By David Nagel
B GRADE
A Tim Huguenin (6/29) hat-trick was the highlight of the B Grade competition on Saturday with the Tooradin (7/176) star leading the Gulls to a strong victory over Cardinia (160).
Huguenin took the wickets of Danny Diwell (39), Robi Nooy (0) and Ryley Watts (0) to turn the game on its head after the Bulls had cruised to 2/103 – chasing 177 for victory.
Branden Thompson (51) and Craig Boswell (27) put up a brave fight for the Bulls, but Huguenin’s heroics would push the Seagulls past the post.
The Seagulls’ victory was set up earlier in the day by Cooper Shipp (44), Shane Somers (40), Adam Jacobs (31) and Owen Johnstone (30 not out), who batted stoutly against some top-shelf shuffling from Diwell (4/27).
Devon Meadows (4/112) has proven itself the team to beat this season after a stroll in the park against second-placed NNG/Maryknoll (110).
Apart from a fighting knock from Tom Medwin (26), the Marygoons had no answer to the Panthers’ attack led by Callum Cavanagh (4/13), Mick Floyd (2/5) and Arthur Churchill (2/22).
The Panthers then received a solid start from Billy Loudon (20) and Bill Halton (50 not out) before Churchill (18) joined the party late.
The Panthers are now two games clear at the top of the ladder.
Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (6/188) has proved way too strong for a disappointing Carlisle Park (70).
The Yabbies posted a pretty-looking score with Aman Arora (52), James Stevenage (51), Sankara Manivannan (25) and Phil Brook (22) all making telling contributions.
Doug Knowles (2/27) was the pick of the Vikings’ bowlers.
Only skipper Campbell Furze (30) and Chris Slater (21) could provide any resistance in reply.
Bailey Smith proved a handful for the Vikings, claiming six wickets after the tea break. Elijah Hearn and Ryan Mibus took two each.
And Emerald (9/127) still has plenty to play for after winning a last-ball thriller against Clyde (9/126).
Nick Miles (26) top-scored for the Cougars before tea, against some quality bowling from the likes of Sebastian Mueller-Schmuki (3/19) and Anthony Flint (2/13).
Flint (42) then steadied the ship for the Bombers, before Mueller-Schmuki (11 not out) smacked some important late runs to get the Bombers across the line. Shem Smith (4/19) was fantastic for the Cougars.
C GRADE
Gembrook (2/129) has won the battle between third and fourth on the ladder after the Bombers dealt easily with Upper Beaconsfield (126) on Saturday.
The Bombers were just too steady with the ball, with Daniel Tigges (2/12), Dean McPherson (2/15) and Mitchell Candy (2/21) all having an impact against the resilient batting of Marcus Gehling (29).
The Bombers were never troubled in reply with Gary Moses (39 not out), McPherson (28), Tigges (27) and Timmy Gray (22 not out) leading their team to victory.
An almost run-a-ball half-century from Jayson Dryden (76) has piloted Officer (6/188) to a thumping victory over Kooweerup (62).
Dryden, Chris Byrne (29) and Taj Beddows (25) were the main ones marching for the Bullants prior to tea…posting a very competitive score.
The Demons were never a chance, with Darcy O’Hehir (20) and Max Monckton (15 not out) the only players into double figures.
Brent Pullen (3/19), Parker Lucas (2/9), Beddows (2/9) and Dean Perrow (2/25) provide some lethal options for the Bullants.
Pakenham (8/105) is taking a deep breath after the Lions survived a thrilling run-chase against a desperate Lang Lang (8/104).
The Swamp Tigers fought their way to a modest total courtesy of a fine 33 from Dylan Diehl, who had a great battle with the Lions’ Hiren Patel (4/16).
But Patel’s great bowling seemed to have gone to waste when the Lions fell to 7/45 in reply.
It was left to Michael Griffiths (21 not out), Ravi Marwaha (20 not out) – and an under-rated knock from Gurnoor Momi (8) to get the Lions across the line.
Nisal De Silva (3/13) battled his heart out for Lang Lang.
And top-team Merinda Park (4/164) has flexed its muscles with an impressive run-chase against Clyde (160).
Brenton Huyskens (62) and Glen Ward (59 not out) were the stars of the show for the Cobras after Jamie Smith (4/25), Scott Strang (3/23) and Josh Hargreaves (3/34) had done the early damage with the ball.
Lachlan McGeah (40), Suk Singh (38) and Danidu Perera (22) were in good nick for the Cougars.
D GRADE
Tooradin (6/156) skipper Shannon Warn has blasted a stylish 94 to help the Seagulls secure a comfortable win over Cardinia (114) at Rutter Park.
The Seagulls’ opener received some solid support from Cody Mannix (27) but it was basically a one-man show. Warn saw off some terrific bowling from Tony Ponweera (3/20) and Ryan Webster (2/22) to bat his side to a position of strength.
