Gulls take down Panthers

C.J King sends one down for the Vikings. 176662_06

By Nick Creely

WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
DISTRICT DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 10
In a round where only four full games were completed across the entire association, there is a sense of irony in the match between ladder leaders Devon Meadows and second last Tooradin.
It proved to be the only result achieved in the District Division on Saturday, and it happened to be the Panthers on the receiving end of a shock loss to the Gulls in a 25 over per innings match.
The premiership favourites are 16 points clear of Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll and with three more wins than any other side, but in a round marred by the unpredictability of the weather, the struggling Tooradin are virtually assured of remaining off the bottom of the ladder.
The Panthers had a bat first, and openers Kyle Salerno (5) and Will Loudon (15) started steadily enough, putting on 22 runs for the first wicket.
But a clump of wickets in the middle order – mainly due to the impressive spells of Steve Hamill (3/32), Richard Holland (2/28) and Luke Adams (2/15) – stopped the Panthers’ momentum in its tracks and had the visitors 8/109.
A late cameo to Ben Hussey (16) helped lift the run rate to almost five per over, and the Panthers finished on a respectable 9/124.
Luke Adams (53) wasted little time in swinging the game completely in the Seagulls’ favour, combining brilliantly in vital partnerships with Michael Ralph (11) and Shane Somers (16) to set the game up perfectly.
Adams fell with the score on 6/117, but Steven Hamill (17 off 7) finished the game off quickly with 4.1 overs and four wickets still to spare, in what is a morale boosting victory.
The clash between Officer and Cranbourne Meadows ended in a draw at Officer Reserve, with the game evenly poised before the rain.
Winning the toss and batting, Ash Uppal’s side scored a par 146 off 38.2 overs, with Chris Hauselberger (35), Sunny Paul (31) and David Vannes (30) all getting important starts to give them a strong chance of defending the total.
Star quick Adam Reid (3/25) had the new ball talking to be the pick of the bowlers, while Shaun Weir (3/21) controlled the middle overs brilliantly to take key middle order scalps.
The Bullants lost two early wickets in the form of gun opener Tyler Clark (2) and Darren Kneebone (2) – both to the bowling of Gurpreet Bhamra (2/8) – but rain ended the match with the score at 2/29 off 8.1 overs.
In the round’s two other drawn matches, Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (6/142) were in a strong position against Carlisle Park Vikings in what could have been a thriller, while Clyde (8/181) and Pakenham Upper Toomuc (0/55) was genuinely in the balance.

 

TEAM P W L D PTS %
Devon Meadows 10 8 2 0 96 1.72
NNG/Maryknoll 10 5 3 2 80 1.09
Cranbourne Meadows 10 5 4 1 66 1.07
Officer 10 4 4 2 60 1.13
Carlisle Park 10 4 4 2 60 0.98
Clyde 10 4 4 2 60 0.79
Tooradin 10 3 6 1 42 0.81
Pakenham Upper Toomuc 10 1 7 2 42 0.66

 

WGCA
SUB-DISTRICT DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 10
The Sub-District Division top four is starting to take shape, with Aura Vale the only real threat to break into finals calculations by the end of the season.
With heat forcing all games to be called a draw last week, this week it was the rain that meant no game could be completed, forcing all sides to share points.
But there were some strong starts to the weekend’s matches for some sides, with Lang Lang in a strong winning position against Nyora.
In a 30 over per side match, the Maroons finished on 9/115 off the back of a stellar spell by Clint Fulton (5/22) – his second five wicket haul this season.
Skipper Jake Hackett (38) led from the front with a strong hand at the top for the Maroons.
The Swamp Tigers ended on 5/64, but still in a commanding position, before rain forced the match to be abandoned.
Down at Gembrook Sports Ground, Pakenham racked up 4/183 off their 40 overs before the game ended.
Nic Close (74) starred in his first Sub-District match for the season, while Daniel Vela (52) played well in the middle order.
In form Brookers skipper Geordie Scott (2/32) kept his brilliant season going with a strong new ball spell.
Aura Vale looked likely to claim a vital victory against the bottom placed Tooradin, in what could have drawn them within reach of the top four.
The Gulls batted first at Narre Warren East Reserve, and despite a fighting 59 to Peter Stone, the visitors could only reach 149 before being bowled out in the 34th over.
Laker all-rounder Nathan Phillips (4/20) continued his strong form, while club champ Paul Hoenderdaal (4/22) tore through the Gulls in his first bowl of the season.
Catani was destined to move to a comfortable victory against Cardinia at Catani Reserve, falling 76 runs short before the day ended.
The Bulls scratched their way to a competitive 9/155 after a terrific knock by Brad Reiner (42) and a usual aggressive knock at the top by Brad Remy (24), and the Cats were cruising at 2/79 off 21.5 overs before the rain.

TEAM P W L D PTS %
Lang Lang 10 6 1 2 98 1.71
Catani 10 6 1 2 90 1.53
Pakenham 10 5 3 2 72 0.98
Cardinia 10 5 3 2 72 0.93
Aura Vale 10 3 5 2 56 1.09
Gembrook 10 3 5 2 48 1
Nyora 10 2 6 2 36 0.67
Tooradin 10 1 7 2 24 0.58