By RUSSELL BENNETT
WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 4 (Day 1)
KOOWEERUP v MERINDA PARK
COBRAS player-coach Jamie Smith has seen a lot of cricket in his time – including the odd special knock or two, but what he saw on Saturday at Lakeside Oval in Pakenham was something else; something remarkable.
It seemed no sooner had Merinda Park skipper Danny Diwell won the toss and elected to bat against the Demons, his side was in desperate trouble.
The Cobras lost three early wickets to slide to 3/27, and then lost Diwell (19), himself, and Glen Ward (0) in quick succession – both to Paul Bright – to fall to 5/53.
But that’s when Anthony Craddock and Jason Pongracic got to work.
The young pair set about playing smart, calculated cricket that wasn’t without its share of big hits, but they would come at minimal risk through measured shots.
To start with, it was clear Craddock and Pongracic were all about consolidation, but as they found their feet in the innings they also found their footwork at the crease.
“Their bowling was really good,” Smith said of Kooweerup’s attack.
“It’s just that our batsmen didn’t take any real risks (from that point).
“We spoke at tea about just batting out our overs and making 220 or 230 but after the break Ant (Craddock) just started to play some beautiful drives.
“I thought Kooweerup’s fielding was outstanding – they threw their bodies behind the ball all day on a ground with a very hard surface – but that partnership was the best under pressure I’ve ever seen.
“It wasn’t the biggest I’ve seen but we were stuffed at that point of the innings and they batted well beyond their years.”
Craddock and Pongracic ultimately put on 141 – the biggest sixth wicket stand in the WGCA’s top flight since the 150-run stand between Kooweerup pair Shane Dole and Jeff Walsh in 2008/09.
Craddock made a stellar 83 and Pongracic a sublime 106 before both were eventually removed by Ron Bright Jr. Pongracic’s ton was his first in the WGCA and the first of this season in the Premier Grade.
Crucially though, after Craddock’s dismissal up-and-coming youngster Caleb Boswell (26 not out) combined with Pongracic for another 69-run partnership to push their side’s total to 7/275 from their 80 overs.
“I’m rapt for Jason – he’s a brilliant fielder, he bowls and he wicket-keeps but he’s just a great bloke,” Smith said.
“He’s a delight to have around the team and he has the best attitude of anyone I’ve seen.”
Smith acknowledged that the Cobras’ Premier side this year is vastly different to the one that took to the field last season, but he also spoke of how excited he was about what the future has in store.
“We’re a different group this year – we don’t have Matty (Grayson), Dylan (Cuthbertson), Jarrod (Armitage) or Shannon Mathers but we’ve had a talk and we know we have to stick together,” he said.
“As a team and as a group we’re getting along really well and I suppose a bit of it is that backs-to-the-wall type stuff.
“I’m 37 and over the last few years I’ve had injuries and really struggled but now I feel as fit as ever and I’m really excited and looking forward to cricket every week.”
The Demons will likely come out hard this week in their reply, and Smith knows they have more than enough firepower to post a big score of their own.
“Mick Giles and Wombat (Chris Bright) can quickly get away from you, and they have Matty Davey and Paul Bright as well, and the (Bright) twins (Ron Jr and John) hit the ball really hard too,” he said.
“We need early wickets and we need to put our foot on their throat and keep it down.”
PAKENHAM v CARDINIA
THE Bulls entered Saturday’s clash with the Lions as the only undefeated side in the Premier competition.
Their all-around performances with bat and ball reflected that of a side that had been training in earnest since mid-year.
But two-day cricket is a different beast, and on the weekend it seemed Cardinia’s top and middle orders struggled to adjust to the longer format.
Soon after skipper Neil Barfuss won the toss and elected to bat at Toomuc Reserve Daniel Strahan (5) was out to a ripper of a catch by Bradey Welsh off in-form seamer Zac Chaplin (2/29).
Ricky Campbell (4) followed soon after, caught by Jesse Hayhow at mid-off to Chris Smith (3/33). When Alex Nooy was caught at second slip by Sean Gramc off Chaplin without scoring and Barfuss (5) was triggered out leg-before to Smith the Bulls were in a nightmare position at 4/14.
