By David Nagel
THE “Pride of the Lions”, Ben Maroney (196), inflicted pain and suffering to Upper Beaconsfield (140) on Saturday as Pakenham (9/498cc) continued its savage, almost cruel attack on its opposition to stitch up a finals berth.
Maroney showed a strong killer-instinct in his improvising, hard-hitting and menacing innings, as the Lions roared their way beyond 400-runs in successive matches. The Lions were renowned as one-day specialists until recent times, but have focused on batting out 80-overs. Now that they have, the results are devastating and it was the acting skipper who led the way.
Kicking himself for missing out in the Lions’ 415-run rampage against Pakenham Upper-Toomuc in the previous round, Maroney shrugged off a hectic schedule at Country Week to register the second highest score of the season and move to number one on the runs list with 605.
He had plenty of mates lending a hand on Saturday.
Resuming at 2/48, the Lions lost night-watchman Jason Fisher (11) early and then Maroney survived three confident LBW shouts from Chris Pentland, but from there it was all one-way traffic. Last round century-maker Jason Williams (57) put on 115 with Maroney to see the Lions past the post, but any thoughts the visiting Maroons had of an early afternoon were squashed as the Lions and Maroney marched on.
He brought up his century with a gentle push to point which nearly had a comical ending as the bat waving Lion had to hustle to make his ground. After his case of premature celebration, an overthrow returned Maroney to the striker’s end as he ticked the only remaining box in another wise stellar season.
Sean Gramc (34) and 18-year-old Luke Jackson (24) then shared in 77 and 99-run stands with Maroney, whose magnificent innings ended with the score on 6/357. Sugeesha Dinushan (48) then continued his hot Country Week form with Dom Paynter (52) and Jack Anning (20 not out) putting the icing on a cake that had been well and truly baked earlier in the day by Maroney.
For the Maroons, Xavier Gargan (4/46) toiled manfully and Pentland (1/17 off seven) was economical and unlucky not to make early inroads. The Maroons are now out of the finals race, with only bragging rights to play for against arch-rivals Beaconsfield next week.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:OFFICER V TOORADIN
A jaded looking Tooradin (5/262 dec) took home the win, but was unsuccessful in its chase for outright points against Officer (138 and 4/117) on Saturday despite the home side hitting the crease with just nine players.
Sean Armstrong and Brad Robson were both unavailable for the Bullants due to illness and other commitments, but the visitors couldn’t take advantage of the perfect scenario.
The third-placed Seagulls needed maximum points for an opportunity to snatch a coveted top-two spot against Cardinia in this week’s round 14 clash, but had some tired looking players take to the field.
Key bowlers Callum O’Hare (4/48 off 21) and Lukas Hoogenboom (1/27 off 15) along with skipper Aaron Avery (1/23 off 14) and keeper Tom Hussey were all on the back-up after a long Country Week campaign and right from the start of Saturday’s play, it was clear there was a certain spark missing from the whole team.
Hoogenboom struggled with the uneven run-up from the Princes Highway end of the ground while O’Hare lacked his usual potency against an Officer team that finally showed some grit and determination. While a successful run-chase was never on the cards, at least the Bullants put a high price on their wickets and settled in for the fight.
Adam Reid (28) and Simon Tivendale (14) resumed with the score on 2/31, and while the cricket wasn’t exciting the two frustrated the Seagull attack with dour defence. When drinks were taken after 20 overs of play, the visitors still hadn’t enjoyed the sweet taste of success.
Reid increased his stroke-play after the interval and his innings included two leg-side sixes. Brett Reid (40) and Peter Quinn (15) then continued the battle, but it was always going to be an uphill one, with only eight wickets comprising the innings.
O’Hare’s star continues to rise and he was once again the pick of the Gulls’ bowlers with four wickets while Ash Adams (1/3) and Sam Clarke (1/25) also saw the umpire’s finger go up.
Asked to bat again, Officer looked like succumbing badly after O’Hare (2/22) and Avery (2/23) wrecked the top order, but Reid (58 not out) of the Brett variety and Quinn (28 not out) played beautifully to see the Bullants to safe ground.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:KOOWEERUP V PUT
TOP-of-the-table Kooweerup (5/384cc and 6/135) treated its match with Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (112) like a track-gallop before a big race on Saturday as it worked through the gears under a good hold to record a 272-run victory.
Defending a huge score from last week meant the Demons were never in danger of defeat, so they didn’t waste the opportunity to trial some key components for their upcoming finals campaign. Skipper Travis Canavan (1/16 off five) is the most interesting and important of those trials.
Canavan is a proven all-rounder and big-game player, but has bowled very little in recent times due to body complaints. An over here and there was stepped up a little with four overs against Cardinia in round 12 and that build up continued with another five overs against the Yabbies. It might not seem like much, but if Canavan becomes an option in March the Demon’s attack becomes a much more potent force.
The Demons threw the ball around on Saturday and despite rolling the Yabbies in just the 42nd over used no fewer than eight bowlers to complete the rout. Adam McMaster (3/20 off 6.3) is young and raw, but leads the Demons wicket taking list with 23, and was impressive again, while Matt Davey (2/9 off six) sits inside the competition’s top-10 wicket taking list, with 18, for the umpteenth time.
Seven of the Demons’ eight bowlers tasted success.
Kooweerup are thought of as a batting power-house, and it’s hard to argue that point, but it has four players inside the top 11 wicket takers this season, which is double any other team.
The Demons then topped-off a day of perfect preparation by giving their mid to lower order some batting practice. Names like O’Hara, Giles and Dole were nowhere to be seen as Canavan (38), Paul Bright (25), Davey (21), McMaster (19) and Ron Bright (18) chimed away at a rate of four in 36 overs.
Peter Richards (43) was the best for the Yabbies with the bat while Tyson Carey (4/66 off 17) and Lucas Plozza (2/67) kept the Demons honest with the ball in their second innings.
Footnote: Cardinia (188) and Beaconsfield (171) had the weekend off after the Bulls defeated the Tigers in their round 13 match last weekend.
