Bajwa lights up Lineham

Kane Latham battled hard for the Gulls with 42. 177484

By Nick Creely

WGCA DISTRICT DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 13 (DAY ONE)
With the finals set in stone, it’s all about the top four fine tuning their game before the season gets serious, and for the rest, it’s all about pride and finishing the season on a high.
There were some brilliant performances across the weekend, but none more so than Carlisle Park Vikings all-rounder Ammar Bajwa.
Opening the batting in the Vikings’ clash with Clyde at Lineham Oval, Bajwa (119) struck his third century in the WGCA, as his side crafted a powerful 332.
Bajwa combined superbly for a 169 run stand with Jason Hameeteman (92 from 83 balls); who is also having an outstanding season; to flatten the Cougars’ bowling unit.
Heath Straughair (53) also cashed in late in the day for a terrific half century, while Roshan Bandara (4/55) did his best to keep the Cougars in the game with the ball.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc, meanwhile, put in an inspired showing against Cranbourne Meadows at Lawson Poole.
After losing Matt Southall in the first over of the match, the Yabbies fought hard through Nick Kyval (59), John Langley (27) and Luke Gunston (27) to post a competitive 206 off 67.5 overs.
Mitchell Cowell (3/58) did the bulk of the damage with the ball, while Jahanzaib Athar (3/20) chimed in with some handy scalps for the Rebels.
At stumps, the Rebels are off to a strong start through openers Sunny Paul (16) and David Vannes (10), with the home side to resume at 0/27.
A top two clash between Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll and Devon Meadows is as tense as it sounds down at Officer Recreation Reserve, with the Panthers’ depth holding them in good stead after day one.
Without star run machine Brad Miles, the Panthers still won the toss and elected to bat against an in form Marygoon outfit, and the early wicket of Kyle Salerno (6); courtesy of seamer Daniel Glen (2/35); tested them out early.
Darren O’Brien (35) steadied the ship superbly with Lucas Carroll (21) to grind out a 46 run partnership, but three wickets quickly had the Panthers 4/78.
That depth helped once again bring the Panthers back into line, with Jason Dodd (32), Ash Adams (30), Sam Van Der Zalm (14), Ben Hussey (23) and Luke Hamilton (27) all contributing to stifle the Marygoons’ bowlers and post a competitive 230.
Sean Somers (4/81) was the pick of the bowlers on a tense day of cricket for the Marygoons, with the fight top spot still open if the home side can chase the runs down next week.
Down at Rutter Park, Officer is in the frame for an outright victory, with the Bullants gaining the upper hand over Tooradin.
Sent in at home, the Gulls’ top order; aside from Kane Latham (42); were unable to fire up, with Adam Reid (3/30) and Daniel Irvine (3/42) controlling proceedings and Shaun Weir (1/23 off 22 overs) bowling tightly.
In 61 overs, the Bullants were able to prize out the Gulls for 117, well short of a competitive total.
At stumps, the Bullants took just 16 overs to reach 1/73, with Anthony Galley (56 not out) looking to build on his half century with a century on day two.
Peter Symons (10) is the other not out batsman as the Bullants eye a big late season victory.

TEAM P W L D PTS %
Devon Meadows 12 10 2 0 120 1.77
NNG/Maryknoll 12 7 3 2 104 1.15
Cranbourne Meadows 12 7 4 1 90 1.18
Carlisle Park Vikings 12 6 4 2 84 1.24
Officer 12 4 6 2 60 1.04
Clyde 12 4 6 2 60 0.69
Tooradin 12 3 8 1 42 0.76
Pakenham Upper Toomuc 12 1 9 2 24 0.56

 

WGCA SUB-DISTRICT DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 13 (DAY ONE)
Catani continues to firm for consecutive minor premierships, with a dominant day of cricket against Aura Vale putting them in an impenetrable position.
Off the back of a stellar century to Liam Adams (118), the Cats posted an ominous 263 in 68.4 overs, with Daniel Glover (27 not out) and Lachlan Gregson (25) making some handy late runs.
Daniel Swinburne (3/29), Nathan Phillkips (2/49), Grant Walker (2/47) and Zach Buckland (2/29) were among the major wicket takers for the Lakers.
The Lakers got through the eight overs before stumps unscathed at 0/9, but are a long way back in the match.
Lang Lang, meanwhile, is doing its best to keep in touch with the Cats at the top, rolling Pakenham in a hard fought day of cricket at home.
The Lions took their time and batted all day, but runs were hard to come by, with Ricky Caddell (5/41) bowling superbly to help bowl the home side out for 148 right before stumps.
Dwayne Noyahr (48) and Nic Close (30) battled hard for the Lions in a grinding day of cricket.
Gembrook provided the biggest shock of the round, already claiming first innings points over third placed Cardinia at Gembrook Sports Ground.
The Bulls were strangled by quick bowler Steve McRae (6/37), who tore the visitors apart in a devastating spell, and through the late efforts of Brady Boswell (39 not out), managed to go from 9/50 to 98 all out.
Brookers skipper Geordie Scott (2/24) also bowled well.
The Brookers; through Ryan Scott (50 not out); are a chance of an outright victory after skipping to 2/117 at stumps.
Finally, Tooradin (128 and 1/21) already has first innings points over Nyora (110) at Cora Lynn Reserve, with the bottom two sides playing for pride.
The Gulls will look to pile on the runs on day two and then have a crack at bowling the Maroons out in a short space of time.

TEAM P W L D PTS %
Catani 12 8 1 2 114 1.47
Lang Lang 12 7 2 2 110 1.45
Cardinia 12 7 3 2 96 1.05
Pakenham 12 6 4 2 84 1.07
Gembrook 12 4 6 2 60 0.98
Aura Vale 12 3 7 2 56 0.99
Nyora 12 3 7 2 48 0.71
Tooradin 12 1 9 2 24 0.62