By Hayley Wildes
WGCA LOWER GRADES REVIEW – ROUND 14 (DAY ONE)
B GRADE
With Upper Beaconsfield looking to lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder in the final round of the season, they won the toss and sent Officer into bat.
As Officer’s top order struggled to make it past the teens, it was Darren Kneebone (67) and Shannon Marum (63) who steadied the ship and helped the Bullants post a strong total of 250. Samuel Curtain was the pick of the bowlers for Upper Beaconsfield, taking 2/24 in six overs.
Officer’s Sean Hinkley struck early as he dismissed Jack Sharlassian for 15. Beaconsfield will resume at 1/23.
Looking to lock in a top two finish, Kooweerup’s batsmen faltered against Devon Meadows. Bowled out for 151, it was the Panthers’ Michael Floyd (5/54) and Sam Van Der Zalm (5/67) who were at their damaging best as the Demons simply had no answers.
Floyd and Van Der Zalm were relentless and a District re-call may be on the horizon.
Arie Hazendonk (41) did his best to keep the Demons’ scoreboard ticking over, but there was little support from his teammates. Devon Meadows are 1/21 after 10 overs.
Merinda Park’s dominant march towards the finals has continued in day one of their match against Pakenham.
Opener Lester Betreen (61) top scored for the Cobras, with strong contributions from Craig Robertson (36) and Noel Betreen (33) pushing Merinda Park’s total to 8/246.
After an eight wicket haul last round, Leslie Jones (5/99) produced another impressive bowling display for the Lions.
Emerald and Carlisle Park battled it out at Chandler Reserve. There was plenty to play for – a Carlisle Park win and Kooweerup loss would see the Vikings jump up to second position.
Posting a total of 199, the Bombers’ Rawley Van Haren (46) and Lachlan Crnogorac (37) were busy at the crease. For the Vikings, it was Karanjeet Singh (4/41) and Jesse Fitzgerald (3/53) who ensured Emerald’s run rate never got out of a control.
C GRADE
Looking to consolidate their third position on the ladder and head into finals with momentum, Clyde is in a strong position after day one against Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
Kyle Brooke (79) produced some middle-order magic for the Cougars, whilst Marcus Coe (43) and Benjamin Reilly (33) helped Clyde post a total of 8/269 after 70 overs.
Brett Carey (4/71) and Blake McGrath (3/43) bowled consistently for the Yabbies and were rewarded for their efforts.
Catani won the toss and elected to bat against Officer. It appeared George Zekic was happy with that decision, as he put on a batting masterclass on his way to an unbeaten 130.
With Zekic doing the damage, Catani posted a total of 8/253, leaving Officer with plenty of work to do.
Cranbourne Meadows was ruthless against Cardinia, as they look to lock in top spot. The Bulls top-order batsmen had no answers for the Rebels bowlers, losing their first three wickets for just eight runs.
Grant Ansalde (53) was the lone hand for the Bulls, as they were bowled out for 130. Maqbool Laiq (3/16) and Salman Ahmad (3/32) were impressive for the Rebels.
Despite having already booked their ticket to the finals, Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll showed no signs of complacency against Lang Lang.
Ashley Bailey (5/35 ) bowled superbly and Bryce Thomas (2/18) took care of the lower order. For Lang Lang, Joseph Dalgleish (41) was the only batsmen able to make inroads as the Tigers were bowled out for 132.
Lang Lang’s bowlers came out strongly in response though, with the Marygoons siting at 2/25.
D GRADE
Top placed Kooweerup sent a message to the rest of the league on the eve of finals, with a dominant bowling display against Pakenham.
The Demons had contributions from everywhere, with Tom Cottrell (2/5), Bailey Perry (2/6), Paul West (2/8) and Leigh Tannahill (2/9) wreaking havoc. The Lions had no answers, bowled out for just 50 runs.
In response, Kooweerup posted 126. John Hutchinson (3/24) bowled well for the Lions, whilst Graeme Caig (39) top scored for the Demons.
With Kooweerup flexing the muscle, Merinda Park weren’t to be outdone – blasting their way to a huge first innings total against Tooradin.
Dylan Hand batted with class and poise on his way to a mammoth 152. The Cobras were eventually bowled out for 353.
A second-wicket partnership of 188 between Hand and Grant Bloomer (36) was the highlight of the innings.
Tooradin bowler, Matthew Finch (5/83), was the only bowler to cause any problems for Merinda Park.
Having dominated with the bat, that trend continued for the Cobras with ball. At the end of play, Tooradin sit at 6/45.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll have their hands full with SFX Old Collegians.
Mansoor Ahmad (192) fell just shy of a double century in a clinical display as he and Luke Staker (121*) put on a third-wicket partnership of 139. That came after Ahmad and Nadun Alwisan (30) combined for an opening partnership of 121.
After 70 overs, the X Men posted an immense total of 5/382.
Carlisle Park have the bye.
E GRADE
With just six points between third placed Pakenham Upper Toomuc and fifth placed Catani, the battle between the Yabbies and Cats is crucial to say the least.
With the pressure on, Catani’s Cameron Wagstaff (77*) steadied the Cats’ innings after a middle-order collapse. The Yabbies were able to hold the Cats to a total of 179, with John Miller taking 3/32.
Emerald’s Tony Flint (74) led the Bombers to a 177 total against Upper Beaconsfield. Jack Hayes (3/22) was the pick of the Maroons bowlers as he ensured the Bombers were unable to truly gain ascendency.
In response, Upper Beaconsfield are 0/16.
Cranbourne Meadows batsmen struggled mightily against Officer, as Greg Henderson (5/18) ran riot. Henderson dismissed Rebels’ opener Wayne Mannix for a duck and it was a sign of things to come as Officer held Cranbourne Meadows to just 86 runs.
Officer is 0/13 in reply.
Devon Meadows won on forfeit over Gembrook.
F GRADE
Officer were sent into bat by Pakenham and Bullants opener Steve Pursell made sure the Lions would live to regret that decision.
Pursell smashed his way to 108, an innings which included 14 fours and a six.
Jordan Seers (4/74) was a strong contributor for the Lions, as the Bullants posted a total of 9/254.
Clyde made light work of Cranbourne Meadows’ batsmen at Hillcrest Christian College.
Cougars’ Max Adams (4/25) did the damage as the Rebels could only muster 73 runs.
In response, Clayton Blair took total control for the Cougars, smashing 15 fours on his way to an impressive innings of 85. Clyde are in the dominant position of 2/149.
Lang Lang’s batsmen were no match for Merinda Park’s bowlers. As the top order collapsed, the Cobras put the foot down on the Tigers, dismissing them for just 52 runs. Jason Viney (4/24) was terrific for Merinda Park.
The Cobras batsmen continued to pile on the pain. An opening partnership of 181 between John Cuthbertson and Mark Dipilla caused headaches for the Tigers.
Cuthbertson hit his way to a century, before being dismissed on 108. The Cobras posted a huge total of 7/317.
Nyora and Carlisle Park are locked in a tight battle. With the Maroons posting a total of 124, the Vikings are 4/43 in response.
Carlisle Park’s Richard Boswell (7/27) was at his damaging best, whilst Nyora’s Keith Maclure (3/8) is proving troublesome for the Vikings batsmen.
G GRADE
Clyde’s middle-order stood up after a top-order collapse saw the Cougars stranded at 4/33. Sam Manujith (62) and Joel Driver (58*) guided Clyde to a strong total of 231.
Deavon Meadows is 1/22 in reply.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll won on forfeit over Catani, whilst Pakenham have the bye.
