By Nick Creely
WARRAGUL AND DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
REVIEW – ROUND 5 (DAY TWO)
The path to victory was always steep for Warragul, but Hallora has capped off a dominant match with a whopping 241-run victory.
After crunching an incredible 8/398 on day one, the Kangaroos truly backed it up with the ball, rolling the Gulls for just 157 in 70.1 overs of pressure-filled bowling.
The bowling was controlled by star spinner Natsai M’Shangwe, who snared 4/29 from 21 overs, sending down seven maidens in his brilliant spell.
M’Shangwe – one of the competition’s biggest stars – has already snared 17 wickets across his first five games.
Liam Serong was an excellent supporting act, snaring 3/35, while with the bat opener Tyler Constantine top-scored with 26.
Yarragon, meanwhile, were unable to reel in Buln Buln’s hefty day one total.
The Lyrebirds were also a heavy scorer on the opening day, racking up 8/296 from its 80 overs.
WDCA superstar Gamini Kumara could do very little for his side, smashing an incredible 122 not out from 163 balls, but couldn’t find enough support with his team bundled out for 191.
The remarkable Kumara is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon with yet another triple digit score. He also skipped past 400 runs in all formats at the average of 60.9.
But strong bowling displays from Ricky Mckerrow (4/31) and Brent Eastwell (3/66) ensured steady wickets could fall around Kumara.
Drouin got the best of its top-four clash with Western Park to inflict the Warriors with its first loss, with the two gun sides playing out an absolute beauty.
The Hawks set a more than competitive 226 on day one, but the competition leaders were on track after putting on 76 for the first wicket.
But sparked by a golden spell from Troy Lehman (5/47), the Hawks clawed back to life, and took steady wickets to roll the home side for 177.
It is Lehman’s first significant performance of the season after joining the club for this season, and potentially a sign of what’s to come for the Hawks.
Leigh Diston (43) and Sanjaya Gangodawlila (44) led the way with the bat.
In the remaining match, Ellinbank banked the points against Neerim District at Drouin Recreation Reserve.
The Bankers were another side to rack up the runs on day one, posting an ominous 9/291 off the back of an 83 from Nick Fairbank, and the Neerim side was always going to be up against it.
Curtis Howell (4/25) was the star this week for the Bankers with the ball, and despite an absolute gem of a knock from Rhys George – who spent 201 balls at the crease for a classy 98 – the home side were knocked over for 145.
George’s 98 saw 11 boundaries sent to the fence, but similar to Kumara’s century, there was little support around him to mount a challenge.
Round 6 will see Drouin host Hallora, Neerim District travel to take on Yarragon at Dowton Park, Warragul hosts Buln Buln, while Ellinbank and Western Park do battle in a mouth-watering fixture.
