin (6/166) as Simon Gardiner (4/31) routed the home side before the visitors piled on 166 from only 39 overs.
In lower grade results, Daniel Glover (6/32) was Drouin’s lethal weapon to knock out Jindivick (194), Dale Fawcett’s (105) run-fest continued as Western Park (247) is well placed against Garfield-Tynong, Hallora (9/181) has a middling tally against Iona, while Longwarry (149) and Warragul (4/66) remains a coin flip.
Division 3 was highlighted by Mick Wardle’s (87 n.o.) defensive minded half-century to rescue Drouin (192) from despair against Bunyip (0/5).
Ellinbank (2/76) almost has first innings points against Western Park (102) via a phenomenal lower order bowling spell from Bernie Morris (4/9).
WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CRICKET COMPETITION – ROUNDS 8 AND 9
A pair of solid outings for Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (4/79) showed even more facets of improvement in its double Twenty20 weekend against Ringwood and Bayswater Park.
Julie Jaski (64) was the unmoveable batswoman that the Yabbies (4/79) could not get from the crease when facing Ringwood (5/139) but Selena Caruana (3/16) was able to unsettle the rest of the order around Jaski.
Caruana has been a great pick-up for the Yabbies after starting two weeks ago – with the all-rounder notching a couple of good starts and snaring wickets.
The top order was key for Pakenham Upper/Toomuc chasing Ringwood as Vicki Downes (24), captain Cass ager (13) and a gutsy knock from Kelly Alaimo (17 n.o.) left the Yabbies unbeaten by completion.
In their second match, the Yabbies (8/62) could not muster enough to disable Bayswater Park (5/142cc) but held on to bat out their overs once again.
Ager (2/15) was the best of the bowlers while Downes (28) and Caruana (19) were best in the batting.
Pakenham Upper/Toomuc hosts Frankston in its last home game on Sunday before the Christmas/new year break.
