By Hayley Wildes
WGCA LOWER GRADES
REVIEW – ROUND 13 (DAY TWO)
Officer will finish the season atop of the WGCA B Grade ladder after chasing down Emerald’s big first innings total of 8/260.
Wayne Duke (103 not out) was in complete control with the bat and put on a pair of 100+ run partnerships for the Bullants. First, he partnered with Justin Hinkley (33) for 121 runs, before recording a 111-run stand with Shannon Marum (79).
Officer claimed the win with a total of 4/279 as Emerald was unable to break through when needed most.
Aura Vale fought hard on day two to ensure they didn’t suffer an outright defeat against Catani.
Although the Cats dominated the game, the Lakers dug in on day two to frustrate the Cats bowlers and post a second innings total of 9/122 in 60 overs. Danial McFarlane (3/11) was the pick of the Cats bowlers as they had to settle for a first innings win.
Devon Meadows was unable to defend its total of 9/219 against Cranbourne Meadows. The Rebels were in a tough position at 4/50, but Sami Muzaffar (37) steadied the ship in the middle order.
Then, a stunning 111-run stand for the seventh wicket between Munir Saqib (71) and Will Cloney (42 not out) saw Cranbourne Meadows get home with a total of 7/223. Mick Floyd (3/61) worked tirelessly for the Panthers.
Carlisle Park successfully defended its total of 259 against Tooradin. The Seagulls had skipper Adam Jacobs (83) and Owen Johnstone (42) stand up at the top of the order, but the likes of Brendan McCarthy (3/34) and Dean Lyddy (3/82) struck with key wickets throughout the innings to dismiss the Seagulls for 220.
C GRADE
In the top of the table clash between Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll and Pakenham Upper/Toomuc, the Yabbies sent an ominous with a brutal win.
Having dismissed Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll for just 60 runs, Pakenham Upper/Toomuc posted a total of 4/164 in reply as Justin Harris (67) controlled the innings from opening ball.
Clyde produced a valiant effort on day two against Officer, but it wasn’t enough. Tasked with chasing down 306 runs, the Cougars got off to a strong start with Owen Marquis (71) and David Denton (30) batting well.
A near-half century from Noel O’Brien (47) in the middle order kept the scoreboard ticking over, but Ben Monagle (3/41) was one of seven Bullants to take wickets. Eventually, the Cougars were dismissed for 252 in the 58th over in a stunning win for the second-bottom Bullants.
Cardinia recorded a first innings win over Cranbourne Meadows. After dismissing the Rebels for 99 runs in their first innings, the Bulls resumed day two at 1/32 in search of an outright win.
With Daniel Salvato (83 not out) anchoring the innings, the Bulls posted a total of 6/169 and chased an outright win. The Rebels did enough to stave off the Bulls in their second innings, recording a total of 6/62.
Pakenham claimed a win over Upper Beaconsfield after restricting the Maroons to just 99 runs in their first innings.
Chasing a small total, the Lions found themselves in trouble at 4/36, but Matt McCormick (29) and Jackson Myers (11) combined for a controlled 36-run stand to get the innings back on track. Pakenham reached the target for the loss of six wickets.
Jack Sharlassian (5/47) and Blake Westra (3/18) were impressive for Upper Beaconsfield.
D GRADE
The Victorian Vikings demolished Carlisle Park but was unable to come away with an outright win.
Carlisle Park was dismissed for just 69 runs in their first innings, before the Victorian Vikings piled on an incredible 409 runs in 69 overs. Gaurav Choudhary (192) was a class above, while Kanishka Wickramanayake (52) and Jaideep Karnik (47) played brilliant innings’ too.
Sent into bat again, Carlisle Park (6/92) did enough to avoid an outright loss.
Merinda Park went for an outright win over Pakenham but had to settle for a first innings win. The Cobras put on 180 in their first innings, before dismissing the Lions for just 72 runs in reply. Scott Kunziak (5/25) was electric in 14 overs, while Tyson Bertrand (3/20) was also impressive.
Forced to follow on, the Lions struggled again but at the conclusion of day two, were at 6/79 – enough to avoid an outright loss. Tyson Bertrand (3/27) claimed six wickets for the match, while Kanwaljit Handa (3/12) bowled well in the second innings.
Emerald’s total of 295 was far too much for Lang Lang. The Tigers had plenty of work to do on day two and were never in the hunt as Tristan Fraser (3/3), Ethan Crosher (3/22) and Noah Vanharen (2/5) ripped through Lang Lang’s batting line-up, dismissed for just 83 runs.
Kooweerup flexed its muscle against fellow top four team Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll to coast to a first innings win.
The Demons piled on 315 runs on day one and the Marygoons could only muster 155 in reply, despite the best efforts of skipper Geoffrey Ball (78), as Jesse Depasquale (3/27) bowled well for Kooweerup.
The Demons enforced the follow on, and despite struggling, the Marygoons finished the day at 4/58 after 26 overs to avoid an outright loss.
E GRADE
Cranbourne Meadows moved into top spot on the ladder with a resounding win over Clyde.
In the top of the table clash, the Rebels defended their total of 244 on day two as Geoff Bradshaw (4/38) and Mark Zoldak (3/67) were damaging.
Despite the best efforts of skipper Wes Smith (53) and Ben Knowles (40), the Cougars were dismissed for 166.
Officer chased down the 215 required runs to defeat Devon Meadows. The Bullants – led superbly by skipper Tim Smith (129 not out) – got the required runs in 64 overs for the loss of six wickets
Pakenham Upper/Toomuc was a class above Tooradin, recording a big first innings win. Defending their total of 241, Jonathon Rewell (5/33) putting on a bowling clinic to help dismiss the Seagulls for 101 runs.
The Yabbies enforced the follow on and it was a much-improved performance from the Seagulls to avoid an outright loss, ending day two at 0/81 as Kaine Bundy (52 not out) and Wayne Mannix (23 not out) stood tall.
Merinda Park claimed a vital win over Nyora to remain in the top four. Chasing 259 runs for victory, the Cobras got great contributions from everyone who stepped up to the crease. Openers Dale Cunliffe (79) and Nathan Francis (38) performed well, as did John Cuthbertson (35).
The star of the show was Bo Hellmann (100 not out). He smashed 20 boundaries in his match-winning century to lead the Cobras to a total of 3/287 in 47 overs.
F GRADE
Top of the table Cardinia produced a dominant win over Merinda Park. After declaring at 5/385 off 43 overs on day one, the Bulls dismissed the Cobras for 158 runs in their first innings as Ash Jones (3/17), Ray Perkins (3/50) and Tyler Oates (3/62) took control of the game.
Merinda Park was sent into bat again and avoided an outright loss thanks to Gerard Healy (40 not out) and Paul Humphrey (30).
Catani easily accounted for Clyde, recording a first innings win. The Cats restricted the Cougars to just 118 runs on day one and declared at 4/265 on day two in an attempt for an outright win. Cecil Haysom (106 not out) was extraordinary, while Danny Parsons (64) and Brayden Hall (49) also piled on the runs.
In their second innings, the Cougars put up a fight and stood at 0/43 after 25 overs to avoid an outright loss.
Devon Meadows kept its finals hopes alive with a vital win over Pakenham. After skittling the Lions for 114, the Panthers – led by Corey D’Alton (47) – posted a declared total of 8/231. Pakenham’s second innings saw them finish day two at 3/51, avoiding an outright loss.
Cranbourne Meadows had the bye.
