By Tyler Lewis
WGCA – OTHER GRADES
B GRADE
Emerald remains inside the top-four after defeating Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
The Bombers opted to bat and were in early trouble at 1/7, but an impressive half-century from Mark Alenson (62) and an unbeaten 49 from Paul Hennessy steered Emerald to 7/163 from their 40 overs.
Nicholas Braham did some late damage with the ball, claiming 2/32 from eight overs deep in the innings.
In reply, the Yabbies were in all sorts against the new ball, at one stage being 4/19.
A fighting 48 from Mark Johnson and 39 not out from Nandu Krishman gave the Yabbies a chance.
Unfortunately for Pakenham Upper the horse had already bolted in terms of wickets, as the Yabbies were bowled out in the 36th over for 145.
Aura Vale, meanwhile, kept its pole position hopes alive with a strong win over Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll.
A scintillating 64 from Nathan Phillips that included seven boundaries and three maximums got the Lakers off to a dream start with the bat.
Consistent starts through the middle order shifted the Lakers to a strong 10/191.
Abhi Sharma continued his good form with the ball this season, amidst the carnage, claiming 3/23 from seven.
In the second innings, a fierce opening spell from Chris Webb had the Lakers on the front foot immediately, jagging 1/16 from eight overs – he now has 14 wickets this year at 19.
Another good start from Geoffrey Ball (43) was a highlight of the Marygoons innings as they fell 28 runs shy of the target.
Devon Meadows landed a hefty blow to Gembrook on Saturday, notching an eight wicket win.
The Panthers sent the Brookers in and had an instantaneous impact, having Gembrook 5/45, ultimately bowling the Brookers out for 94, with a new player to the club, Nathan Kleinig snagging 3/13.
In reply, the Panthers set to get the target on the board in a swift fashion, and did so comfortably, chasing the 94 required runs at a loss of just wickets inside 20 overs.
Clyde demonstrated why it is the team to beat in B Grade with an impressive win over Carlisle Park.
The Cougars opted to set the tone with the willow and amassed an impressive 7/203 from its 40 overs; all the more impressive seeing not one player went on to make a big score – Josh King nudging 49.
The Vikings made a good fist of the total in reply, but fell to 7/189 from its 40 overs.
Mike Chapman had another good day with the bat, adding a further 42 runs to his solid season to date.
C GRADE
Cranbourne Meadows kept in touch with first spot with a three wicket win over Upper Beaconsfield.
Youngster Joshua Westra lead the way for his side, notching an entertaining half-century (63), which included five boundaries and two maximums.
Unfortunately for the youngster, none of his team mates could replicate his brilliance with the blade with the next highest score 15 as the Maroons posted 7/141 from its 40.
In reply, the Rebels had more trouble tracking down the total than they would have liked, passing the target seven wickets down.
Royston McGavin steered his side home with 51 not out – Shawn Hassall was the most damaging with the ball, jagging 3/17 from eight.
Merinda Park, meanwhile, collected the points against Pakenham.
The Cobras posted 9/173, with Martin Donaldson leading the way with his third 40 of the season (47).
In the second innings, the Cobras first and second change bowlers did the brunt of the damage, restricting the Lions to 7/161 from its overs.
Cardinia claimed a huge win over ladder leaders Tooradin with a clinical bowling performance.
The Bulls posted 170 – Brad Remy notching 84, while Tim Hueguenin went bananas with the ball, claiming 5/15 from eight overs.
The Gulls could only manage 10/99 in the chase as the Cobras bowlers hit good spots from both ends.
Officer recorded a commanding 10-wicket win over Nyora.
The Bullants sent the Maroons in and bundled its strong batting line-up out for just 112.
Sean Hinkley set the tone, claiming the first two wickets of the match in the early stages on his way to 2/9 from seven.
Bullants opening pair Andrew Tucker (55) and Matt Lucas (41) left their team mates with pad rash as they got the total on their own (0/117) in 30 overs.
D GRADE
Kooweerup recorded another powerful victory when it dismantled last placed Cranbourne Meadows on the weekend.
