By RUSSELL BENNETT
WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 3
PAKENHAM’S middle to lower order produced the kind of stoic partnership on Sunday that’ll hold the Lions in great stead come the business end of the Premier season.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat in their home opener at Toomuc Reserve against Upper Beaconsfield, the Lions were in desperate trouble at 7/57 but Sean Gramc (48) and Jack Anning (29 not out) combined for a 72-run stand to rescue the innings to a defendable 140-plus total. If Gramc and Anning can continue to stand up like they did on Sunday, the already much-improved Lions are even more dangerous.
Unfortunately for the Maroons, the early signs when it comes to their batting aren’t good. Chasing 143, they were skittled for just 111 with Bathiya Perera showing his class and top-scoring with 35 (following on from his 3/14 in the Pakenham innings). Julian Bayard (33) and Will Haines (15) were the only other Upper Beac batsmen to finish in double figures. Lions skipper Dom Paynter took a stellar 3/9 from three overs, while fellow gun all-rounder Russell Lehman finished with 3/21.
The early-season form of Tooradin spinner Josh Lownds has been the biggest positive in the Seagulls’ 2-1 start to the season. On Sunday Tom Hussey’s side held its nerve brilliantly to knock off last season’s grand finalist, Cardinia.
The Gulls won the toss and elected to bowl, with favourite son Cal O’Hare returning from Buckley Ridges for the Sunday fixture. He opened the bowling and took 1/29 from his eight overs, while player-coach Aaron Avery claimed 2/15. But it was Lownds – with his 5/30 – who was the real star of the show, taking the key wicket of Bulls opener Alex Nooy when he was up and firing on 35.
The Gulls passed Cardinia’s total six wickets down, with Hussey (40) top-scoring at the top of the order and the likes of Bradey Welsh (16), Avery (21), O’Hare (13), Michael Ralph (10 not out) and Dylan Sutton (16 not out) each contributing.
The potential fragility of the Emerald batting lineup was on show at Kooweerup against the Demons, with the visitors demolished for just 68. But at 6/29 the situation looked even more dire and if not for skipper AJ Walker (20), Julian Scott (12) and Mitch Copey (25 not out) the Emerald total would have looked even more disastrous. Jess Mathers (3/21) produced his best return so far in Kooweerup colours, while John Bright (3/13), Chris O’Hara (2/0) and Ron Bright Jr (2/3) were the other multiple wicket-takers. Kooweerup made light work of the chase, passing the total one down in the 10th over thanks to an unbeaten 57-run stand between Demons newcomers Jake Bardwell (25 not out) and Mathers (36 not out).
Merinda Park, along with Pakenham, is the only other undefeated side after three rounds after the Cobras cruised past Cranbourne Meadows at Donnelly Reserve. Set a seemingly tricky 136 for victory after a pair of 30s from Jason Poole (38) and Shameera Weerasinghe (31), the Cobras stormed to victory in just 22 overs for the loss of only one wicket. Anthony Craddock (51 not out) made a near run-a-ball half-century, while Jason Pongracic (29 not out) and Daniel McCalman (31) continued their great starts to the season with the willow.
