By Tyler Lewis
WGCA OTHER GRADES
REVIEW – ROUND 7 (DAY ONE)
B GRADE
The top-placed Clyde has a challenge on its hands with a tough contest ahead against Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll.
After rolling the Marygoons for 163, the Cougars are 1/7 overnight in reply.
Ross Elston was the star of the day with the ball, claiming career best figures of 5/25.
Emerald, meanwhile, is set to hand Gembrook another defeat after a strong performance on day one.
Five bowlers claimed scalps for the Bombers as they bundled the Brookers out for 120.
Of those five, former Brooker Cam Williams seemed virtually impossible to get away with 3/8.
In reply, the Bombers are 0/7 chasing the low total.
Carlisle Park is flexing its muscles over Pakenham Upper/Toomuc at stumps on day one.
Ron Osborne was unstoppable with the Kookaburra in hand, claiming a career best 5/21, ripping right through the Yabbies’ line-up.
After bowling the Yabbies out for just 130, the Vikings are 0/34 overnight and in a commanding position.
Devon Meadows will look to defend a competitive total against Aura Vale this weekend.
The Panthers set 212 for victory, courtesy of a half-century by Lachlan Vine (60).
For Aura Vale, Chris Webb claimed 5/27 from 13 overs, continuing his form with ball in hand.
C GRADE
Twin tons have secured Upper Beaconsfield a commanding total at stumps on day-one.
The Maroons posted 6/312 from 70 overs after club legend Chris Pentland (110) and Jack McHale (112) posted a 196-run partnership to boost their side’s total.
With the ball, Matt James was the only multiple wicket-taker, finishing with the figures of 2/57.
Tooradin, meanwhile, posted the biggest score across the competition after a scintillating 70 overs against Pakenham.
The Lions won the toss and sent the Gulls in, starting the avalanche of runs.
The Gulls posted a mammoth 8/395 from their 70 overs with Peter Stone blasting the ball to all parts, notching 181.
Stone found the rope 25 times and cleared it another seven.
He wasn’t alone though. Cian O’Riordan scored 99 before he was trapped in front, lbw.
Cardinia is poised steadily for a win against Cranbourne Meadows after a good day on day one.
The Rebels were bundled out for 158, with all of Cardinia’s bowlers claiming a scalp.
In reply, the Bulls are currently 1/24.
Nyora batted out its overs for a low total against Merinda Park.
Both sides are fighting for a spot inside the top four.
The Maroons batted the full 70 overs on a slow ground, setting 9/175.
Jack Henry recrded back-to-back half-centuries when he nudged 73 not out.
With the ball, Rob Strang was extremely tidy with 2/26 from 19 including six maidens.
D GRADE
Kooweerup is in the box seat to continue its unbeaten streak after piling on the runs against Lang Lang on the weekend.
The Swamp Tigers sent the Demons in and had the early rewards of a quick wicket, but a destructive century from Brent Wilson (104) guided the Dees to a sturdy 8/257.
For the Swamp Tigers, Joe Dalgleish took 4/42.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll, meanwhile, has set a winning total with the bat at stumps on day-one.
Aura Vale sent the Marygoons in and instantly were made pay.
Joshua Hodson crunched 147 with the bat, but it was the Aura Vale bowlers that hurt themselves in the field, handing 51 extras to their opposition.
Of those bowlers, Kevin McDonald was the star, snagging 5/61.
Having to bat 16 overs before stumps, the Marygoons continued to dominate, having the visitors 2/25 overnight.
Some late order fireworks have placed Emerald in a competitive spot against Cranbourne Meadows.
The Rebels were on fire early, having the Bombers 6/61, before 55 from Ian Crosher guided Emerald to 236.
Youngster Tom Clappers was damaging with the ball, taking 4/29 from 12.
Clyde won the day against Carlisle Park in a top end clash.
The Vikings won the toss and opted to bat, setting 201 from 60 0vers. An entertaining half-century from Mehdi Hussaini (51) was the highlight with the bat, while with the ball Ben Knowles snagged 4/42.
In reply, the Cougars are 0/18 at stumps.
E GRADE
Devon Meadows have put the pressure on Officer after a brilliant batting day on day-one.
After being sent in, the Panthers blasted 9/276 from their 70 overs.
Young Connor Harmor was the most destructive with blade in hand, notching 63.
Pakenham, meanwhile, also set a strong total with the bat against Tooradin.
Luke Brennan was the only batsman to go on with it (60), but the Lions had six players get over 20.
10 bowlers were thrown the ball for the Gulls.
The Lions finished with 10/242 from their 70 overs.
A big second day awaits Gembrook and Cranbourne Meadows as the clash sits in the balance at the close of play on day one.
The Brookers had the Rebels in all sorts at 7/37, before the tail end gave itself something to bowl to – scrambling to 173.
In reply, the Brookers are 1/25 overnight and will need to bat well on Saturday to secure the points.
Merinda Park escaped a monster score from Pakenham Upper/Toomuc.
The Yabbies were moving comfortably at 1/108, before a swift collapse trimmed their total to 174.
John Cuthbertson did the damage with the ball, claiming 4/46, and will be the key with the bat next week.
F GRADE
Officer will be eyeing off an outright win over Merinda Park when play resumes on day two this weekend.
The Cobras were bundled out for just 64 in the 40th over, before the Bullants chased the total down none down in their 19th over.
Officer quickly declared and sent the Cobras back in for the matches third innings in one day.
Overnight, Merinda Park is 0/21.
Carlisle Park has given itself the best opportunity to challenge ladder leader Clyde after batting its overs on Saturday.
The Vikings opted to set, and did so valiantly, putting 8/193 on the board.
Rodney Zealley notched 50, while Dean Lyddy fell just one run short of his 50 milestone.
Ron Kane toiled away with the ball for the Cougars, sending down 26 overs for 3/44.
Devon Meadows will be looking to maintain its place in second when play resumes against Cardinia this Saturday.
The Panthers set 8/161, courtesy of a brilliant half-century from Peter Zauner (54).
Paul Hart has guided Pakenham to a commanding position after a brilliant unbeaten 101 on Saturday against Lang Lang.
After 40 overs, the Lions posted a whopping 3/267, in which Hart thought was more than enough, declaring with almost half a day’s play left.
It was a masterstroke as his side ran right through the Swamp Tigers, castling them for just 35.
No bowler went the journey, but Shadab Anwer took the prize of the most absurd figures, claiming 4/6.
ONE-DAY COMPETITION (ROUND 9)
Cranbourne Meadows notched an impressive win over Pakenham.
The Rebels were sent in and recorded 5/232 with the bat.
In reply, the Rebels defended it comfortably, keeping the Lions to 9/119.
Upper Beaconsfield, meanwhile, registered an impressive low-scoring victory.
The Maroons set a bleak 9/123 from their 35 overs, but it proved more than enough when they removed Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll for just 93.
In the other matches, Emerald claimed victory over Pakenham Upper/Toomuc through forfeit, as did Kooweerup over Nyora.
