By Russell Bennett
WARRAGUL & DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
REVIEW – ROUND 5 (DAY ONE)
The battle of the as yet undefeated sides in the first division of the Warragul and District Cricket Association was the clearly the most anticipated match-up of the weekend.
Ellinbank had looked particularly impressive through the season’s opening stages, but on Saturday was brought back to earth somewhat by a formidable Western Park side that, worryingly for the other sides in the upper echelon of the division, is still not at full-strength.
After winning the toss and electing to bat at Ellinbank, the Warriors made hay while the sun shone.
After losing Dale Fawcett (15) early at 1/28, the visitors stayed positive and Matthew Wakefield combined with Joel Batson (39) for an impressive 124-run stand that extended beyond the tea break.
Wakefield was particularly dominant, belting 14 boundaries (including two sixes) on the way to his first ton since Round 5 last season.
With Ellinbank’s seam attack struggling to make any real inroads against the Warriors’ top and middle-order, it was left up to the spin of Tom Robertson and skipper Ben Spicer to get their side back into the contest.
And ultimately they took eight wickets between them, with Robertson claiming 3/98 and Spicer 5/58.
But after Wakefield’s dismissal at 3/177, the prodigiously-talented Sanjaya Gangodawila stepped up to the plate with 79 off just 59 deliveries – dispatching the ball to all parts, with 52 of his runs coming in boundaries alone.
Though wickets continually fell around him, Gangodawila was crucial in pushing the visitors towards 300, with Troy Lehman (23 not out) providing some late hitting of his own to ultimately get their side to 316.
Though Spicer’s 5/58 with the ball was particularly impressive on Saturday, his biggest impact on the game could yet come with the bat if his side is to mount a successful chase.
Buln Buln, meanwhile, set Yarragon 237 for victory at Dowton Park but squandered the opportunity to truly put the Panthers to the sword.
At one stage, the Lyrebirds were 3/183 courtesy of impressive knocks by keeper-batsman Jack Armour (70) and the returning Brent Eastwell (64). Armour’s start to the season has been particularly impressive, with half-centuries in each of his past three hits at the top of the Buln Buln order.
But his dismissal – run out by Nuwan Perera at 4/183 – triggered somewhat of a collapse on Saturday that saw the Lyrebirds lose their last seven wickets for just 53 runs. Ryan Bishop added a valuable 40 from the middle order, while Panthers off-spinner Perera snared 4/73, and Laytten Smith (2/69) and Daminda Rajapakshalage (2/41) claimed two scalps apiece.
Elsewhere, a brilliant, as yet undefeated half-century from Morne O’Donoghue has Jindivick well-placed at the end of the first day’s play at Drouin against the Hawks.
Batting first, Drouin was dismissed for 198 in 65 overs with keeper-batsman Jake Harper (61) and Simon Gardiner (43) the side’s only batsmen to pass 20 as spinner Dananja Madushanka claimed 3/47. But the real story of the day was yet to come, as O’Donoghue smashed 50 of the final 59 runs to be scored for the day. Incredibly Sean Viotto, and Eddie McGillivray (who reached stumps unbeaten), added just one run each to the Jumping Jacks’ 59-run day one total.
In the remaining clash of the round, Hallora has already secured first innings points from its clash with Neerim District – rolling through the Stags for just 65 before reaching stumps at 3/80. Sam Whibley has been the star so far for the Kangas with 5/24 and 19 opening the bowling and batting respectively.
Warragul and District secures historic result
Warragul and District entered its Gippsland Cricket League campaign as the rank outsider in the eyes of many observers, with reigning champion Bairnsdale rightfully considered warm favourites.
But that counted for little on Sunday as the WDCA proved it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog – recording a historic tie.
Batting first at Lucknow Recreation Reserve, Bairnsdale stumbled to 3/7 with Troy Lehman (4/43) snaring two of the first three wickets to fall. But the side showcased its impressive middle and lower order depth to fight back to reach 9/217 from their 50 overs – courtesy of 74 from Michael Comber, 52 from Ben Saxon, and 23 and 22 from Brayden McCarrey and Ryan Halford respectively.
Lehman was the pick of the Warragul and District bowlers, while Nuwan Perera claimed 2/36 from his 10 overs.
But Perera’s biggest impact was still to be felt.
Each of the WDCA’s top five batsmen recorded double-figure starts to their innings – led by the in-form Jack Armour (41), skipper Fraser Duncan (45), and Ben Spicer (41).
But each fell at inopportune times just as they looked set.
It all set the stage for the astonishing finish that was to come, with the result of the clash quite literally coming down to its final delivery.
Needing eight runs off the final over to record a famous victory, Perera and Max Kelly kept the Bairnsdale fielders on their toes until it came down to one, simple equation – three runs off the final ball to win.
With everything on the line, the pair made the first run and sprinted back for a second to record a famous tie – 217 apiece.
Scott Davidson was the standout Bairnsdale bowler with 4/34.
Next up for Warragul and District is Leongatha and District at Hallora on Sunday, 25 November. The clash will start at 10.15am.
