By David Nagel
B GRADE
Winners were sparse in the lower grades of West Gippsland cricket on Saturday with only four teams able to conquer the elements and bank a crucial 12 premiership points.
The undisputed high-quality contest of the day was played at Glover Reserve, where a sparkling century to Devon Meadows (3/235dec) opener Darren O’Brien (101 not out) led the Panthers to victory over a brave Upper Beaconsfield (4/215).
Sent in by Maroons skipper Nick Meyers, the Panthers overcame the early loss of Peter Deighton (4) to post a formidable score, built mainly on the back of a stellar 112-run partnership between O’Brien and the returning Scott Clark (52).
Clark – a member of the winning WGCA Country Week team from last year – belted six boundaries and a six during his innings, his first knock since early November. Clark’s dismissal spelt further trouble for the Maroons, who not only had to cope with the sublime form of O’Brien but the class of Sam Van Der Zalm (25) and Luke Howard (19 not out) as well, both also returning after long absences from the crease.
O’Brien cracked 13 fours and a six in the only century made by a WGCA player on Saturday.
The Maroons – who sit bottom of the table with just one win for the season – did themselves proud in reply, pushing the Panthers all the way to the final overs of a great game of cricket.
Exciting youngster Sam Curtain (88) played his best knock for the season before being unselfishly run out chasing runs, while the talented Billy Kett (44 not out) and Cooper Shipp (41) also showed promising signs for the future.
The win keeps the Panthers faint finals hopes alive, with games against the top-three teams, Merinda Park, Kooweerup and Officer forming three parts of their last four-round journey.
The three other games all finished in a draw.
The top-of-the-table clash between Merinda Park (6/132) and Kooweerup (5/101) looked headed for an exciting finish before the weather intervened midway through the Demons’ reply.
Lester Betreen (57), Mark Thomas (21 not out) and Noel Betreen (20) did well for the Cobras, taking on the best of a frugal Matt Davey (1/9 off 8) and a less tidy, but more successful, Hayden Watson (3/25 off 4) to set the Demons an interesting chase.
Long-time buddies Steve Johnson (39) and Davey (26) had the Demons in cruise control at 2/88, but fell in quick succession to have the game delicately poised as the stumps were pulled from the ground.
Thomas (3/34 off8) backed up his unbeaten knock with a fine spell for the Cobras.
Dene North (60) and Jackson Luka (31) compiled a 71-run stand in Pakenham’s (8/141) drawn game against Emerald at Chandler Reserve.
North and Luka were well tested by the likes of Tristan Fraser (3/38) and Mitch Copey (3/10) before rain stopped play at tea. And in the final game of round 10, Officer (1/101) had built the perfect platform for success with Tom Carlyle (48 not out) and Ash Smith (32 not out) combining for an unbeaten stand of 101 before the game was called after just 22 overs of play. Carlisle was the more aggressive, striking six boundaries during his innings.
C GRADE
The top four teams took on those looking to improve their positions and push for a finals berth on Saturday – but just seven days after extreme heat intervened, rain was this time the cause of a premature end to proceedings.
Of the top-four, fourth-placed Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (104) will count itself the luckiest to claim a draw after Cardinia (0/27) had the upper hand when stumps were called at Rythdale.
The Marygoons struggled to break free of the Bulls prior to tea, with former-Bull Daniel Glen (24) and skipper Bryce Thomas (28) the only players to head past 20.
Glen was caught by Matt Celima off the bowling of Brodie Glen (2/31) – Daniel’s brother – in Brodie’s last game of cricket before hip replacement surgery.
Brodie was joined by Luke Merrett (2/8), Grant Ansalde (2/10) and Matthew Argoon (2/31) as the trump cards for the Bulls, while Matt Scott had a terrific day in the field.
The rain hit during the tea break and delayed the start of Cardinia’s innings with the Bulls reaching 0/27 before the rain returned and ended the contest.
Catani’s (8/140) Josh Bethune (69) provided the individual highlight of round 10, striking a confident half century against Pakenham Upper/Toomuc. Bethune’s promotion up the order finally paid off for the Cats after scoring 0 and 11 in his only other try in the opener’s spot prior to Christmas.
Cecil Haysom (19) was also amongst the runs for the Cats, seeing off the best that Lee Harris (2/19), Phil Brook (2/23) and Mitch Mibus (2/25) had to offer. Both teams have crucial games on the horizon, the Cats taking on Clyde in a top-of-the-table clash while the fifth-placed Yabbies have a season-shaping game against fourth-placed Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll.