The third-placed Bulls tried their best to challenge the Gulls, but the second placed team was too good. Janitha Hettiarachchi (43) batted well, but the bowling of Matt Simpson (3/18), Glenn Michie (3/27) and Aaron Warn (2/20) proved a bridge too far in the end.
Emerald (6/157) number-four Dylan Roche (73) had the major say in the Bombers commanding victory over Carlisle Park (94).
Roche and Ian Crosher (24) repelled the best of Akash Perera (3/26) prior to tea, and then watched on as their bowlers went to work.
Alex Barbour (3/11), Harrison Closter (2/8) and Luke Pettigrew (2/11) would all have been happy with their day’s work. No Viking could make their way into the 20s.
Devon Meadows (8/86) has made hard work of a seemingly simple task against Cranbourne Meadows (81).
Only a starring 31 from Dave Fisher got the Panthers across the line after Corey Coupar (2/4), Fisher (2/8) and Joshua Scott (2/10) had earlier bowled their team into a winning position.
Jaskaran Bhullar (21), Chris Sullivan (4/15) and Bailey Wear (3/19) were the best performers for the Rebels.
And top-team NNG/Maryknoll (6/222) remains undefeated after an easy victory over Officer (8/129).
The Goon batters were in great form before the break with Darcy Taylor (60), Jarratt Eastburn (48), Russ Perry (35) and Russ Jackson (29) turning it on against the Bullants.
Blake Henderson (49), Agamjot Dhindsa (22) and Andy Cock (21) battled hard for the Bullants after tea, but the bowling of Aaren Corrin (3/19) and Dalton Lowrie (2/12) made the difference in the end.
E GRADE
Pakenham (4/101) all-rounder Zac Downes (3/23 and 24) had a day he will never forget on Saturday, claiming a memorable hat-trick against Officer (9/86) on the number-two oval at Toomuc Reserve.
The Lions trundler struck late, but struck often, snaring the wickets of Hamish Kervin (1), Harnoor Singh (0) and Dylan Aluthwatta (0) to join the most exclusive bowlers-club in the game.
Downes had some able allies, with Luke Wilson (2/13) and Alex Brennan (2/16) also tasting multiple-wicket hauls.
Bullants’ skipper David Green (47) was the only player to show any commitment to the cause.
Downes then opened the batting, and along with James Ahern (24) and Scott Webster (21 not out) steered the Lions home with a minimum of fuss.
Singh (2/17) and Kervin (2/39) were best for the Bullies.
Second-placed Emerald (1/78) had an early day at the office after thrashing Merinda Park (8/76) at Worrell Reserve.
Ross Jackel (3/13) and Warwick Marsh (2/16) set up the win with the ball before Raj Singh (34), Ryan Burdette (21 not out) and Ryan Appleby (20 not out) cruised their way to victory.
Rod Morrison (20 not out) and Dion Olszewski (19) battled hard for the Cobras.
And Clyde (2/115) has ridden a super-fast start to an impressive victory over Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (7/112).
Scorers were scouring the record books after the Yabbies slumped to 5/9 through the early overs, but the efforts of Adam Tucker (24), Addison Tucker (34 not out) and Alfie Howat (35) at least gave the Yabbies something to bowl at.
Linto Francis (3/20) and Shannon Allum (2/20) were the stars with the ball for the Cougars.
Shane Jack (58) and Kevin Baldsing (34) then polished off the job in double-quick time.
Third-placed NNG/Maryknoll had the bye.
F GRADE
Pakenham (6/269) had stars aplenty as the Lions steamrolled Kooweerup (64) at Toomuc Reserve on Saturday.
The blitz began with the bat, with experienced pare Greg Hogben (77) and Paul Hart (50) putting on a 126-run opening stand.
Adam Roseby (43), Rob Newell (34 not out) and Peter Carr (23) then finished off the job with the willow.
Harry Herbert (2/33) was best of the bowlers for the under-siege Demons.
Deepak Gusain (6/7) then trumped his batting teammates with a brilliant spell of bowling, returning the same figures that Scotty Boland produced on December 28 last year. Les Jones (3/12) was instrumental in the victory.
Devon Meadows (3/122) has made light work of Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (8/119) at Lakeside.
Anthony Brown (3/19), Mark Cosgriff (2/17) and Caelan Coupar (2/18) put the Panthers on the path to victory before Mick Hawkins (36 not out), Cosgriff (28) and Ethan Wood (23 not out) took just 29 overs to complete the task. There are no stats provided for the Yabbies.
Strong performances from Brad Buttigieg (3/18), Ryan Denmead (3/20), Jaylen Waixel (2/24) and Tangata Dean (33) have steered Lang Lang (3/90) to a comfortable victory over Upper Beaconsfield (79).
And Cardinia (0/75) has toyed with Pakenham Red (66) at Selandra Reserve.
Tyler Oates (3/13), Damien Monckton (3/19) and Ash Jones (2/6) were dominant with the ball before the break – before Yohan La Brooy (56 not out) secured the 12 points for the Bulls…inside 11 overs!
The Bulls are the team to beat, currently sitting on top of the ladder.
