By Jarrod Potter
DANIEL Pirotta’s solo effort 85 for Kooweerup B Grade, Dylan Cuthbertson’s six strikes for Merinda Park D Grade and Josh Bruneau’s maiden five wicket haul lead the highlights this week in the other grades of the WGCA.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:B GRADE
Emerald (255) was held just shy of the Beaconsfield (259) total, with James Peck (3/32) and Rhys Miller (3/52). After the first three men returned to the pavillion at 3/23, retaliation came from Nathan Bownds (80) and Jason Burns (54). The 98-run partnership fell when Don Kerslake caught the edge of Bownds. Ian Litterbach (27) and Darcy Hellriegel (15) and Jarred Gillespie (12 not out) got the Bombers close, but a last-wicket run out stopped Emerald short of a winning score.
Officer (97) was held to account by Devon Meadows (143 and 8/82). Officer was skittled without much resistance, with Braydon McHugh (24) forced to do the hard yards as well with the bat after taking 6/41 last week and Nick Long (24) from number eleven contributing most of the total. Chris Floyd (4/22) and Luke Howard took the scalps in the first innings before Devon Meadows went out for another innings. It went badly for the Panthers as Jesse Longmuir (6/21) took career best figures to send a message that the Bullants weren’t going to let the match meander until conclusion. Corey Leslie (39) top scored for Devon Meadows in the second innings.
Having to chase Pakenham’s (3/341cc) massive first innings total, Kooweerup (159) capitulated in the chase, with Daniel Pirotta (85) the sole bearer of the run-scoring burden. Zac Chaplin followed up his 98 not out with match high bowling figures of 3/17 and the other man in the 213 run partnership from last week Luke Jackson had the last laugh, bowling three balls and claiming the final wicket of the game. Chipping in for multiple wickets as well were Greg Interlandi (2/12) and Troy Lehman (2/39).
57 apiece from John Miller and Stephen Boltong couldn’t help Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (170) past Merinda Park (174), going down four runs short at Donnelly Reserve. The Miller-Boltong partnership accrued 73 runs before Miller was trapped in front by Martin Donaldson. Boltong’s dismissal at 6/142 spelled the end, which came 28 runs later courtesy of Yabbies’ bowlers Dale Cunliffe (3/31), Scott Kunziak (2/39) and Peter Jessop (2/2). Rob Wilson had five dismissals behind the stumps for PUT.
B Grade games matches round: Devon Meadows v Kooweerup, Beaconsfield v Officer, Merinda Park v Emerald, Pakenham Upper-Toomuc v Pakenham.
C GRADE
Clyde (6/135) knocked off Tooradin (126) and took second spot for their own. Two Williams – Dean (33), down from the Sub-District side, and Stuart (36 not out) – were the difference makers as the Seagulls swooped on the Cougars. Darren Mantel (3/27) was the only multiple wicket taker for Clyde as they struggled to bowl out Tooradin.
Lyndhurst Vikings (250) sent Beaconsfield (135) packing down the ladder, as the Eagles folded under pressure. Ammar Bajwa (4/25), Paul Grey (3/15) and Chris Slater (3/26) took all the scalps as Beaconsfield was in dire straights at 6/12. Dignity was found on the bats of Steve Glen (66) and Ben White (39), as the pair added 64 for the seventh wicket to push Beaconsfield above the embarrassing sub-50 score zone. White was dismissed when he struck one back to Bajwa on the full, leaving Glen to push the Eagles past 100 before he himself fell to Bajwa. Once Glen left at 9/132, the ending was already cast in stone waiting to be finalised.
Cardinia (243) kept top spot secure with an outright victory over Cranbourne Meadows (113 and 59). From 4/181 at resumption of play, the Bulls kept the attack up to the Rebels, smashing their runs at 5.62 per over. Ten men were tried by the Rebels, with Harvinder Gakhal (4/59), Wayne Lowe (2/21) and Chris Lowe (2/69) taking multiple scalps. The second innings response from Cranbourne Meadows was fetid, succumbing for only 59 with Hassan Mahmood (16) top scoring in his first match for the Rebels. Chris Remy (5/19) ripped through the Rebels.