Clyde (7/195) will head into the big clash against the Cats in a confident mood after its batsmen fired in the pre-tea session against Lang Lang.
Unfortunately – due to rain – the Cougars didn’t get a chance to defend their impressive effort with the bat, but nudging 200 is pretty good form to take in. Dylan Diehl (2/20) and James Weitering (2/26) claimed two wickets each for the Swampies.
And Cranbourne Meadows (9/181) has had victory snatched away after a dominant performance against Officer (4/97) at Lawson Poole Reserve.
Munir Saqib (44), Josh Matthews (25) and Ajith Venkatesan (20) were best for the Rebels who had eight players reach double figures. Brent Pullen (3/24), Ben Monagle (2/15) and Matt James (2/30) bowled impressively for the Bullants before setting out on a run chase.
But any hopes of a Bullants victory were destroyed as Maqbool Laiq (3/22) decimated the visitor’s top order. The Bullants were 4/9 at one stage before skipper Matt Lucas (43 not out) and Nick Felstead (29 not out) dug deep to claim a draw.
D GRADE
Merinda Park (214) has joined second-placed Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (6/139) on 90 points on the D Grade ladder after a comprehensive victory over the Marygoons at Donnelly Reserve on Saturday.
The opportunity to host a home final was the prize up for grabs for both teams, with a Marygoon’s victory going to shut the door on the Cobras hopes on gaining that prize.
But the Cobras are now right in the thick of the action after a great batting performance prior to tea.
Familiar names like Grant Bloomer (65), Grant Mills (39) and Marty Donaldson (23) set the scene at the top of the order for the Cobras, before skipper Russ Jenkin (22) and Liam Bertrand (18) finished off their good work.
The Marygoons were powerless to stop the Cobras’ onslaught, but Matt Patten (4/35) and Dale Hill (2/36) left no stone unturned in trying to do so. The Marygoons were never in the hunt in reply, with Jordan Bertrand (2/18 off 8) and Dale Hewitson (2/22) ensuring a Cobras’ victory.
Hill (37) finished off an impressive all-round performance for the Marygoons, receiving honest support from Scott Campbell (27) and Geoff Ball (22).
A stylish half-century from Iqbal Soi (64) was the highlight of Carlisle Park’s (6/172) batting effort against Kooweerup (0/0) at the Kooweerup High School.
Soi’s sauce would not lead to eventual victory but it did show that the Vikings have the talent to match it with the best performed team in the competition.
Martin Davies (25) and Ali Kemali (21) were terrific in support for the Vikings while Tom Cottrell (3/33) was the standout for the Demons with the ball. Both teams claimed six points for the draw, the Demons remaining 18 points clear at the top of the table.
And the game between Pakenham (3/110) and SFX Old Collegians (151) fizzled out to a draw on the front ground at Toomuc Reserve.
Batting first, the X-Men relied heavily on Nadun Alwis (26) to hold their top order together before handing over to Joel Perryman (51) and Bryce Davis (22) to resurrect a dangerous-looking 7/65 scorecard.
Perryman and Davis did just that, repelling the best that Jacobus Hynes (2/0), Rob Newell (2/9), Fraser Selby (2/17) and Mitch Tielen (2/28) had to offer. Hynes (43), Tielen (29 not out) and Newell (24 not out) then steered the Lions to safety after tea.
Tooradin was the big winner on Saturday, jumping off the bottom of the ladder after claiming 12 points for the bye.
E GRADE
It was a case of ‘blink and you missed it’ at Holm Park Reserve with Upper Beaconsfield (64) recording an extraordinary win over Catani (31) in record time on Saturday.
Batting first, the Maroons scratched together their very modest total in just 23.5 overs of batting, with Adam Lawrence (20) and Aaron Ross (14) the only players to reach double figures.
Up-and-coming star Jaxon Binns (9) was next best, with the next highest score being three!
Catani bowlers Troy Robinson (4/16 off 7) and Tom Cairns (3/12 off 7) looked to have bowled their team into a winning position – but cricket’s a very funny game!
It became apparent, quite quickly, that the Maroons were in a mean mood and that the Cats would have some serious trouble in chasing down their low target.
Beau Watson (4/13 off 8) started the surge for the Maroons, with evergreen spinner Rob Hansen (2/3 off 2.5) and Nick Pastras Jnr (1/13 off 8) finishing off the job nicely.
