By David Nagel
Tooradin (6/205) has emerged from five glorious – hot-and-intense – days of summer with its reputation and premiership hopes flying high after a magnificent run-chase victory against reigning-premier Cardinia (5/202) at Westernport Oval.
The Australia Day clash between two of the best teams in West Gippsland Premier cricket promised so much – and delivered even more – with the Seagulls backing up their dominant victory over Kooweerup on Saturday by taking the Bulls’ best shot…but bouncing back for more.
The Seagulls survived, quite literally, a standing eight count just before the interval with Bradey Welsh (72 not out), Alex Nooy (50) and Matt Welsh (20 not out) taking 71 runs from the Bulls’ final eight overs to extend an expected 180-scoreline to beyond the 200 mark.
The Gulls then balanced from their wobbling feet, surviving an early scare and some typical Bulls’ fight, to plough 83 runs from their final nine overs to win with seven balls left in the tank!
It was an incredible finish by the home side…but getting to that point was just as much fun.
Bulls’ skipper Jake Prosser won the toss and elected to pull on the pads, with opener Nooy (50) obviously given a clear directive to anchor the reigning premier’s innings.
Prosser loves to set his players targets…and Nooy’s directive was clear!
Nooy would survive three partners, Travis Wheller (20), Travis Welsh (6) and Prosser (13) – who hit a low catch to Tom Hussey at mid-wicket – and find himself on 28 not out when Bradey Welsh emerged from the sheds in the 22nd over.
Over the course of the next 11 overs, Nooy and Welsh would produce a valuable alliance of 63 runs, with Nooy improving his run rate with some impressive slaps over square leg.
Nooy would reach his 50 by pushing the fourth ball of the 34th over to the leg side – his last scoring shot.
Having just raised his bat for his half-century, Nooy would hole out by hitting Dylan Sutton (2/41) high and straight, but into the safe hands of Gulls’ skipper Cal O’Hare.
Just three balls later Sutton would remove the middle peg of Leigh Patterson (0) – who bottom edged a short ball – with Matt Welsh joining his brother at the crease with the score on 5/144…with just six overs left in the innings.
Bradey would then dictate terms, scoring 32 of the 58 runs that would follow, taking his score from 51 to 62 in the 38th over after whacking Russ Lehman (1/46) for a four and a six.
Matt Welsh would make the next over, the 39th, his own, taking nine from Kallan Braid Ball (0/30), before Bradey finished off the job with a productive last over.
The Gulls were certainly shaken late, but can thank the dart throwing abilities of Bailey (1/33) and Josh Lownds (1/26) – who bowled beautifully in tandem through the middle overs – for at least keeping a successful run-chase as a viable option.
But the Bulls were certainly on top at half way!
The Bulls then came out breathing fire, with Matt Welsh (1/53) producing an absolute cracker to remove the dangerous Hussey (8) early.
The left hander got one to stand up, taking the leading edge of ‘Huss’ and landing in the safe hands of Wheller at point.
O’Hare (46) and Lehman (38) then showed their experience and class with an 81-run partnership that kept ticking over at 4.5 runs per over. Lehman didn’t find the middle of the bat too often – but still found a way, while several shouts of “SHOT” were heard to emanate from the crowd as O’Hare put on a clinic.
The skipper crunched five fours and a six, in not his highest score for the season – but one of his most important.
In two pressure games – within the space of five days – O’Hare has now made 80 and 46 to show his immense class and provide further proof of his standing as one of the best players in the WGCA over the last decade.
The Gulls were going along nicely at 1/87 at the half-way point of their innings, but things changed in a hurry.
O’Hare was trapped in front by leg-spinner Lachlan Volpe (2/27) – before Volpe struck quickly again, having the dangerous Brad Butler (1) stumped by Bradey Welsh.
The Bulls were back in it at 3/93 and further improved their position with some super-impressive efforts in the field.
Lehman was slow off the mark, and found short of his ground – making it 4/100 – before Matt Welsh produced a brilliant throw from extra-cover, finding Bradey behind the stumps, to end an enterprising innings from Aaron Avery (27).
The Bulls were once again on top, with the Gulls requiring 66 runs from eight overs, with five wickets in hand!
But this Tooradin team runs deeper than previous seasons, not in names on paper…but in the confidence and belief that those same names now have!
Players like Josh Lownds (33 not out) and Sutton (38) are confident and believe…and every ounce of those two precious commodities were put to the ultimate test on Wednesday.
A decent crowd, a tough opponent, a huge prize up for grabs – this one certainly had a finals feel about it.
Sutton would turn the game with a belligerent knock, composed off 20 balls, conducted in 27 minutes, and hitting some high notes with two boundaries and three towering sixes…including two off Prosser (0/48) off consecutive balls.
Sutton, known for his devastatingly clean hitting – particularly straight – departed the scene by hitting the first ball of the 38th over to Alex Nooy, off the bowling of Patterson (1/5).
He walked off the ground with his back facing the Bulls – but he had showed them more front than Myers!
Lownds, equally important with his run-a-ball 33, then guided the ship to port, with Tyler Evans (5 not out) completing the required task of 11 runs off 17 balls with a three over mid-wicket…with seven balls to spare.
The ramifications are real for both teams.
Tooradin, well it has virtually locked away a coveted top-two position, a double-chance, and also tucked away some belief – that it may not have to use too much over its five concluding rounds – but belief that will become very valuable indeed when this season’s finals series begins on March 12.
The Bulls, well they’ve lost three of their last five now, Tooradin twice, Kooweerup once, and face the Demons again in the next round.
They will still play finals, but to make it back-to-back premierships they will likely have to defeat Pakenham, Kooweerup and Tooradin – in any particular order – in consecutive weeks to fly their second flag in two years.
They’re good enough the Bulls – but results since December 11 last year would suggest it’s a very tough task indeed!
Ladder: Tooradin 90, Kooweerup 78, Cardinia 66, Pakenham 54, Clyde 36, Merinda Park 36, Cranbourne Meadows 30, Carlisle Park 6.
Remainder of Round 9 – Saturday, 29 January: Carlisle Park v Kooweerup, Pakenham v Cranbourne Meadows, Merinda Park v Clyde.
Round 10 – Saturday, February 5: Kooweerup v Cardinia, Clyde v Pakenham, Cranbourne Meadows v Tooradin, Carlisle Park v Merinda Park.
