By David Nagel
The WGCA home-and-away season is done and dusted, with the process of sorting out the contenders from pretenders complete. Gazette Sport Editor Dave Nagel takes a close look at who the players to watch are in this week’s WGCA F Grade semi-finals.
F GRADE
Major Semi-Final
Pakenham (1) v Cardinia (2)
Pakenham Stats…
Over 100 Runs: Craig Hart 290, Mitchell Kezik 239, Rob Newell 226, Paul Hart 191, Adam Roseby 181, Greg Hogben 173.
Over 10 Wickets: Deepak Gusain 18, Les Jones 13.
Cardinia Stats…
Over 100 Runs: Chris Remy 471, Yohan La Brooy 223, Ben Warren 139.
Over 10 Wickets: Ash Jones 18, Ben Monckton 11.
Preview
A tantalising F Grade finals series will kick off this week when Pakenham and Cardinia fight for a direct route to the grand final at Toomuc Reserve.
The Lions have had just the one hiccup this season – against the Bulls in round nine – the only time the teams have locked horns.
The Lions have won their last five, and a big reason for that impressive run of form is the inclusion of Rob Newell, a rock through the middle order who returned to the crease recently after surgery to both knees.
Newell has offered a point of difference, and provided players like Craig and Paul Hart, Mitchell Kezik and Greg Hogben with a great insurance policy if things go wrong at the top of the order.
And in Deepak Gusain and master-craftsman Les Jones the Lions have the ability to strike with the ball…and strike quick.
Ash Jones has been the star bowler for the Bulls this season, with Ben Monckton providing the back up.
And with the bat, well, if Chris Remy gets going…most games of cricket are over!
If the Lions don’t get Remy early – they’ll be backing up in a prelimary final next week.
But we’ll back the Lions in…but only narrowly.
Minor Semi-Final
Lang Lang (3) v Devon Meadows (4)
Lang Lang Stats…
Over 100 Runs: David Fisher-White 216, Tangata Dean 196, Matthew Waixel 100.
Over 10 Wickets: Steve Stern 10.
Devon Meadows Stats…
Over 100 Runs: Peter Zauner 293, Jason Brzezowski 254, Lincoln Hepburn 222, Anthony Brown 175, Mick Hawkins 115, Mark Cosgriff 112.
Over 10 Wickets: Lincoln Hepburn 16, Peter Zauner 14, Jason Brzezowski 10.
Preview
Lang Lang and Devon Meadows will be sick of the sight of each other when the Swampies and Panthers battle for their season survival at Caldermeade Oval on Saturday.
It was only last weekend when the Swampies jumped over the Panthers into third position after a delicate and fragile two-wicket win.
The Swampies restricted the Panthers to 7/144 and then snuck home with just two wickets and one over to spare.
Leading their team to victory last week were their two highest scorers, David Fisher-White and Tangata Dean, while leading wicket-taker Steve Stern was also in it up to his ears.
The Panthers will be confident of turning things around, with legendary figures like Peter Zauner and Lincoln Hepburn keen to add further glory to already illustrious careers.
Zauner and Hepburn have done it with both bat and ball this season and their output, along with that of fellow all-rounder Jason Brzezowski, will be the key to this week’s contest.
Zauner and Hepburn will live to fight another day…it’s the Panthers to win a nail-biter.