Cranbourne Meadows (6/232) was dominant against Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (8/44) at Lawson Poole Reserve – but both teams walked away with six points in a strange twist of fate.
Batting first, Wayne Mannix (93) struck 12 fours and three sixes to get the Rebels’ innings rolling along nicely before Ben Warren-Smith (31), Jason Poole (26), Mark Zoldak (21 not out) and former Yabbie Mitch Abel (16) put the visitors to the sword.
John Baker (2/46 off 6) was expensive but claimed two wickets for the Yabbies – who struggled big-time in reply.
In what was a true battle for survival, the visitors had to cope with some tremendous line-and-length bowling from Mark Zoldak (5/17 off 8) and Jason Poole (2/18 off 6) – and some variable bounce on a wet pitch – to hold firm before the heavens closed in.
The Rebels pursued the result until late in the day but the Yabbies stayed nimble to dodge a bullet!
In other games, John Armstrong (4/3) struck late to claim sensational figures for Officer in the draw against Gembrook (102), while Devon Meadows left-hander Trent D’Alton (4/14 off 8) bowled a superb spell to keep Emerald (141) under wraps at Worrell Reserve.
Lincoln Hepburn (3/23 off 6.2) also snared a vital three wickets for the Panthers, while Mark Smith (32) and Anthony Flint (32) matched batting motors for the Bombers.
F GRADE
Pakenham (5/248) had every right to be snarling at the weather gods on Saturday after the Lions were denied certain victory over Lang Lang (5/35) at Toomuc Reserve.
The Lions were looking for a percentage-boosting victory to blast their way back into finals contention but instead had to settle for a late afternoon of extreme frustration.
The Lions – who won the toss and batted – were in magnificent form with the willow, with crafty veteran Paul Hart (68) combining with Nathan Hedt (70) for a stellar 163-run opening stand.
Skipper Dave Hyland (51 not out) then roared his side through the 200-run barrier, repelling some tidy bowling from impressive youngsters Alexander Giacco (3/30) and Stanley Geyer (2/28).
Rahul Preman (3/2) then threatened to bowl the Lions to victory before the brave efforts of Giacco (12 not out) and Bailey Esler (10 out) – and some rain – saw both teams share the spoils.
Cranbourne Meadows (7/239) was the other unlucky team on Saturday, smashing Officer (3/83) to all parts of Starling Road on its way to a frustrating draw.
The Rebels batted deep on the weekend with Eddie Pulu (55) and Ross Hopwood (55 not out) sharing top honours, while Dave Waller (50) also made a crucial contribution. Steve Pursell (2/36) and Jack James (2/54) claimed two wickets each for the Bullants.
The Bullants had one aim in mind after tea, survive until the rains came, and Adam Vangeninden (26 not out) and Pursell (18) made sure that was achieved with the bare minimum of fuss.
In other drawn games, Noel O’Brien (37 not out) and Shane Jack (29) were in good nick for Clyde (5/153) against Nyora, while Paul Humphrey (2/16) claimed two wickets for Merinda Park in a game that lasted just seven overs against Carlisle Park (2/28).
G GRADE
The skies may have been dark on Saturday, but a bright light shone on Pakenham (2/48) after the Lions walked away with a crucial victory over Catani (46) at the Catani Recreation Reserve.
The Lions rolled the Cats in quick fashion, with Matt ‘Fattis’ McCormick (4/5 off 8) bowling a beautiful spell that was almost unplayable at times. McCormick’s bowling has stacked up against some quality batsmen over the years and he wasted no time in putting his stamp on things.
The Lions cut through the Cats in just 24.1 overs and then took less than half of that time to win the match. Shayne Svenson (18), Bevan ‘Yeehaa’ Tukerangi (11) and Rod Downes (11 not out) had the job done and dusted in just 11 overs.
The Lions are now third on the ladder … Catani fifth.
Clyde (8/176) shared the points with top-team Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll after play was called off after the Cougars splendid batting performance on Saturday.
The hosts would have been tested to match the Cougars output after Sahil Sharma (45), Michael Cloney (43) and Ron Kane (27) turned in impressive performances. Vicky Downes (3/33) made things happen for the Marygoons, while Rajnil Singh (2/22) and Neville Ackermann (2/26) also troubled the scorers on multiple occasions.
And Devon Meadows remain in second spot on the ladder after claiming victory over Cranbourne Meadows via forfeit.