Pakenham Upper-Toomuc won last week on forfeit from Catani.
C Grade matches this round: Clyde v Beaconsfield, Catani v Tooradin, Cranbourne Meadows v Pakenham Upper-Toomuc, Cardinia v Lyndhurst Vikings.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:D GRADE
Merinda Park (275) extracted maximum points from Lang Lang (119 and 75) as the Swamp Tigers couldn’t match force with the Cobras’ bowling crew. In Lang Lang’s first innings, Greg Humphery (31) top scored and Merinda Park’s Scott Strang (3/18) was the most effective with the ball. The second innings flew by as Lang Lang fell to the scourge of Dylan Cuthbertson (6/35). Brian Christensen (28) top scored for the Swamp Tigers.
Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll (3/174dec) easily overcame Nyora (62), with Chase Saunders (4/5) showing himself to be toxic to the survival of Maroons’ batsmen. Peter Jensen (21) watched wickets fall around himself, but held strong to give some backbone to an otherwise invertebrate Nyora batting effort.
Upper Beaconsfield (112 and 2/37) was not able to hold off Beaconsfield (133) with Michael McMahon bringing home the victory scoring a much needed 51. The Maroons tore through the Eagles’ top order with Nathan Dooley (4/17) keeping a constant stream of batsmen walking back to the sheds. McMahon and Wayne Hocking (36) added 61 for the seventh wicket to pass the first innings total. Upper Beaconsfield batted again for practice and made it through the 22 overs relatively unharmed.
St Francis Xavier (145) felt the force of Emerald (166) as Lachlan Gleeson knocked up a match winning 59. Dominic Ciconte (4/31) and Mitch Fly (2/7) claimed multiple wickets.
D Grade matches this round: Emerald v Nyora, Lang Lang v St Francis Xavier, Beaconsfield v Merinda Park, Upper Beaconsfield v Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:E GRADE
Tooradin (228) put the screws to Emerald (57 and 56), with Seagulls’ bowlers Dale Bethune (6/23) and Ross Simpson getting the job done in the first Emerald innings before Greg Bethune (5/13) and Brendan Jones (2/22) finished the task to complete the outright victory.
Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (184) dispensed with Clyde (98) after John Eyres (34) almost carried his bat, but was dismissed as the second last wicket after putting on 37 with Ron Kane (25) to push Clyde towards triple figures. Rohan Burns (5/25) and Ron Milnes (3/27) delivered the knock out punches.
Officer (123) couldn’t get near Pakenham (3/245dec). Tim Smith (30 not out) top scored for the Bullants. Matt McCormick (3/44) was the best of the Lions’ bowlers.
Beaconsfield (108) defended a meagre total through ruthlessly dismissing Kooweerup (84). Josh Bruneau (5/25) put his first five-for on the board.
E Grade matches this round: Tooradin v Clyde, Beaconsfield v Emerald, Officer v Kooweerup, Pakenham v Pakenham Upper-Toomuc.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:F GRADE
Officer (173) lost its spot in the four after Gembrook (8/187) pegged back a decent sized chase. Mark Newton (50) and Dean Allcott (45) added 87 for the third wicket to start proceedings before Martin Williams (21) finished it off.
Merinda Park (9/287cc) knocked off Clyde (223) in a high scoring affair at Hillcrest College. Daven Johnston (66), Michael Cloney (38) and Steven Houlihan (28) started hunting down the runs before they were all pegged back by the Cobras. At 6/151, a revival was set in motion by Justin Gagalowicz (39) and Keanu Peries (26), but there wasn’t enough steam in the engine as Clyde finished 64 runs short.
Devon Meadows won by forfeit over Beaconsfield, as did Pakenham over Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll.
F Grade matches this round: Beaconsfield v Officer, Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll v Devon Meadows, Clyde v Pakenham, Merinda Park v Gembrook.
