By Tyler Lewis
The West Gippsland District competition was dominated by the top teams on Saturday with the three best ranked sides in it recording triumphant wins.
Devon Meadows, the current ladder leader, had the biggest test of the top three, taking on fourth placed Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
But the Panthers cantered home in the end, cruising to a five-wicket win.
The Yabbies batted first and posted a competitive total of 7/169.
No player reached 50 for the Yabbies but, with three starts and 26 extras, the Panthers had gifted their opposition a reasonable position at the innings break.
The Yabbies were then in an even more reasonable position, when Ben McLeod sent Ben Hussey packing, leaving the Panthers 1/3 in reply.
But Devon Meadows too had plenty of starts, and at a much quicker rate, as the visitors surpassed the Yabbies inside 30 overs (5/170 off 29.3).
Batters two, three, four and five all reached 28 or more at a decent clip for the Panthers, with Kyle Salermo’s 40 off 41 deliveries the standout.
The win is Devon Meadows’ eighth for the summer and pushes it even further ahead of second-placed Officer on percentage.
That Officer unit, meanwhile, also dismantled its opposition, with a crushing win over Lang Lang.
The Bullants dismissed the Swamp Tigers for 121 in the 38th over, as Leigh Boyle snared 4/25 off eight.
And despite gradual wickets throughout the innings, the Bullants reeled in the home sides total in 34.1 overs.
Jack James was the pick of the batters for the Bullants, guiding his side home with 43.
While he is having a consistent season, James has managed to pass 20 seven times this summer without a half-century.
The Swamp Tigers tried everything to find a wicket, inking a whopping nine bowlers in the book over the course of the second innings.
Upper Beaconsfield made light work of the target Emerald set it at Chandler Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The Bombers were sturdy with the blade, posting 8/152 from its allocated overs.
But it was well short of a required total to beat this Maroons outfit, who reeled in the target in just 22 overs.
Jesse Joyce starred with the ball in the first innings for the Maroons, collecting 4/33, while his brother Taylor dominated in the second dig with the willow, crunching 51 not out.
Taylor evidently had no intention of increasing his daily step count while out in the middle, carving 36 of his 51 through boundaries (three fours and four sixes).
He wasn’t alone however, opener Will Haines boosted his averaged delightfully with an unbeaten 70.
In the penultimate round of the home and away season next week, the top two sides will go head-to-head at Officer Recreation Reserve, with the Bullants set to host the Panthers.
The contest will decide not only top spot, but also momentum into finals where the two are likely to meet once again.
