Opener guides Bullants to victory

Leigh Boyle sends one down for Officer in District. 259756 Pictures: ROB CAREW

By Nick Creely

WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION

DISTRICT AND A GRADE REVIEW – ROUND 3

DISTRICT

A match-winning knock from dashing Officer opener Nick McLennan guided the Bullants to a tense win in a low-scoring affair against Pakenham Upper Toomuc.

After setting the Bullants just 83 for victory after excellent bowling performances Cooper Pursell (3/6) and Jonty Bennie (3/6), McLennan stole the show with a virtual lone-hand from the top.

With wickets tumbling around him, McLennan’s 43 from 42 balls proved vital for the home side, with the opening batter belting five fours in his defining knock.

While McLennan eventually fell with just over 15 runs to win, the Bullants managed to close out the game with just three wickets to spare.

Yabbie bowler Sankara Manivannan (5/24) did everything he could with the ball in what was a lionhearted display.

Runs were freer flowing down at Glover Recreation Reserve, with Devon Meadows and Lang Lang combining for 473 runs.

In the end the Swamp Tigers banked the huge win with some savvy bowling late getting the job done.

Batting first, the visitors racked up 7/239, with Jess Grima’s swashbuckling 84 from 62 balls setting up the innings.

Grima spanked 13 fours and a maximum in his entertaining knock, with keeper bat Niran Warnakula (46) and Shamil Samarasinghe (42) also contributing strongly.

Despite the runs flowing from one end, Panthers great Lucas Carroll snared 5/49 to help restrict the total to a manageable chase.

Coach Lucas Ligt’s strong start to the season continued with a fighting 57 from the top in response, Nathan Worsteling crunched 42, but the Panthers fell just five runs short and with three wickets left in hand.

An impressive Upper Beaconsfield, meanwhile, got the points against Emerald at home.

The Maroons were led superbly by Lachie Harrison (74), who crunched a half-century to help guide his side to 7/210 from their 40 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Despite a fighting 48-run opening stand from Bomber openers Mark Alenson (25) and Nick Pascoe (25), the visitors fell away to be bundled out for 110.

AJ Claxton was the pick of the bowlers with 3/28 from his eight overs.

A GRADE

Despite some individual brilliance from Merinda Park all-rounder Jordan Bertrand, Cardinia has clinched the points at Barton Reserve.

The Bulls batted well to post 199 from 38.4 overs, with skipper Matt Celima on song with an aggressive 51 from 41 balls.

Bertrand, however, proved vital with the ball to snare 4/33 from 6.4 overs, constantly finding the important wickets.

He then backed up his efforts with the ball by spanking a brilliant 96 from 101 balls, sending 11 boundaries to the fence in the process.

It was not enough for the Cobras, who fell just short on 9/190 from its 40 overs.

Economic as always, the great Dwayne Doig’s 3/18 from eight overs was a catalyst in the result.

Ramlegh Recreation Reserve played host to an Officer victory, with the Bullants overcoming Clyde.

Riley Clark set up the win with a fine display with the bat, crunching 83 from 100 balls to help his side post a competitive 177.

The Cougars were always in the game, and could have pinched it, but Jake Tivendale’s 4/59 ensured the home side would be rolled for 159.

Kooweerup did it easy against Cranbourne Meadows at home.

The Rebels struggled with the bat as Demon Brannon Harrison snared 4/19 in an impressive display, but the visitors managed to claw their way to a competitive 132 inside 37 overs.

But the home side were untroubled, rattling home in a tick under 20 overs.

Stephen Johnson (42) and Ayden Mills (32) were the chief destroyers, sending plenty of balls to the boundary.

In the remaining match of the A Grade weekend, Tooradin (6/115) got home in a tightly-fought affair against Pakenham (7/112) at Toomuc Reserve.