By Tyler Lewis
WGCA OTHER GRADES
REVIEW – ROUND 9
B GRADE
Aura Vale asserted its dominance on the competition with a governing win over Emerald.
The Lakers won the toss, opted to bat and posted a monstrous score to start off the New Year.
Nathan Phillips went berserk opening the bat, slashing 98 which included nine boundaries and eight maximums.
He wasn’t alone as fellow opener Jack Ryan also blasted 69, the pair combining for 179 before the first wicket fell.
The Lakers went on to post 5/293 from its 40 overs, a remarkable total with a run rate of 7.3.
Despite notching 52 before the first wicket, the Bombers were unable to chase down the mammoth total, falling short with 8/143 on the board.
Ryan capped off a clinical day of cricket in the second dig, claiming 3/27 from eight overs with the ball.
Devon Meadows, meanwhile, also flexed its muscles over Pakenham Upper Toomuc to take home its fourth win of the season.
The Panthers had a strong side in with both Kleinig brothers (Mitch and Nathan) who were in the first XI earlier this season, along with Will Louden in their side who also featured in a premier match before Christmas.
Louden cashed in on his opportunity with the bat, nudging 54 at the top of the order.
Despite posting 206, the Panthers could have posted a stronger total, with three players getting starts and not going on.
In reply, the Yabbies were on the back foot from the outset, with every Devon Meadows bowler claiming a victim as Pakenham Upper Toomuc swiftly fell to 7/46.
Riley Worsteling was the pick of the bowlers, collecting 3/19 in a powerful Panthers performance, bowling the Yabbies out for just 83.
Carlisle Park had a minor scare on its way to victory over Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll, but still collected vital points against a fellow top four side.
The Marygoons were victim of a terrorising spell of bowling from Doug Knowles who jagged 6/20 and deflated the Maryknoll innings.
Knowles has taken 30 poles this year across all grades at an average of eight with the ball.
The Marygoons were bundled out for 109, before shaking the run chase for the Vikings.
At one stage the Vikings were 2/75 in reply, but lost 6/29 late in the chase.
Luke Hill had his best bowling performance for the year, claiming 3/21 in the entertaining finish.
The Vikings ultimately got home, albeit a scare with three wickets in hand.
Clyde registered a win over the winless Gembrook.
The Cougars posted 188 from its 40 overs, and cruised to victory with the ball, restricting the Brookers to 8/162 in reply.
Ross Elston was impressive with the ball, grabbing 2/28 from eight overs.
At this stage in the season, the B Grade premiership is there for the taking, with the entire top four only separated by percentage and fifth and sixth only one win from joining the traffic jam at the top end.
C GRADE
Last placed Pakenham registered an important win over the top ended Cranbourne Meadows in its first encounter after Christmas.
The Lions bundled the Rebels out for just 89, Dale McCraw was stupendous with the ball, claiming 2/10 from eight overs.
The Rebels certainly sent a scare through the Lions camp, having them 3/26 early on, but Pakenham ultimately got home through the cool heads of McCraw (31 not out) and Dene North (38 not out) who got crucial starts.
Tooradin took home the points against Upper Beaconsfield, despite taking the difficult route to victory.
The Gulls sent the Maroons in and ripped through their batting line-up, bowling Upper Beaconsfield out for just 58.
In reply, Tooradin certainly didn’t cruise home, losing 4/9 in the late stages of the chase, to pass the Maroons with only three wickets in hand.
Officer, meanwhile, closed the gap on the top four with an impressive win over Merinda Park.
Bullants openers Matt Lucas and Craig Fenney were inseparable at the top of the order, both notching 28 in the 58-run stand, and both departing within minutes of each other.
The strong start from the openers was continued with middle order batsman Nick McLennan notching his second consecutive half-century (50 not out) that included three boundaries and two maximums.
In reply, all eight Bullant bowlers who grabbed the Kookaburra bowled tidily, restricting the Cobras to 89 from its 40 overs.
Matt James bowled without much luck, missing out on the wickets but going for just seven runs from his eight overs.
Another dominant all round performance from Gavin Hackett assisted Nyora claim the win over Cardinia.
