Perera’s century proves vital

By Russell Bennett

WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 6 (Day one)
A crucial century from skipper Bathiya Perera took Upper Beaconsfield to a strong first day’s total against Cardinia at E. Gunton Oval on Saturday.
In a clash that could prove vital in the race for finals positions, after being sent in to bat the Maroons were in serious trouble early at 2/10 with the in-form Kallan Braid-Ball (2/57) striking twice to remove the dangerous Zenith Wickramanayaka (7) and Jonathon Caderamanpulle (0).
A 60-run stand between Imesh Jayasekara (42) and Kulith Rabel (32) then helped steady the ship but spin twins Dwayne Doig and Travis Wheller (3/68) struck in the space of five runs to have the visitors seemingly back on the ropes at 4/75.
Perera then stood up when his side needed him most – showing his class in notching his maiden century for the club.
Perera was one of the stand-out batsmen in the DDCA’s top turf tier before making the switch to synthetic to lead the Maroons. After giving glimpses into his superb talent with a series of half-centuries over recent seasons, he raised the bat for triple figures for the first time as an Upper Beaconsfield player on Saturday – leading from the front.
After Jayasekara fell at 5/101, Perera took charge before ultimately being the last wicket to fall at 236 in the 76th over.
Doig was a real shining light with the ball for the Bulls – claiming 5/62 in a mammoth 30 overs – including the wickets of Jayasekara and Rabel.
Ben Parrott and skipper Alex Nooy will resume for the Bulls at 0/2 this week with the Maroons’ total well within reach if the home side maintains its composure.
But unfortunately for the Bulls, star recruit Te Ahu Davis (six overs, 0/23) succumbed to a calf injury and was forced from the field for the final 20 overs of day one.
Nearby on Saturday the reigning premier Kooweerup amassed 271 at home against Clyde and struck twice in the dying overs of the opening day’s play to have the Cougars well on the back foot.
After winning the toss and electing to bat Demons skipper Mark Cooper fell leg-before to Nick Sadler (2/44) for just nine.
While Cooper’s opening partner Chris O’Hara (32) looked to punish anything short, Chris Bright (13) was skittled by a full-pitched delivery from the impressive Damasara Menuwara (3/62) and at 2/35 off 13 overs the Demons had a few questions to answer.
O’Hara then combined with young all-rounder Mitch Davey (24) for a period of consolidation before Jess Mathers (59) and keeper-batsman Ben Spicer (58) compiled the innings’ defining partnership after tea.
They both displayed plenty of their natural, attacking flair with Spicer playing a range of superb drives and Mathers some trademark brutal hits.
When Mathers was ultimately caught by Nick Miles at backward point off Shane White, Spicer took on the role of the aggressor – dealing mainly in boundaries before he was eventually caught on the mid-wicket fence with the score at 6/218.
The Demons had a range of contributors with the bat, with just three players failing to reach double-figures – one of those being Cooper, who is still averaging 117 over the course of the season to date.
The home side was ultimately dismissed for 271 in the 73rd over with Cougars seamer Shane White powering through 25 overs to finished with the impressive figures of 4/65.
Menuwara and Sadler were the visitors’ other multiple wicket-takers.
But with just four overs to face to close out the opening day’s play, disaster struck for Clyde with both Dave Denton and Kane Avard falling to a rampant Jess Mathers without scoring. Glen Tuckwell and Gavin Britt will resume this week at 2/7.
Still, in the wake of day one Cooper said he was impressed with Clyde’s performance in the field.
“They could really build around that facet of their game,” he said.
“They showed on the weekend that they have plenty of talent with the ball and I also thought we batted well, generally.
“It was pretty good cricket for much of the day and they’re definitely
well in the game because of their efforts in the field.”
Cooper made special mention of the opportunity Davey had to bat early in the Demons’ innings alongside a player of the calibre of O’Hara.
“He’ll learn a lot from that,” he said.
“I guess it was disappointing we didn’t bat out our 80 overs but we showed we have pretty good depth with the bat and it was a pretty even contribution.”
After Mathers capitalised on his half-century by snaring two important wickets late on day one, Cooper said the first hour of the second day’s play would be vital for both sides.
Another breakthrough for the Demons could see them tear through the Cougars’ line-up, but a steadying partnership could put the visitors right back into the contest.
Meanwhile, four wickets apiece from impressive young gun Mitch Thomas (4/53) and veteran Peter Jessop (4/55) have the Cobras well and truly in their clash against the Seagulls after the midway point at Tooradin.
A host of Gulls batsmen made starts – including Tom Hussey (25), Josh Lownds (23), Cal O’Hare (44), and Dylan Sutton (18) – but only Kade Burns could reach 50 as the home side was dismissed for 209 in the 77th over.
A patient, steady approach from Merinda Park this week could give Andrew Martin’s side its first victory of its 2017/18 campaign as it looks to win the battle against relegation over Emerald.
In the remaining game of the round, Pakenham is just a breath away from first innings points against the Bombers after rolling the home side for just 138 at Chandler Reserve.
It was an all-too-familiar story for Emerald with many of its recognised batsmen struggling to have any real scoreboard impact, with only bowling all-rounder Clinton Marsh (33) passing 20.
Zac Chaplin (4/42) and Tommy Tyrrell (4/19) took four wickets apiece in a combined 27 overs before the Lions reached 4/108 in the final 25 overs of day one. Troy McDermott (34) and Dan Vela (10) are the not out batsmen with the likes of skipper Dom Paynter, Rob Elston, and Chaplin still to bat.

PREMIER DIVISION LADDER