Panthers bounce back

By Nick Creely

WGCA DISTRICT DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 11
After a shock loss to the struggling Tooradin last week, Devon Meadows came out breathing fire at Glover Reserve on Saturday, with Officer the unfortunate recipient of a crushing loss.
After Ash Adams won the toss and elected to bat, things couldn’t have played out any better for the Panthers, with Kyle Salerno (68) and Lucas Carroll (50) setting the perfect platform, belting 100 runs for the first wicket before Shaun Weir (2/38) finally found a way to break the partnership.
It didn’t stop the momentum even after the Bullants managed to prize key wicket Brad Miles (14) without doing much damage, and Jason Dodd (48) and Adams (51) combined for a bruising middle order boundary feast to put the home side in a commanding position.
A few late strikes to Ben Hussey (18) and Matthew Hutchinson (14) lifted the Panthers to an imposing 8/280 off their 40 overs.
As he has done all year, Bullants spearhead Adam Reid (4/64) stood firm despite the barrage, to take vital scalps, while Weir continued his impressive run of form in his first year at the club.
The Bullants couldn’t have scripted a more denting start to their already daunting run chase, with star batsman Tyler Clark (0) run out immediately through some handy fielding by Nathan Worsteling.
Mick Floyd (3/20) was the destroyer early to take three top order wickets, and from there, it was about adding some respectability to the batting scorecard.
The Bullants finished on 7/145 but managed to bat out their overs after James Parnall (54) played a gritty knock, but in the end, the Panthers proved a class above.
Down at Lawson Poole Reserve, Cranbourne Meadows skipper Ash Uppal continued his brilliant season to inspire the Rebels to a comfortable victory over Clyde.
After being sent in to bat, the Rebels lost two early wickets to be 2/25 and in need of some consolidation.
Uppal (89 not out) combined with Sunny Paul (46) to put on 48 runs for the third wicket, before Kidman Johnstone (1/34) got one through the gate to remove Paul.
Uppal kept scoring, and engaged in two strong partnerships with Chris Hauselberger (18) and Pankaj Goyal (36) to lift the Rebels to 6/219.
Despite some resistance by Cougars opener Shane Webster (37), the visitors were rolled for 139, despite being 8/86 at one point.
Gurpreet Bhamra (3/22) continues to take wickets for fun in another impressive display, while Iftikhar Rauf (3/32) also snagged three scalps.
Carlisle Park Vikings also flexed their muscles with a commanding victory over Tooradin at Carlisle Park Reserve.
The Vikings got off to a shaky start with the bat, and at one point were 8/90, but a 74 run partnership for the final wicket between Jason Hameeteman (60 not out) and Tanay Katarey (35) lifted the home side to 9/164.
After the early wicket of Kane Latham (2), Luke Adams (17) and Shane Somers (10) managed to bring the score to 2/27, before an almighty collapse of 8/22 saw the Gulls rolled for an astonishing 49.
Katarey (3/0) picked up the late wickets, but it was the likes of James Gilbert (2/19), Heath Straughair (2/25) and Michael Sinclair (3/4) that did the bulk of the early damage.
In the other match of the round, Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (3/149) remain in touching distance of top spot after easing to victory against Pakenham Upper Toomuc (145).

WGCA SUB-DISTRICT DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 11
It was very nearly a boilover, and it would have had Catani grinning from ear to ear.
But top side Lang Lang narrowly avoided a loss to bottom side Tooradin, in a thriller down at Rutter Park on Saturday.
The Gulls batted first and managed to claw their way to a competitive 9/143 off 40 overs, with consistent opener Peter Stone (34) top scoring for the home side.
Clint Fulton (4/31) kept his outstanding form with the ball to pick up another bag of wickets.
In what loomed as a relatively stress free run chase for the Swamp Tigers, the Gulls were inspired by some excellent new ball bowling by Bodie Brown (3/25), and suddenly, the favourites were 3/31.
Shaun Donnelly (25) stood tall, and managed to get the runs flowing, but he too lost his wicket at 5/64, and suddenly the Gulls looked likely to steal away a win.
More wickets tumbled and the score quickly became 7/93, and 8/113, before Ronald Bright Jr (36) lifted his game and escaped with a narrow one wicket victory that sees them remain in top spot over the Cats.
Catani also managed to get a win over Pakenham at Toomuc Reserve to breathe down the Swamp Tigers’ necks, with Brad ‘Snags’ McDonald starring with the bat.
The Lions – who sit in fourth spot – put in a decent showing, scoring 8/168 after a terrific hand by Luke Hartley (55) at the top.
Snags came in at 2/18, and clubbed an excellent 60, helping guide the Cats to an incredible win off the last ball of the match.
Nyora gun Gavin Hackett smashed a terrific century down at Lakeside Oval, to chase down Gembrook’s 234 with three overs to spare.
The Brookers were electric with the bat, with Ryan Scott (75) and Geordie Scott (63) once again in the runs.
But Hackett had other ideas, belting nine fours and two sixes to make an outstanding 106 not out to lift his season run tally to 518 at 57.6.
He was well supported by Brent Potter, who helped put on 113 runs with the century maker when the Maroons were in trouble at 4/79.
In the other match of the round, Cardinia (6/111) easily accounted for Aura Vale (104) at E Gunton Oval.