The Maroons posted 5/154 from its 40 overs, before bundling the Bulls out for 94.
Hackett claimed 3/1 in another remarkable performance, but he wasn’t alone with the ball as Shane Warren also jagged 4/24.
D GRADE
Kooweerup demonstrated why it sits atop of the D Grade ladder with another win over Clyde.
The Demons posted 4/130; Wesley Wright led the way with the bat, posting an unbeaten half-century.
The Demons proceeded to run riot with the ball, bowling the Cougars out for 98, youngster Zak Banks was destructive with the ball yet again – Banks impressed before Christmas with 3/6 and has followed it up in this fixture with 4/7, averaging five with the ball this season in juniors and seniors combined.
Carlisle Park, meanwhile, comfortably collected the points against Cranbourne Meadows.
The Rebels posted a competitive 8/162 with the bat, Roger Cotterell blasted an unbeaten 81, but it was a comfortable run chase for the Vikings, passing the total four wickets down.
Emerald and Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll competed in a run-fest of a day down at Nar Nar Goon recreation reserve.
The Marygooners posted 8/199, but the Bombers made the total look elementary, chasing it down with overs in the bank.
Emerald finished 7/209 with one over to spare, finishing a horrendous day to be a bowler with 15/408 from 80 overs the combined scores.
Lang Lang knocked on the door of the top four with a win over Aura Vale.
The Swamp Tigers posted 8/166 from its 40 overs, Aldrin Kerner whacking 33 in his first game for the season.
In reply, the Lakers had some trouble against the potent Lang Lang attack.
Kerner again stole the show, jagging 3/17 from eight with the ball.
E GRADE
Devon Meadows leaped to second position on the E Grade ladder with an impressive win over finals bound Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
The Panthers bowled tidily, restricting the Yabbies to 8/120 from its 40 overs – Robert Worsteling claiming 4/10 from seven overs.
The chase was a relaxed one for Devon who passed the Yabbies inside 30 overs – Shane Fisher carried his bat with an unbeaten 61.
Cranbourne Meadows sent a scare through ladder leaders Merinda Park.
The Rebels posted a bleak 10/93 but didn’t give up, despite a small total to defend.
Wickets consistently tumbled for the Cobras, who passed the Rebels eight down.
Gembrook, meanwhile, kept its hope for a top two finish with a win over Tooradin.
The Brookers posted a competitive 9/193 with the bat before restricting the Gulls to 6/183 after a full days play.
Samitha Karunagoda played a calm hand at the top of the order, nudging 55 crucial runs.
A Ben Monagle masterclass wasn’t enough to secure Officer the win over Pakenham.
Monagle (93 not out) came to the crease at 1/ 4 and proceeded to steer the Bullants into a defendable total of 4/148 at the end of the 40 overs.
Unfortunately for the Bullants, it wasn’t enough as Pakenham passed the total four wickets down.
F GRADE
Devon Meadows showed no mercy on the winless Lang Lang on Saturday.
The Panthers had four players reach 40 or more in a dominant batting display, posting 6/238.
In reply, the Swamp Tigers batted out its overs but could only manage 8/147 from its 40 overs.
Pakenham, meanwhile, lost its position inside the top four after falling short against ladder leaders Officer.
The Lions posted a competitive 8/162 with the bat, but it proved to be 20 runs short of victory, as the Bullants chased the total down with five wickets in the shed and overs to spare.
Carlisle Park took full advantage of the simultaneous loss to Officer, leaping into the top four with a win over Cardinia.
The Vikings set the bulls 7/160 from its 40 overs and immediately had the upper hand with the ball in the second innings, having Cardinia 3/11, ultimately restricting the Bulls to 7/89 from its 40 overs.
An unbeaten half-century from Clyde skipper Cameron Davidson assisted his side to victory over Merinda Park on Saturday.
The Cobras set 8/131 from its 40 overs and had the wheels shaking early in the Cougars chase when Davidson walked out at 3/45.
But Davidson calmly nudged his side to the winners list with 51 not out as his side past Merinda Park’s total with almost 15 overs to spare.
