By Nick Creely
WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 7
What an inspired performance from Tooradin, and at exactly the right time.
The Seagulls produced an absolutely clinical performance away from home, knocking off Pakenham at Toomuc Reserve and sending the Lions down into third position on the table.
It was a win that may be very well set-up the Seagulls’ push up the table in this all-important next month of home-and-away cricket, with Cal O’Hare’s group sitting in fourth position, but clearly eyeing its rivals further up.
The Seagulls were sent in on Saturday, and despite Russ Lehman being run-out in the early exchanges, the visitors managed to find key partnerships throughout the innings.
Skipper O’Hare was instrumental with a classy 43, while Andrew Proctor was also absolutely vital as the visitors posted 193 in 39.2 overs, bowled out with four overs to spare.
Lions superstar Dale Tormey picked up exactly where he left off just prior to the Christmas break, snaring another five-wicket haul, hauling in 5/39 from his eight overs, which included a fair amount of top-order scalps.
While it always looked like a strong total, especially considering the sheer power and experience embedded within the Lions’ batting outfit, the Seagulls were merciless with their lines and gave the home side absolutely nothing to work with.
A picture-perfect start saw the Seagulls snare two early wickets and leave the home side 2/3, but Tormey loomed large to race away to 19.
But just as the Lions skipper looked to completely take the game away from the visitors, Rohan Simpson managed to remove him, and with it, potentially the momentum needed to race down the target.
It was a wicket not lost on the Seagulls, who celebrate accordingly at removing the man who has simply owned the WGCA over the past year.
Simpson went on to snaffle two further wickets and finish with the incredibly impressive figures of 3/19, while Kallan Braid-Ball (3/6) removed the tail with ease as the home side were surprisingly bundled out for just 88.
And in a season in which just 24 points – or two wins – separate first from fifth – it’s a vital result for both sides as they aim to remain in premiership contention.
Merinda Park’s stunning surge at a finals spot continues to grow serious momentum, with the Cobras comprehensive against Upper Beaconsfield.
The Cobras stunned all when they knocked over Kooweerup just before Christmas, and have begun the New Year with exactly the same mindset.
Maroons skipper Daniel Brennan (50) played a virtual lone-hand as his side scrapped its way to 9/148 from 40 overs, with the Cobras seemingly in control with the ball.
Luke Dinger (2/23) and Gurpreet Singh (2/32) were outstanding with the new-ball, while Paul Stockdale (3/17) took some vital late wickets to ensure his side would go into the tea break with the momentum.
As he has done across his stellar career for the club, Daniel McCalman (45) led from the front, combining for a 63-run stand with Jordan Bertrand (32), and the home side were never really threatened, with Thuduwage Kumara (36 not out) also in the runs.
The Cobras won with 3.4 overs left to spare and seven wickets still in the shed to bank another 12 points.
With another winnable game against Cranbourne Meadows to come this Saturday, the Cobras could very well be sitting inside the top-four at this time next week.
Wickets tumbled at an alarming rate down at E Gunton Oval, meanwhile, with Cardinia surviving an almighty scare to bank the points against Clyde.
The second-placed Bulls sent the Cougars in to face the music, and it couldn’t have gone any worse for Daniel Lever’s group, rolled for a measly 51 in 28.4 pressure-filled overs.
The visitors started steadily enough with both Kiefer Peries (11) and Daniel Polson (16) reaching double-figures inside the top six, but Travis Wheller – in the midst of a brilliant season – snared 4/12 and champion spinner Dwayne Doig 3/21 as the Cougars completely fell apart.
Doig – who has taken mountains of wickets across his illustrious career – now has 599 first XI wickets for the club.
Alex Nooy (25) ensured the Bulls would get off to a typically industrious start, but a steady fall of wickets left the Bulls 5/44 courtesy of a cracking spell from Matthew Aslett (3/9).
Despite the brief scare, the Bulls found the runs in 18.1 overs, and ensured they would keep in touch with the top-of-the-ladder.
And finally, after a tough loss to end 2020 for Kooweerup, the Demons have bounced back like only a champion side can against Cranbourne Meadows.
As a result of the win and Pakenham’s loss, the Demons now sit six points clear on top of the Premier Division table.
The Demons didn’t quite have it all their own way with the bat, finding themselves 2/34 and with star skipper Chris Bright back in the sheds after winning the toss.
A strong fightback from Jess Mathers (27) and Steve Dillon (54) ensured the Demons could find some momentum, with Chris O’Hara also chiming in with 26.
Despite some strong bowling from the Rebels – led largely by quick Gurpreet Bharma (2/24) – the Demons posted 9/166, and with their brilliant bowling attack, a very strong total in the end.
There was no real standout of note for the Demons, it was more of an all-round team display as the Rebels were bundled out for just 95 in 28.4 overs, with John Bright (2/17) and Rob Maskiell (2/17) the only multiple-wicket takers. There was also three run outs which did not help the Rebels’ cause.
Kuldeep Sidhu top-scored for the visitors with a classy 27.
Round 8 looms as yet another intriguing, potentially twist-filled round of cricket in the Premier Division, and all eyes will seemingly be drawn to E Gunton Oval, where Cardinia and Kooweerup will do battle in a top-two clash. The great rivals will be desperate to get some bragging rights with the likelihood that they meet in a crunch final growing more certain by the day.
Pakenham will also be watching to see who falters in that clash with the Lions expected to take care of Upper Beaconsfield, Merinda Park will be hoping to break into the top-four with a win against Cranbourne Meadows, while a confidence-filled Tooradin takes on Clyde.
