Finals race heats up

Tooradin''s Andrew Proctor is a picture of concentration as he prepares to face a delivery on Saturday. 189604

By Nick Creely

WGCA PREMIER DIVISION

REVIEW – ROUND 11

It’s still completely unclear just how the top four will be looking come semi-final time on 16 March.

Kooweerup and Pakenham are the only certainties, and they continue to play class cricket no matter the format.

But from third to fifth, it’s truly a guessing game. Anyone on their day can claim the points, and shake the season on its head.

For the first time in a long time, Cardinia have dropped out of the top four, replaced by the very side that just held them off in a thriller on Saturday, Tooradin.

In the 80 overs down at E Gunton Oval, it was tight, absorbing cricket played between two sides that believe they should be playing finals.

Bulls skipper Alex Nooy sent the Seagulls in to face the music, but opening pair Kade Burns (38) and Russ Lehman (53) got off to a bright start, compiling 60 for the first wicket before Burns fell to Brady Boswell (2/28) to start a mini-collapse.

The Seagulls lost two quick wickets – and they were vital ones too – with stalwarts Cal O’Hare (3) and Aaron Avery (2) run out within minutes of each other to give the Bulls plenty of momentum that they could rattle through the middle order.

With their noses up, the Bulls ramped up the pressure, but handy knocks at the back-end by Andrew Proctor (34), Josh Lownds (20) and Bradey Welsh (22) ensured the visitors would reach a highly defendable 7/193 off their 40 overs.

Aside from Boswell, Travis Wheller (2/33) also did a fine job with the ball for the Bulls.

The home side got off to a blistering start courtesy of a dynamic 47 to Matt Welsh at the top, but aside from Nooy’s (40) handy knock – which featured three maximums – the Bulls couldn’t quite string together that match-winning partnership, and fell brutally short on 7/187, in a loss that could prove costly.

Lehman (3/38) backed up his half-century with an excellent display with the ball to once again prove the difference.

But as a result of the loss, the Bulls fall outside the top four, and the Seagulls come in, with just four points and little percentage separating the two, with the Bulls’ clash with Clyde and the Seagulls’ match against Devon Meadows so important in the context of the season.

Dale Tormey, meanwhile, carved his fourth century of the season to guide Pakenham to a barnstorming win against Upper Beaconsfield.

The former Victorian second XI representative and Premier star has taken the WGCA by storm, and has no intention of slowing down.

Coming in early after his side won the toss and elected to bat, Tormey completely blew the Maroons away, belting an unbeaten 104, a knock featuring six sixes and five fours, and combined superbly with Zac Chaplin (62 not out) to help post an ominous 2/202.

It is the fourth century Tormey has struck in Lions colours in just 10 digs, with the possibility of a 1000-run season not out of the question, with the powerful left-hander currently sitting on 690 runs with three two-day matches left to play.

It was hard going for the Maroons, however Kyle Gibbs (1/24) charged in hard with his eight overs to hold his head high.

Maroons skipper Scott Pitcher (71 not out) fought a lone hand in reply as the Lions completely suffocated the home side, to leave them 5/117 off their 40 overs.

Devon Meadows also enjoyed a fruitful weekend, climbing into third on the Premier ladder after brushing aside Merinda Park at Donnelly Reserve.

Luke Hamilton was the star of the show for the Panthers, notching up the first Premier ton of the season for the club, amassing 103 in just 97 balls as he guided his side to an imposing 5/232.

Hamilton carved it up, scoring 10 fours and three sixes, and shared in a 138-run stand with Kyle Salerno (70) to help set up the target.

The Cobras proved they are competitive in any situation, fighting hard to reach 190 in reply, with Dylan Hand (69) cracking a brilliant half-century.

It was even across the board for the Panthers, with Scott Clark (3/37), Ryan O’Connor (3/30) and Jamie Cape (2/46) each taking multiple wickets.

And Kooweerup continued on with their winning ways by easily accounting for Clyde at Denhams Road.

The Demons were remarkably even with the bat after winning the toss, with Tyler Clark (64) continuing his highly impressive season, while Lachie Ramage (46), Mitch Cammarano (26 not out) and Luke McMaster (35 not out) carved it up late to set 6/250 off 40 overs.

While the Cougars battled it out to complete their full 40 overs, the class of the likes of McMaster (4/21) and skipper Mark Cooper (2/19) proved a task to difficult, with the home side restricting Kiefer Peries’ side to 9/164.