By Jarrod Potter
WGCA Grand Final review (Saturday)
HOW’S it all placed overnight? How is excelling and who has fallen behind in their pursuits of WGCA senior grand final glory?We take a look around the leagues to see what has happened in the first of two action-packed days to conclude the cricket season.
PREMIER – HOLM PARK 1
Kooweerup (179) is well placed in its clash against Cardinia (1/20), but is 179 enough?
Neil Barfuss struck early to dismiss Michael Giles, but efforts of Chris Bright – knocking in a masterful half-century – as the Demons advanced to tea at 3/96. It would all come crashing down for Kooweerup after the sausage rolls and pies were dished out as Holm Park Reserve became a Bullring. Cardinia managed to knock off the defending champions for a meagre 179, but would have rued losing the early wicket of Ben Darose before stumps.
DISTRICT – OFFICER 2
Once again, Brent Murdoch (85) stood tall and carried his Cranbourne Meadows (193) line-up to a solid tally against Officer (0/11).
After a top-order tail-spin, losing their opening trio at 3/41, Murdoch emerged to steady proceedings.
In tandem with John Emery (29), the duo tipped the scales back in the Rebels favour. Shannon Marum (39) joined the party and was able to swashbuckle in his usual manner to get Cranbourne Meadows past 100.
Murdoch would remain the key scalp though and it took a captain to dismiss a captain as Shane White (3/34) put one into his pads, leaving the umpire no choice but to raise the finger and leave the Rebels skipper 15 short of a well-deserved ton.
James Parnall (2no) and Chris Byrne (0no) will resume after Geoff Bradshaw (0/5) and Shane Murdoch (0/6) could not break through in the four overs before stumps, despite a couple of strong shouts for LBW.
SUB-DISTRICT – HOLM PARK 2
Tooradin (243) excelled from the top of the pops as Kane Latham (65) set the stage. Latham and Aaron Creasey (34) showed the first signs of strength as Jason Fisher (3/53) and Duane Lucas (2/38) kept a rein on the Seagulls’ flight.
Latham’s tearaway innings came to an end after Lucas smashed one into his pads at 2/82, leaving Andrew Proctor (48) and Daniel Hunt (43) to join the rally.
Lions’ Jack Melbourne (4/33) made sure Hunt wouldn’t get too far off the chain and helped trigger the final fall as Tooradin succumbed after 67 overs for 243. With nine overs left, Sam Webster (13no) and Nick Close (5no) held out to leave 224 runs between Pakenham premiership success and failure.
B GRADE – DONNELLY RESERVE
Another Tooradin (223) powerhouse performance, this time from Jay Wilson (85) allowed the Seagulls to soar over Merinda Park (1/13). After Luke Adams (41) and Shane Somers (40) set the stage, Wilson was given the entire arsenal needed to fire off 12 fours and three sixes before he holed out to Shannon Mathers (6/76). Mathers was hands down the best of the bowlers – rattling off 21.2 overs for his six-wicket haul – his second five-or-better effort in three rounds.
Gagandeep Sharma (10) fell to Adams (1/7) just before stumps.
C GRADE – UPPER BEACONSFIELD REC RESERVE
Pakenham (111) was skittled by Officer (0/8) as Brett Monagle (2/13) and Dylan Hayes (2/43) excelled with the new ball. The gutsy knock of Graham McCraw (41) was the only knock of note as he rattled off his runs before he was trapped in front at 4/55. Steve Dillon (21) and Rod Berry (16) pushed the tally along but eventually the Lions were stopped after 63.1 overs.
D GRADE – CHANDLER RESERVE
A captain’s knock from Brad McDonald (118) led Catani (9/215) to a monster tally against Emerald. The remaining Cats didn’t purr as loudly as McDonald – with the next best score a 27 from Chris Duncan. McDonald almost carried the bat, falling in the dying overs as he hit out on 214 after a sensational effort to guide his side to a whopping total.
E GRADE – GLOVER RESERVE
The early work of Brett Irvine (69) and Blake Price (55) allowed Pakenham (203) to take honours on the first day against Devon Meadows. A 105-run stand between the number three and four pushed the Lions well towards an unassailable target, but the efforts of Panthers’ quick Neil Baker (5/26) ensured Pakenham would not have it all their way. Showing the pen is not mightier than the willow, Pakenham Gazette Sports Editor David Nagel (19) made sure there was still roar left in the Lions’ den as he combined with Jackson Hilliard (20) to make sure the first innings would belong to Pakenham.
Dean Lewis (2/45) and Matthew Davidson (2/54) also snared the scalps to keep the match well in the balance heading into day two.
F GRADE – OFFICER 1
Will 9/190 be enough for Pakenham against Officer? The efforts of Greg Hogben (55) and Gary Sewell (39) ensured a robust score ensued after the Lions lost wickets fast – including three ducks in the middle order. Jack Langley (4/25) was the best Bullant with the ball alongside Rick Marshall (3/36).
G GRADE – WORRELL RESERVE
Clyde (162) was skittled by Emerald (2/26) on day one as Warrick Marsh (4/23) and Nick Jansen (3/36) reeled off the Cougars one by one at Worrell Reserve.
ONE DAY – ARENA RECREATIONAL RESERVE
Scores not provided.
