BY PAKENHAM GAZETTE SPORT
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
PREMIER
EMERALD caused a stunning upset on Saturday, knocking off reigning premier Kooweerup in a thrilling finish at Berwick’s Haileybury campus. The Bombers were at one stage sitting on a precarious 8/123, chasing the Demons’ 184, before Darcy Hellriegel (35 not out) and Anthony Chandler (15 not out) steered the side to a memorable win.
Few would have predicted Upper Beaconsfield to be one of only two undefeated sides after round two, but the Maroons knocked Pakenham over in impressive style at Toomuc Reserve. Last year’s beaten grand finalist Cardinia is the other unbeaten side – destroying Beaconsfield at E. Gunton Oval.
Tooradin, meanwhile, recorded its first win of the season – defeating Merinda Park. Young all-rounder Dylan Sutton was the star of the show for the Gulls with 5/27.
DISTRICT
A smashing effort from Shannon Marum guided Cranbourne Meadows (5/238cc) to victory over Lyndhurst (176). Marum’s 79 included 11 fours and four sixes to leave Lyndhurst without response.
Pakenham Upper-Toomuc’s (9/198cc) recruits Nick Fairbank led the charge while Simon Clark (3/18) took the crucial scalps in response to curtail Devon Meadows (104). In other results, Clyde (8/161cc) knocked off Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll (117) and Officer (8/144cc) just managed to escape with the points over St Francis Xavier (143)
SUB-DISTRICT
Wins to Emerald, Lang Lang, Cardinia and Tooradin started to shape the ladder in Sub-District as the Bombers soared to the top of the ladder. Tooradin’s (4/151) six-wicket win over Catani (5/148cc) also stood out as a damaging result as Catani aims to move back up to District.
DANDENONG DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
TURF 1
AFTER raising the DDCA Turf 2 flag from last season and presenting Turf 1 caps to the players, Cranbourne started horrendously as the Eagles fell to 4/32.
The revival came from Spoljaric and another big signing for the Eagles in years gone by as Te Ahu Davis (64) went the tonk as he walloped his first Turf 1 half-ton. The duo notched 126 runs together and was finally broken at 5/158 as Jamie Brown (2/38) earned Davis’ wicket.
Another collapse would leave Cranbourne in tough waters, but Spoljaric remained to keep the Eagles soaring.
Dandenong West had no answers for Cranbourne’s bowling as Martin Kelly (4/16) and Davis (3/17) carved up the Bulls and left no remains as Cranbourne stormed home for its first win in its Turf 1 resumption.
Berwick (137) succumbed to Lyndale (7/138) in the other one-dayer as Dan Brown (42) and Dushan Wickramarathna (3/27) stood tallest.
Mordialloc (9/164) continued the form that booked it a semi-final spot last season as the Bloodhounds rolled Heinz Southern Districts (8/152). Matt Cox (74) smashed his first half-century of the season.
TURF 2
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET
DANDENONG (4/253) demonstrated its true batting potential with a heroic chase down of Carlton (5/252cc).
The Panthers struggled to make inroads into the Carlton batting order, as Nathan Lambden (2/63) did the best of the bowlers.
It left Dandenong with a steep 250-run chase at Princes Park, but the conditions suited the Panthers to a tee as they started with a bang.
Tom Donnell (45) and Brett Forsyth (19) started the hitting display before Peter Sweeney (22) and new recruit David Alleyne (81 not out) started the next wake. Alleyne’s run-a-ball 81 anchored the innings alongside Cameron Forsyth (32) and Victorian/Australian representative James Pattinson (37 not out) as the Panthers chased down the runs with an over to spare.
Dandenong’s next challenge waits at home as Camberwell Magpies visit Shepley Oval on Saturday from 11am.
CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE (9/155cc) was anchored by Dan Watson (49no) who carried his bat manfully against the Monash Tigers’ (2/160) attack. The response from the Tigers was too strong for the Swans to stop as Jack Harper (55no) piled on the runs at Casey Fields.
