By Lance Jenkinson and Nick Creely
WGCA OTHER GRADES
REVIEW – ROUND 7
B GRADE
Devon Meadows has claimed a thrilling one-wicket win over Clyde in a clash of the B Grade heavyweights at Barton Reserve on Saturday.
In one of the games of the season, the Panthers chased down the 176 target in the 40th and final over with the aid of their No. 10 and 11 batsmen.
Clyde scored at a healthy rate of 4.37 runs per over en route to 8/175 off their allotted 40 overs.
Cougars captain and opener Ben Reilly (51) and middle order batsman Gavin Adams (43) played starring roles in the compilation.
Mitchell Kleinig’s 3/29 off eight over for Devon Meadows limited the damage.
While there were some nervous moments for Devon Meadows, it timed its chase to perfection.
Connor Harmor (43) and Arthur Churchill (41) steered the Panthers most of the way.
But it took some late heroics from tail-enders Riley Worsteling (3no) and Trent D’Alton (11no) to get the Panthers across the line.
In a notable effort for Clyde in the field, gloveman Steven Russell snared five catches, while Max Adams had a game-best 3/20 with the ball.
Devon Meadows is six points clear on top of the ladder, while back-to-back losses have seen Clyde fall to third.
Tooradin won a one-wicket nail-biter over Cardinia at the Rythdale Oval.
Set 128 for victory, the Seagulls reached the target in the 37th over, with No. 10 Harry Finley-Smith producing a vital knock of 18 not out.
The keys to the successful run chase were Liam Simpson (30) and Robert Simpson (28).
It capped a man of the match display for Liam Simpson, who also took 4/18.
In other B Grade games, Hunter Wardale took 5/40 in Emerald’s 18-run victory over Carlisle Park Vikings at Carlisle Park Reserve, while Mandhiraj Singh to 4/7 in Merinda Park’s 102-run mauling of Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
C GRADE
Kooweerup, Officer and Merinda Park are refusing to give up any ground in the race for first place in C Grade.
The trio of teams picked up their fifth wins of the season on Saturday to keep their breakaway pack intact.
The ladder leader on percentage, Kooweerup, had a commanding nine-wicket victory over Cranbourne Meadows at Cora Lynn Recreation Reserve.
Set 125 for victory, the Demons cruised to the target in just 20 overs, courtesy of dominant roles from Andrew Hilder (67no) and Luke Sibley (45no).
A noteworthy performance with a bat for Cranbourne Meadows was in-form Jordan Edwards with 50.
Officer had the most remarkable victory of the round, somehow finding a way to defend their uninspiring score of 6/107 to beat Upper Beaconsfield by three runs at Officer Recreation Reserve.
The Bullants needed something special from their bowlers and they got it, rolling the Maroons for just 104.
James Quinn was the key with 5/23 off eight overs.
Merinda Park passed the 169 target set by Gembrook six down at Donnelly Recreation Reserve.
The backbone of the Cobras innings was 52 not out from Robert Strang.
Strang’s exhilarating show included four fours and four sixes.
Pakenham (3/121), reinforced by 5/12 from Jake Griffiths and 54 not out to Gavan Hughes, crushed Lang Lang (118) by seven wickets at Caldermeade Oval.
D GRADE
Bottom-of-the-ladder Nyora has caused the upset of the season so far in D Grade, beating finals hopeful Emerald by six wickets at Nyora Recreation Reserve to register its first win of the campaign.
The Maroons were faced with a tough task of finding 166 runs for victory in 40 overs and completed the mission.
Kade Anderson made a swashbuckling 67, including three fours and a whopping six sixes, to set the Maroons on their way.
Captain Keith McClure put the icing on a sweet Nyora cake with 36 not out.
Earlier in the day, Emerald posted 3/165, led by half centuries to Jaxon Burdette (52) and Nick Karman (50no).
Top side Clyde (2/85) breezed past Officer (85) in an eight-wicket win at Hillcrest College.
Ben Knowles (4/22), Aaron Woolley (4/15) and Ryan Adams (51no) were the stars for the Cougars in a lop-sided game.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll was also a big winner, hammering Carlisle Park Vikings by 120 runs at Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve.
The third-placed Marygoons posted a massive 8/218 off 40 overs, led by Nadun Alwis (52), Russell Jackson (45no) and Chanul De Silva (43).
The Vikings were rolled for 98.
The match between Gembrook (5/202) and Cardinia (4/86) ended in a draw.
E GRADE
There’s no stopping Devon Meadows.
The Panthers continued on its winning ways to remain undefeated in E Grade, brushing aside Officer on Saturday.
It was a fine effort with the ball from the ladder-leaders, rolling the home side for just 74 in 35 pressure-filled overs.
Nick Whitelaw did everything he could for the Bullants, top-scoring with 25.
Despite a slight scare seeing the visitors stumble to 2/11, an industrious knock from Kenneth Jansz (35) ensured the Panthers would bank the points with five wickets still left in the shed.
Pakenham clawed its way home in a thriller at Lakeside Recreation Reserve, defeating Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
The Yabbies – off a brilliant lone-hand from middle order batsman Aman Arora (51) – managed to post just 100, with Terry Smith bowling superbly for the Lions to snare 4/16 from his eight overs.
It was a horror start for the Lions with a wicket in the opening overs, and suddenly the visitors were 4/21 and in dire need of a partnership.
But an inspired effort from Dale McCraw, and Graham McCraw (29 not out) ensured the Lions would find a way to win.
In the remaining matches, Tooradin (3/62) dismantled Merinda Park (57) at Rutter Park, while Cranbourne Meadows (7/153) did just enough to stave off Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (8/142).
F GRADE
A barnstorming century from Kooweerup opener Scott Battams has set-up a comprehensive win against Pakenham.
The Lions batted well to reach 9/189 from its 40 overs, with Gary Sewell crunching 69. Youngster Jacob Battams was the star with the ball, snaring 4/17, his second four wicket haul in a row.
But Scott Battams was ruthless with the bat for the Demons.
After losing an early wicket, Battams got going, crunching a breathtaking 127 to guide his side to a comfortable eight-wicket win.
Clyde Green were also in a ruthless mood down at Hillcrest College, knocking over Cardinia in dominant fashion.
The Bulls managed to post 116 with Chris Remy leading from the front with 53, but the visitors struggled for the most part with Ben Cooper (3/30) and Jake Whittingham (4/44) weaving magic with the ball>
It took just 20 overs for the Cougars to race down the total and with no wickets lost as Ben Cooper (61 not out) and Andrew Bertschik (43 not out) batted superbly.
In the remaining matches, Clyde Gold (1/134) eased past Emerald (7/128), Upper Beaconsfield (5/123) bowled superbly to defeat Pakenham Upper Toomuc (7/97), while Cranbourne Meadows (9/158) did it easily against Lang Lang (107).
Devon Meadows White had the bye.
