By Nick Creely
WGCA LOWER GRADES
REVIEW – ROUND 12 (DAY ONE)
B GRADE
Kooweerup flexed its muscles and proved exactly why it sits second on the B Grade ladder, putting in a commanding day of cricket that may end Emerald’s finals hopes.
The Bombers got off to a steady start after winning the toss and batting, knocking around 38 runs for the first wicket, with Caleb Lobbe (21) and Mark Alenson (15) looking solid.
Wicket taking machine Ayden Mills (3/15) got the ball rolling for the Demons by prying out Alenson for the first wicket, and the home side picked their way – albeit slowly – through the middle order to bowl out the visitors for a lowly 99.
Arie Hazendonk (2/16) had the ball talking and bowled an incredible 11 maidens in his 18 overs, while club legend Matt Davey (2/16) worked his magic with the new ball.
Carlisle Park Vikings also had a day out – this time with the bat – in a top four clash with Merinda Park at Carlisle Park Reserve.
The Vikings batted superbly after winning the toss, and despite the loss of three key wickets that had them, at one point, 3/13, George Augustine (59) and Dean Lyddy (83) were all class, lifting the home side to an imposing 9/255 before declaring with five overs before stumps.
Cobra openers Lester Bertreen (2) and Craig Robertson (3) remained unscathed at stumps, finishing the day on 0/5.
Upper Beaconsfield has a chance to climb its way off the bottom of the ladder, with the Maroons’ clash with Pakenham well and truly in the balance at stumps.
The Maroons rattled its way through the Lions’ top order, and despite a momentum shifting knock to Troy Wilson (44), bowled the home side out for 114 in 50.1 overs.
The Maroons lost three wickets in their 18 over stint before stumps, finishing on 3/46.
In the final match of the day, Officer (9/232) is in a strong spot to consolidate its top four spot, with Devon Meadows on the back foot at Heatherbrae Reserve.
C GRADE
Officer carved and sliced its way to a dominant day one score, pummelling 4/332 against Clyde at Hillcrest Christian College.
Pitted on exactly opposite ends of the table, the ladder leading Cougars were dominated by the Bullants, fresh with a renewed energy.
Off the back of a stellar 129 to Daryl Hargreaves, the Bullants sprung a shock, batting out the day and putting the Cougars’ top spot under severe threat.
Hargreaves shared a 206-run opening stand with Matthew Lucas (88), and together the two set a platform that ended in a late flurry by Colin Parnall (34 not out).
Cardinia and Lang Lang played out a fascinating day of cricket, with the Bulls batting through the day to post 9/179.
Adam Hobson (43) and Matt Celima (44) showed immense application to build a total for their side, with Glen Easton (2/49 off 26 overs) enduring the heat to charge in all day.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc (8/194) also managed to post a competitive total against third placed Cranbourne Meadows at Lawson Poole, with Nick Kyval (65) making an important half century for the Yabbies.
Kyval anchored the innings superbly after two early wickets, with Brett Carey (43) also amongst the runs.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (3/73), meanwhile, is on the brink of a strong win over Catani (125).
D GRADE
Kooweerup whacked the highest score across the association over the weekend, in what proved a completely deflating day for Tooradin at Warneet Reserve.
On a ground that usually comes with some pretty high scoring due to its small boundaries, the Demons wasted no time in electing to bat.
The top four – Troy Ryan (63), Tom Cottrell (44), Darcy O’Hehir (86) and Jesse Depasquale (30) – all flayed the ball to all parts, and the Demons posted an incredible 340 in just 57 overs, a run rate of 5.97.
While the Gulls took a bit of a beating, youngster Harry Finlay-Smith (4/37) was a shining light for the home side with some excellent bowling.
The Gulls are in a world of trouble at stumps, with the Demons taking three late wickets to leave them 3/9.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll will need to consolidate if it’s to run down Carlisle Park’s first innings total, with the Vikings striking late in the day.
The Vikings crawled their way to 150 off the back of solid knocks to Martin Davies (39) and Jagvinder Singh (33).
But a stellar bowling spell by Abhi Sharma (5/21) had the Marygoon in a strong position heading into two hours of batting.
But Manjeet Sandhu (3/4) had other ideas, skittling the Goon top order to leave them hanging precariously at 4/35 at stumps.
SFX Old Collegians (134), meanwhile, will need to take early wickets on day two to defeat Merinda Park (0/49), who are cruising with the bat.
Pakenham have the bye.
E GRADE
Emerald and Pakenham Upper Toomuc are heavily engaged in a thriller down at Worrell Reserve, with just four wickets and 27 runs separating the two sides at stumps.
After winning the toss and batting, the Yabbies were dented by a terrific new ball spell by Dale Street (2/19), and found themselves 4/21.
Skipper John Baker (30) consolidated the innings, and combined with Sukhdutt Singh (20) and Chris Vernal (20), lifted the Yabbies to a competitive 124.
The Bombers got off to a barnstorming start to the run chase, but John Baker (1/31) broke through, removing Ian Crosher (7) after putting on 36 runs for the first wicket with Mark Smith.
But the home side rallied after the Yabbies were 1/60, and took five wickets before stumps to restrict the visitors to 6/101.
Devon Meadows (8/303), meanwhile, had a field day against Officer at Junction Village, with Shane Filius (89) and Ed Gebar (81) both making half centuries.
Gembrook and Upper Beaconsfield forfeited their clashes with Catani and Cranbourne Meadows respectively.
F GRADE
Steve Pursell notched up his second consecutive century – and his third for the season – as Officer racked up an imposing 7/303 against Nyora on Saturday.
Pursell cracked 16 boundaries on his way to his 500th run for the season, and was ably supported by Adam Vangeninden (85), who almost backed up his 146 last week.
Despite it being a tough day in the field for the Maroons, Keith Maclure (4/62) was a shining light in another impressive bowling display.
Pakenham also made plenty of runs in their clash with Merinda Park, posting 6/278 after half centuries to skipper David Hyland (70 not out) and Fraser Selby (64).
Down at Barry Simon Reserve, Carlisle Park (8/150) are in a tough battle with Cranbourne Meadows.
Lang Lang forfeited their clash with Clyde at Lang Lang Primary.
G GRADE
Batting all day in the searing heat, Devon Meadows opener Adam Hamilton (107) made a stellar century to guide the Panthers to 9/210 against Catani.
Hamilton batted for the full 70 overs, anchoring the innings, and despite some class bowling by the Cats, who managed to restrict the visitors, the Panthers are in dominant position.
Cameron Coupar (34) also chimed in with some handy runs to provide some support.
Pakenham (1/108), meanwhile, is well on its way to a comfortable victory over Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (130) at Toomuc.
Clyde has the bye.
