By Nick Creely
WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 9
Mark Cooper’s Kooweerup were handed a far sterner challenge to begin the second half of the WGCA Premier Division season, but ultimately, the Demons just had too much class for their spirited rival in Cardinia on Saturday.
With centuries scored for either side, it was a high-scoring affair down at E Gunton Oval, with Bulls skipper Alex Nooy sending the Demons in to face the music, and the fluency of openers Cooper and Chris O’Hara loomed brightest.
The pair swiftly knocked their way to 85, before the skipper was dismissed for just 27 after ending 2018 with scintillating knocks of 92 not out and 128, and young gun Tyler Clark fell shortly after, both to the bowling of Ryan Little (2/31).
O’Hara combined superbly with Chris Bright (70) to bring the innings back on track, finding some aggression and compiling what was a match defining 108-run stand, that lifted the Demons to an imposing 7/261 off 40 overs.
But it was the class of O’Hara that made the Bulls pay, lifting his bat aloft for the first time since February 2014, in a sublime knock of 109.
The Bulls couldn’t have scripted a worse start, with Nooy and Ben Parrott back in the sheds within the first few overs, but gun recruit AJ Walker (102) decided to take it to the Demons, blasting an excellent century before Cooper (2/48) broke through to virtually ice the game.
The home side suffered a dramatic middle-order collapse – sparked by the brilliance of Jess Mathers (3/42) and the fielders, who forced two run-outs – going from 4/192 to 9/219 at the end of the 40 overs.
Devon Meadows, meanwhile, picked up a crucial victory in their finals hopes, defeating Clyde comfortably to stay within six points of fourth position.
It was a professional performance from the Panthers on their family day down at Glover Reserve on Sunday, with the home side controlling from the outset.
After winning the toss and electing to have a bat, the Cougars soon found themselves 4/34, but managed to stumble their way to 7/158 after Jason Hameeteman (41) rode the wave of momentum against him to play a fine hand.
Champion quick Matt Hutchinson (2/14) was economical with the ball to be a nuisance for the visitors, while Lucas Carroll (2/50) continued his brilliant season with the ball with another couple of wickets.
The only real stumble came early in the chase for the home team, with Pat Lawson (2/26) breaking through twice in the opening few overs to have the Panthers 2/12, but from there on in, raced down the total comfortably.
Nathan Worsteling (49 not out) and Scott Clark (50) combined superbly, guiding the home side to victory, and more importantly, within touching distance of breaking into the top-four.
Tooradin, meanwhile, survived a scare to bank equally vital points against Upper Beaconsfield, with the Seagulls doing just enough to hold off the Maroons.
The Maroons bowled superbly after electing to bowl, skittling the home side for just 124, with Jayden Joyce (3/30), Shawn Hassal (2/16) and Daniel Brennan (2/28) all extremely impressive.
Imesh Jayasekara (48) looked in an ominous mood in reply, but wickets kept tumbling, with the Maroons stumbling to 2/13 early.
Scott Pitcher (15) and Jayasekera consolidated somewhat, but the dismissal of the skipper brought about a collapse, with the Seagulls finishing them off without allowing another batsmen to reach double figures, and the Maroons fell over for just 81.
Russ Lehman (2/17) was an important figure in the victory, while Bailey Lownds (3/13) helped spark the collapse with quick wickets.
In the other match, Pakenham did what they needed to do against Merinda Park at Toomuc Reserve, banking a solid win.
Off the back of an unbeaten 90 to gun opener Chris Smith, and handy knocks from Ben Maroney (46), Dale Tormey (25) and Zac Chaplin (28), the Lions set the visitors 223 for victory.
Despite Daniel McCalman (37) digging in, the visitors were rolled for 128, with Sean Gramc (3/29), Troy McDermott (2/32) and Jason Williams (2/2) doing the bulk of the damage.
