By JARROD POTTER
WGCA DISTRICT DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 5 (Day 2 two)
DISARRAY at the top of the order did different things to all three batting sides on the weekend, with Carlisle Park the only side to truly stabilise and fight back after early disruptions.
CARLISLE PARK v OFFICER
From chaos to celebration in the space of an afternoon, Carlisle Park (8/223) feasted on its fourth win of the season and claimed bragging rights in District after a huge revival spurred by David Spencer (103no). Trying to hunt down 153 is difficult enough in this tightly-fought division, let alone trying to do it after losing 4/35 to kick off the innings. David Collins (3/62) and Brett Reid (3/42) speared through the Vikings’ top order, with only Mark Henry (20) making any inroads.
It left the heavy lifting up to the middle order contingent and Spencer shone in taking the advantage back for the Vikings. His mature dig, supported by Heath Straughair (31) and lower down the order Asim Ahmad (25), left the Bullants without any answers.
“It was just good to get the win really,” Spencer said. “The ball was moving a bit and that was about it – they were bowling good line and length and we just had to knuckle down.”
Spencer’s knock, his second District century, brought to an end the Vikings’ victorious outing as he went full-David Warner to cap it off.
Spencer raised the bat after cannoning a six … or at least that’s what the umpires signalled before the Vikings’ celebrations began.
“That’s what the book says,” Spencer said. “Apparently it didn’t go – I asked the question, was that six or four, but they gave it six – couldn’t argue with that.”
The District ladder-leading Vikings face Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll at home while Officer hosts Clyde.
DEVON MEADOWS v NAR NAR GOON/MARYKNOLL
Outright was on offer for Devon Meadows (4/213 and 0/20) against Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (107 and 123) and the Panthers pounced on the opportunity to take second and move 14 points clear of third.
Declaring overnight, Devon Meadows surged through the Marygoons’ order again to leave a tiny tally of 20 needed to take the team’s first outright since round 7 in 2013/14.
Kevin Wheeler (38no) is in line for promotion after a top-notch knock from number seven, holding off the hosts and forcing them to bat once more.
Not for a lack of trying, Matt Hutchinson (0/28) couldn’t repeat last week’s efforts and went wicket-less in the second innings as Ash Adams (4/38) and Devon Meadows mainstay Mick Floyd (3/22) finished the bowling job instead before Daniel Steet (17no) knocked in most of the 20 run total required for outright success.
“It was a good performance by the lads – taking 20 wickets in a match is a big ask and credit to Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll, they really knuckled down and put a lot of value on their wickets,” Floyd said. “Everyone stuck to their task really well and we got the result we were after.
“We had a lot of contributors throughout the match which is a great sign, but there are a few areas we can improve on.
“We dropped some catches and need to be a bit more patient with the ball – a few little things that will make the difference against the top teams.”
CLYDE v PAKENHAM UPPER-TOOMUC
The Lineham Oval yips set in for Clyde (75) with a diabolically woeful display chasing Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (157 and 7/103).
From 0/34 to all out for 75, it left the horrifying Cougars batting figures of 10/41 lost in an afternoon.
Not even making it half-way to the distance, even with a top score from extras (18), Clyde was taken apart limb from limb by Scott Clark (6/20) in particular. The Yabbies skipper had the Cougars caged early as he picked up his opposite number John Simpson (10) for a pittance before running riot through the lower order.
Jack Donaldson (2/5) picked off two important scalps in a short-but-sweet three over spell at the top of the day – knocking over Shane Webster (7) and Kyle Brooke (4) – before Clark launched into his chaos-ball session in earnest.
Englishman Bilal Abbas (2) continued his rough run of first team form in Australia – with District scores of 2, 2, 15, and 2 – as he was skittled by Nick Fairbank (1/32).
Kane Avard (13) showed some fist at the death, but his efforts soon came to an end as Clark signed off with his first five-for with the Yabbies. Clyde redeemed some of its earlier lost confidence to rattle off seven wickets before stumps in the Yabbies’ second dig. Ben Spicer (35) and Adam Mitchell (24) did the most in the batting practice second innings while Nick Sadler (2/12) bowled well again too.
The Yabbies head to high-flying Devon Meadows while Clyde faces Officer.
