By Hayley Wildes
WGCA DISTRICT AND SUB-DISTRICT DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 14 (DAY TWO)
DISTRICT
The battle for the fourth and final postseason position in the WGCA District Division came down to the last day of the season and Officer got the job done against Emerald to jump ahead of the Bombers and book their finals ticket.
Emerald sat six points ahead of Officer before their round 14 clash; a one-day game due to play being abandoned last weekend because of the bushfire emergency.
The Bullants sent the Bombers into bat first and bowled well to restrict Emerald to a total of 129.
Shaun Weir (4/22) was the star of the show, while Mitch Thomas (30) top-scored for the Bombers. Thomas’ 30 runs were enough for him to claim the title for most runs in the home and away season – a magnificent nod for a cricketer on the rise.
Chasing a small total, Officer – despite losing opener Peter Symons (1) early – was never in any real trouble as Ash Smith (44), Peter Quinn (40 not out) and Chathura Imbulagoda (30) produced strong knocks to see the Bullants reach the target in the 31st over for the loss of three wickets.
Cranbourne Meadows backed up its fine day one performance against Cardinia with a strong showing on day two to finish the season on top of the ladder.
The Rebels posted a commanding total of 335 on day one and with Tom Smith (5/70) and Gurpreet Bhamra (3/40) teaming up brilliantly with the ball, the Bulls were never in the contest.
At 7/83, Cardinia was in desperate need of a big partnership. They got just that as skipper Ricky Campbell (61) and Trent Wheller (39) combined for a fighting 97-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Still, when Wheller was dismissed, the Bulls were only halfway to the Rebels total. The tail was wrapped up relatively easily as Cranbourne Meadows dismissed Cardinia for 208 runs in 48 overs.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll easily accounted for Clyde to wrap up second position.
The Marygoons entered day two at 3/74 after dismissing the Cougars for 149 runs and despite losing key wickets, got the job done.
Clyde, to their credit, fought hard on day two as Shane White (4/51) and Roshan Bandara (3/21) bowled well, but it wasn’t enough as skipper Kallon Rigby (57) and Michael Giles (35) led Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll home.
The Marygoons reached the Cougars total of 149 for the loss of eight wickets and went onto post a total of 191 in 56 overs.
The battle between the two bottom teams – Tooradin and Carlisle Park – resulted in a win for the Vikings.
The Seagulls posted a total of 7/217 on day one, but it wasn’t enough as Greg Benoit (88) went to work in a sublime knock for the Vikings. With Benoit anchoring the innings and Michael Sinclair (39) contributing crucial middle order runs, Carlisle Park posted a total of 8/220 in 73 overs.
Jeremy Bodley (4/51) was the pick of the Seagulls bowlers.
In the first week of finals, top placed Cranbourne Meadows will take on Officer, while Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (second) will face Cardinia (third).
The Marygoons won both encounters against the Bulls this season, while Cranbourne Meadows and Officer split their season series 1-1, with the Bullants torching the Rebels in their most recent encounter in round 12.
SUB-DISTRICT
Lang Lang made didn’t just make a statement in the final round of the home and away season, they made a mockery of their opposition.
The Tigers claimed a win over the Lions on Saturday afternoon at Toomuc Reserve, but the story of the round was their play on day one.
With top spot up for grabs, Lang Lang put together an innings unlike any other.
The end result was an incredible first innings total of 5/545 in 80 overs and the story of how it got to that is fitting of the monster score.
After William Wykes (7) fell early, Jess Grima (231) and Rajind Dassanyake (70) put on a clinic.
Lang Lang’s Hayden Laidlaw recounts how it all went down.
“Jess and Rajind got us to tea and we were 1/200,” he said.
“Jess normally swings pretty hard from the start, but it was probably the slowest he’s batted all year and he brought up his hundred just before tea – his first ever hundred.
“After he made his hundred, because it was a warm day, he wanted to retire, but we told him to keep going.”
Keep going he did.
After Dassanyake was dismissed not long after tea, Grima partnered with captain Ricky Caddell and his 96 runs came quickly as he was in a rush to get home – with good reason.
“Ricky was planning on batting lower down the order, about seven or eight, but he lives in Cora Lynn and he got the phone call to evacuate his house because of the fires, so he went in at number four and was just swinging from ball one.” Laidlaw said.
“We were expecting a quick 20 or 30, but he went on and hit four sixes in an over.”
After Caddell was finally dismissed, just short of what would’ve been a brilliant century, Nathan Phillips stepped to the crease and the onslaught, which was already at fever pitch, went up another gear.
With Lang Lang standing at 3/395, Phillips was on a mission to get his team to 500 runs. With just 12 overs remaining, that seemed like a long shot – even for a team as hot as the Tigers were – but Phillips smoked everything from the first ball.
He brought up his century in just 40 balls and would finish 116 not out in a knock that included 14 fours and eight sixes. Lang Lang made the 500-run mark with ease, eventually finishing with a total of 5/545 in 80 ruthless overs.
Grima was finally dismissed in the second last over with an unbelievable 231 runs to his name. With his monster double-ton in the final round, Grima finished the season as the Division’s leading runs scorer with 651 runs.
In reply, Pakenham posted a total of 4/255 in 80 overs.
The win saw Lang Lang claim top spot on the ladder after Pakenham Upper/Toomuc – who had been on top for much of the season – fell to Kooweerup. In an example of just how close the top four is, the Yabbies fell from first to fourth because of the loss.
After Pakenham Upper/Toomuc fell for just 160 on day one, Kooweerup – led by a brilliant century from Paul Bright (104) – got home with a total of 4/280. Nathan Voss (87) was also impressive.
Catani jumped up to second spot with an outright win over Nyora. After dismissing the Maroons for 99 in their first innings, the Cats declared at 1/221. Nyora responded with a competitive 251 runs in their second innings, but it wasn’t enough as Catani scored 1/149 in 15 brutal overs to claim the outright win. Leigh Adams (100) was superb in Catani’s second innings.
Merinda Park defended its total of 6/177 against Gembrook in a one-day encounter. The Brookers were in with a chance in their run chase, but Adrian Slater (4/24) took key wickets to help dismiss Gembrook for 165 in the 38th over.
With finals kicking off this weekend, Lang Lang (first) will take on Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (fourth) at Lang Lang Recreation Oval and Catani (second) host Kooweerup (third).