The Demons bowled the Rebels out for just 96, before chasing it one wicket down inside 20 overs.
It was a run fest at Nar Nar Goon reserve between Clyde and Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll.
The Cougars posted 8/212 in the first innings, with Gavin Adams striking a swashbuckling 73.
In reply, the Marygoons moved on from being 2/10 to put up an almighty fight, falling less than 10 runs short – Luke Merrett gave his side a fighting chance with 53.
Lang Lang knocked off second placed Carlisle Park on Saturday.
The Swamp Tigers posted a competitive 7/177 in the first innings, with Glen Burns striking 57.
In the second innings, the Vikings had trouble reeling in the total, falling to 9/148 from its 40 overs.
Emerald secured one of the more convincing wins over Aura Vale.
The Bomber posted 5/209 from its 40 overs, with Jason Burns remaining unbeaten on 88.
In reply, the Lakers could only manage 52, dismissed in 27 overs – Steven Kapahnke took 3/7, four of those runs being extras.
E GRADE
Devon Meadows posted a mammoth score to secure the win over Cranbourne Meadows on Saturday.
The Panthers finished on 6/217, with Shane Fisher not out again with a well-made 74.
In reply, the Panthers restricted the Rebels to 9/79 from 38 overs.
Young bowler James Pickering continued his senior dominance with 3/14 from eight. He took 3/3 in F Grade earlier in the year, proving to be a strong bowler as he climbs through the senior ranks while playing under-16s cricket.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc got the best of Tooradin on Saturday.
The Yabbies posted 6/156, with five players getting 21 or more.
In the second innings, the Gulls couldn’t reel in the total, falling to 8/121 from its 40 overs.
Stuart Langley claimed 3/21 in from his eight overs to go along with his 21 in the first innings.
Officer took the points in a nail biter over Merinda Park.
The Bullants recorded 5/157 from its 40, with Ben Monagle top-scoring with 50.
In reply, the Cobras fell six runs short of the Officer total with 6/151 – Greg Henderson finished with the stupendous figures of 1/9 from eight in the win.
Gembrook, meanwhile, recorded a comfortable win over Pakenham after doing the early work with the bat.
The Brookers posted 6/210, with Devin Serasinghe posting 82 not out.
F GRADE
Officer collected the points in its top four bout against Devon Meadows.
The Bullants held the Panthers to just 9/122 from its 40 overs – Luke Vangeninden starred with 4/19.
In reply, the Bullants took 35 overs to chase down the total but did so with seven wickets in hand, while junior Taj Beddows recorded his second unbeaten 50 in as many senior knocks.
Pakenham leaped into the top four with a strong win over Carlisle Park.
The Lions set up the innings well with 8/154 from 40 overs.
In the second innings, the Vikings could only manage 7/112.
Merinda Park had an impressive win over Lang Lang on Saturday.
The Cobras posted 204, before defending it comfortably by holding the Swamp Tigers to just 152.
Mark Ancilleri fought hard for Lang Lang with 85.
Chris Remy lead his Cardinia side to victory against Clyde with a mammoth 143.
Remy put on 203 with opener Rory Thompson who got 35, as the Bulls posted 8/256.
The Cougars made a good fist of the total, notching 10/234 in an impressive day of batting by both sides.
ONE-DAY COMPETITION
Emerald registered a comfortable win over Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll.
The Bombers blasted the Marygoons out of the water with a monster 3/216 from 35 overs, before dismissing the Marygoons for just 71 with the ball in the second innings.
Cranbourne Meadows made light work of Upper Beaconsfield’s score in a strong chase.
The Maroons posted 9/114 which the Rebels reeling it in inside 20 overs with six wickets in hand.
It was a bowler’s day between Kooweerup and Pakenham as both sides recorded less than 100.
Pakenham was bundled out for just 87 in the first innings, before the Demons passed the total with just one wicket in hand and finished 9/94.
In the other fixture, Pakenham Upper Toomuc collected the win over Nyora due to forfeit.
