By Russell Bennett
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
LOWER GRADES REVIEW – ROUND 11 (ONE DAY)
B GRADE
The Cobras have struck once again to remain undefeated and on top of the ladder through the first 11 rounds of the WGCA’s B Grade season.
Facing Devon Meadows in their one-dayer on Saturday, Merinda Park won by an impressive seven wickets despite a fighting half-century from regular Panthers District division batsman Sam Van Der Zalm (62) in just his second game for the season.
After losing Bill Loudon early for just six, the Panthers then lost his opening partner Darren O’Brien at 2/49 – out to a rare hit-wicket.
Luke Howard and David Carson fell soon after as Devon Meadows slid to 4/65, but Van Der Zalm stood strong – playing the key role in his side posting a competitive total of 8/141.
Merinda Park’s Brendan Fairlam – in his second game down from the Premier division this season – led the way with the ball with 3/26.
After losing keeper-batsman Craig Robertson early in their chase, the Cobras steadied with a 70-run second wicket stand that put them well on the path to victory as they ultimately reached 3/144.
Lester Betreen (47) and Karanbir Tiwana (36) top-scored, while Cambell Bryan finished on 22 not out.
Emerald, meanwhile, climbed closer to a finals position with victory over the struggling Maroons in Upper Beaconsfield.
In an entertaining clash, the home side – which had won just one game for the season leading into the clash – posted a strong 9/193 in their 40 overs thanks to 59 from Premier regular Marcus Gehling at the top of the order. Mitch Copey, however, was superb with the ball – snaring 5/29 from his eight overs.
He then backed up his effort with a strong showing with the willow – scoring an unbeaten half-century (53 not out) from the middle order in support of opener Mark Alenson’s 75 as the fifth-placed Bombers reached 8/203.
In the other games of the round, Kooweerup (9/176) maintained its grasp on second position with a strong win over Officer (7/141), while Carlisle Park (7/216) was even more convincing against Pakenham (9/147).
C GRADE
Catani drew level with Clyde atop the C Grade ladder with a hard-fought win over the Cougars at Taplins Road on Saturday.
Percentage points are now all that separates the two after the Cats just managed to chase down the visitors 8/149.
Batting first, Clyde struggled in the early going – stumbling to 5/62 before Kapil Lekamwasam (45) and Tom Sinnema (28) steadied the ship from the middle and lower orders.
In the Cats’ reply Liam Keily (28) and Leigh Jose (24) both provided handy contributions, while George Zekic top-scored with 57 as the home side reached 8/153 in their 40 overs.
Meanwhile at Officer it was a case of many hands making light work for Cranbourne Meadows as it amassed 220 in just 38 overs against Lang Lang.
The top six batsmen for the Rebels each passed 15, with four of those scoring at last 30 runs apiece. Sibghat Ullah was the best of those with 57, while keeper-batsman Trevor Poole recorded a particularly handy 37.
Will Wykes was brilliant with the ball for Lang Lang, snaring 5/21 from seven overs, but his side couldn’t make any real inroads into the run chase – dismissed for 143 with only two batsmen reaching 25, which was in stark contrast to the Rebels’ efforts.
In the other games of the round, Cardinia (7/175) proved too strong for Officer’s 7/167 thanks to a pair of half-centuries from Adam Hobson (60) and Matt Celima (56); while Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (147) got the better of Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (7/124) despite 56 from Brett Armitage.
D GRADE
A high-octane clash between the Marygoons and Demons on the Nar Nar Goon back oval on the weekend resulted in just under 650 total runs being scored for the loss of just 11 wickets.
With Kooweerup batting first, the visitors were in early trouble – at one stage stumbling to 3/28 – before a simply breathtaking 244-run stand for the fourth wicket between Darcy O’Hehir (157) and Graeme Caig (111 not out) turned the innings completely on its head. The Demons ultimately recorded 5/317 from their 40 overs, which would almost always be simply insurmountable.
But not this day – not at Nar Nar Goon against the Marygoons.
Though no one reached triple figures for the home side, four batsmen recorded all-important half centuries with Alan Downes (69), Matt Patten (61), and Nick Govaars (60) the best of them as the Marygoons reached an incredible 6/332 still with an over to spare.
Merinda Park had the bye and is level with the Marygoons in second on the ladder, six competition points adrift of Kooweerup.
E GRADE
The Panthers asserted their authority over the Rebels in the Battle of the Meadows at Junction Village on Saturday.
Batting first, Devon Meadows reached 8/210 from their 40 overs with Shane Filius (85) and skipper Peter Zauner (53) the standouts and Mark Zoldak (4/19) the leading wicket-taker for Cranbourne Meadows.
Unfortunately for the Rebels no one was able to replicate those efforts with the willow, with the side dismissed for 141 in 30 overs. Zauner (3/24) and Trent D’Alton (3/22) claimed three scalps apiece.
With the result the Panthers are a win and 12 points clear of the Rebels atop the ladder.
In the other games of the round, the Yabbies (5/198) were too strong for the Bullants (157); and likewise Emerald (6/156) over Catani (8/132) and Upper Beaconsfield (1/103) over Gembrook (95).
F GRADE
There was another action-packed round in the incredibly tight F Grade division with just 16 points now separating Clyde in top spot and Nyora in fourth, with Pakenham only eight points further adrift in fifth.
Nyora was simply devastating at Lang Lang Primary School in a local derby against the home side, piling on 6/336 from their 40 overs before restricting Lang Lang to just 21 with Keith Maclure finishing with the incredible figures of 6/9 from his eight overs. Six of those runs were extras.
In the other games of the round, Clyde (5/217) had all the answers in response to Carlisle Park’s 9/212; dual centuries from Adam Vangeninden (146) and Steve Pursell (108) saw Officer (3/287) to a big win over Merinda Park (175); and Pakenham (5/181) cruised to a five-wicket win over Cranbourne Meadows (7/178).
In G Grade, Clyde took the points over Catani on forfeit, Pakenham cruised past Devon Meadows by eight wickets, and Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll had the bye.
Interestingly, in the One Day competition, Emerald (7/260) was the only side for the round to reach triple figures in its big win over Cranbourne Meadows (75) at Worrell Reserve. Aura Vale (5/43 in reply to Lang Lang’s 41) and Cardinia (7/98 following Pakenham Upper/Toomuc’s 90) were the round’s other winners.