And things only got worse before they could get better, with Travis Wheller (11) out at 5/31.
A 57-run stand between young St Kilda AFL player Arryn Siposs and Travis Welsh (27) slowly started to turn things around for the Bulls until, with the score on 88, Welsh was well caught by his little brother Matt at cover-point off Russ Lehman (4/60).
Siposs, however, kept the foot down – continuing where he left off in Round 3 when he made 35 for the Bulls’ Sub-District side against Catani.
He was particularly brutal from mid-on to mid-off, hitting straight down the ground with some massive drives, ticking the score along to 173 before he was finally out, caught behind off Lehman for 81.
Bulls’ player-coach Simon Parrott, one of a number of outs for the Bulls on the weekend after he suffered a health scare during the week, said his side would have Siposs available “spasmodically” throughout the season given his football commitments.
“We just appreciate him giving us his time,” Parrott said.
“Overall I thought Travis Welsh (27) batted really well, and so did Trent Wheller at the end but I think we played it a little too much like a one-day game.
“The boys were playing shots early that they didn’t need to be playing.
“I think we just need to go back to the drawing board of playing 80-over cricket.”
But almost more disappointing for the Bulls – after being dismissed for 175 in the 43rd over – was that Pakenham closed out the first day’s play on 0/86, in the box seat for victory.
“That certainly wasn’t ideal,” Parrott said.
“I think we gave them a bit too much down leg side.
“We must get early wickets this week
“Pakenham will definitely go in as the red-hot favourite.”
Parrott said he was “definitely” backing his boys in, but first and foremost this week would be about effort.
“We’ve potentially got five blokes to come back for our next game – Ben Darose and Lukey Turner are definite – but it’s good for some of our younger guys to get the opportunity to play Premier cricket and it really shows how much depth we have.”
Parrott, too, could be back in Round 5, adding, “it was a very hard day’s cricket to watch for me.
“I’m not a very good watcher at the best of times!”
Pakenham openers Russ Lehman (44) and Chris Smith (32) will resume their innings this Saturday.
BEACONSFIELD v TOORADIN
THE Seagulls will be on the hunt for outright victory this week in the second day’s play of their match-up with the young Tigers at Perc Alison Oval.
Beaconsfield skipper Don Kerslake won the toss and elected to bat and their first innings started promisingly with Brendan Johnson and Angus Bunnell combining for a 25-run opening stand. But Ash Adams (3/29), Matt Finch (2/11) and Aaron Avery (2/19) combined to rip through the Tigers’ top and middle orders to have them at one stage 5/55. The home side was eventually rolled in the 58th over for just 107 with Bunnell (21) top-scoring.
With more than 20 overs remaining in the day’s play, the Seagulls took to their first dig in an aggressive frame of mind with Tom Hussey racing to 47 not out at stumps.
Tooradin will resume this week at 0/72 – looking to make light work of the rest of its chase.
UPPER BEACONSFIELD v EMERALD
THE final match of the Premier round is poised on a knife’s edge after the Maroons won the toss at home, elected to bat and were bowled out for 184 shortly before stumps.
New recruits Robert North (60) and Jake Serong (55) were the stars of the show for Upper Beac, which lost opener Julian Bayard without scoring – leg-before to Bombers speedster Clinton Marsh.
An 87-run stand between North and Serong steadied the ship but the Maroons lost their final nine wickets for just 97 runs.
Michael Nell was the pick of the Bombers’ attack with 3/30 while Darcy Hellriegel (2/25), Marsh (2/39) and skipper AJ Walker (2/45) were the other multiple wicket-takers.
If Emerald bats sensibly on day two, the side should reach their target with plenty of overs to spare but pressure does funny things to young, inexperienced sides. Walker, Nell and Mark Alenson will need to keep their wits about them and build an innings this week. A successful run chase and a win over the much-improved Maroons could really set the Bombers on their way with plenty of confidence under their belts, but a loss could prove costly.
