By Lance Jenkinson
WARRAGUL AND DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
REVIEW – ROUND 5 (DAY ONE)
It is as close to a must-win game as it gets for both Hallora and Warragul in the Warragul and District Cricket Association Division 1 at Hallora Recreation Reserve.
After the opening day of the two-day contest between two sides sitting outside the top four and looking for a way to break in, Hallora has thrown down the challenge by posting a gigantic 8/398 off 80 overs.
It was a procession of runs from the outset for the Kangaroos.
Hallora openers Damon Healy and Grant Duncan showed the way, combining for a whopping 245 for the first wicket.
Healy pushed on for the Kangaroos to make 136 off 185 balls, clobbering 23 fours and two sixes in the process.
Duncan perished shortly after raising his bat, finishing with 102 off 182 balls, including 18 fours.
Hallora was merciless in its nature.
Instead of being content with what they had, the Kangaroos continued to rub salt into the wounds of the Warragul players, who must have got sick of chasing the red ball around on a hot day.
Brett Williams (34), Natsai M’Shangwe (23) and Liam Serong (20no) continued the momentum.
Cameron Ludowyke answered back for Warragul with 4/38 off eight overs.
Every Gulls bowler fought hard, but they could only doff their caps to some superb Hallora batting on the day.
Hallora is undoubtedly in the box seat as Warragul would need to smash its highest score of 211 this season to claim the points.
There were runs aplenty elsewhere on Saturday.
Bottom-of-the-ladder Buln Buln got in on the act, posting 8/296 against fifth-placed Yarragon at Buln Buln Recreation Reserve.
Lachlan Jagoe produced his best performance of the summer with a patient 78 off 150 overs.
The opener knuckled down and set the tone for a Lyrebirds team in need of a backbone to its innings.
It all clicked into place for Brent Eastwell too, who had his season-best of 51 off 60 balls.
Ricky McKerrow (38) and Matthew Allen (31) were also handy contributors for the Lyrebirds.
For Yarragon to win, it will also need to make its biggest score of the season.
Second place is up for grabs in the Ellinbank and Neerim District blockbuster at Drouin Recreation Reserve.
Ellinbank would seem to have the upper hand after day one, posting an imposing 9/291 off its 80 overs.
Nicholas Fairbank lifted the Bankers through the middle order with 83 off 102 balls.
Fairbank’s 94-run fourth wicket partnership with Daniel Pandolfo (50 off 79) could well prove to be the difference in the game.
However, thanks to some nifty bowling from Matthew Keliher (3/37), who claimed the scalp of Fairbank, Neerim District will still fancy their chances of a successful run chase.
Just like Warragul and Yarragon, Neerim District would need to beat their high score of the summer to claim the win.
Drouin had to be content with 226 on day one against ladder leader Western Park at Warragul Country Club Oval.
Opener Josh Maric was the stand out for the Hawks with 73 off 174 balls.
Western Park kept it to a manageable run chase with thanks to some brilliant bowling from Sam Russell, who took 5/49 off 20.4 overs, and Sam Batson, with 3/48 off 23 overs, including 11 maidens.
The Parkers are yet to lose this season and would believe their noses are just in front heading into the second day’s play on Saturday.
