Lang Lang

IT was most certainly a mixed bag of results for Lang Lang on the weekend, with the First XI already gaining first innings points, and the Second XI losing on the first innings. All junior sides acquitted themselves well, with the under 13 White team having a good win.
SUB DISTRICT
Playing second placed Cranbourne Meadows at home. Lang Lang won the toss and elected to bowl on what was a beautiful day for cricket. It did not take long for the ‘Swamp Tigers’ to get wickets, with speedster Alan Jenkins comprehensively clean bowling Warren Smith with his second ball of the day. On the sixth ball of the first over, Gavin Boon was easily run out after some good fielding by Ross Douglas combined with Jenkins.
With the score on 10, Jenkins took his second wicket when he clean bowled Phillips, and one run later the opposition were reeling at 4/11 after Bodie Brown uprooted the stumps of Trevor Poole. Jenkins was proving to be a handful for the batsmen, maintaining a very good line and length. With the score on 22, he again bowled well to dismiss Geoff Rowley, sending his middle stump cartwheeling.
One run later, Waller was brilliantly caught by Gareth Andrews off the bowling of Brown. With the score on 30, Jenkins claimed his fourth wicket, once again clean bowling his victim. Brown got his third wicket when he bowled the captain Shane White, to have the opposition at 8/42 and three runs later got his fourth wicket after a good catch was taken by Jimmy Van Dam. Brown then wrapped up the innings with the score on 50 after Shaun Hassett took a regulation catch to dismiss Singh.
Lang Lang only used two bowlers, both who did extremely well. Jenkins took 4/18 off 11 overs and Brown snared 5/31, also off 11 overs. With Lang Lang only bowling 22 overs, there was plenty of time to knock up the required runs and maybe have a very handy first innings lead.
The opening batsmen for Lang Lang started in a very positive mood, and were taking five off every over, but with the score on 37 Gareth Andrews was dismissed for 23, and one run later, Chris McCurdy was out for 14.
There were some worrying moments for Lang Lang as for some inexplicable reason wickets fell at an alarming rate. The side lost 4/12 to see them slump to 6/50. Brian Christensen and veteran Shaun Hassett set about putting some respectability to the score and this they did by putting on a season best partnership of 65 for the seventh wicket, with Christensen unleashing an awesome array of shots, bringing up his half century with a scorching cover drive. The partnership ended with the score on 115 and five runs later Hassett was out for 15.
The two all-rounders of the side, Jenkins and the much older Rogan Fraser, then combined for a 46 run stand, which was ended when Jenkins was caught for 19. Lang Lang were dismissed for 168 after Fraser was caught for 27. It is a very good first innings lead of 118 and next Saturday the side will strive for the all important maximum points.
SECOND XI
Playing Emerald away, Lang Lang batted first, and could manage to make just 59, with only two batsmen, Nic Virtue (23) and Adam Dowson (10) reaching double figures. Lang Lang fought back with the ball and thanks to some good bowling, have Emerald at 7/71 at stumps. Jackson Walker Hassett continued his good form with the ball, taking 3/6 off eight overs. This game is wide open and poised for an exciting finish.
UNDER 17
Cardinia resumed at 3/37 in reply to Lang Lang’s 56 and were dismissed for 140, with all wickets shared. In the second innings, Lang Lang were 4/25 with opener Hayden Laidlaw showing stubborn resistance in making nine not out, batting for 13 overs.
UNDER 13 WHITE
Lang Lang won by 55 runs in making 97 with Hayden Diehl and Mitch Virtue retiring after making 30. Dillon Diehl batted well to make 11. Merinda Park were 3/36 at stumps, with a wicket each to Mitch Virtue and Billy Antoniou. Jackson Tribuzi and Riley Andrews were involved in a run out.
UNDER 13 BLUE
Kooweerup declared at 4/103, hoping to get an outright victory, but it was not to be as the Lang Lang batsmen defended very well. It was not about making runs but staying at the crease with Sam Kelly batting for eight overs, Jake Seuren for 14 overs and Aaron Laidlaw hanging around for 10 overs. A good effort by all the batsmen.