DEVON Meadows’ four senior sides racked up more than 1000 runs on Saturday to have the club well placed for a clean sweep of victories in round three.
A GRADE
Daniel Steet helped the Panthers arrest their recent batting woes with a fine 63 in the Panthers’ 9/239 against reigning premiers Beaconsfield.
Steet and David Carson were met with a fiery barrage from Tiger opening bowlers Jason Dodd and Ryan O’Connor, the latter striking Carson on the elbow and forcing him to retire hurt.
Darren O’Brien joined Steet and the pair set a solid foundation for the middle order, their stand ending when O’Brien was trapped in front for 20, the score 1/65.
Bill Loudon was promoted up the order and with Steet, steered the visitors to 1/110 at tea.
Resuming after the interval, the pair continued to build the Panthers total until Steet’s excellent innings ended on 63.
Loudon (24) followed in the following over and the Panthers were beginning to wobble.
Skipper Travis Canavan and Tony Scott steadied the innings, their 30run stand ending when Canavan was bowled for nine.
Doug Loudon was on the receiving end of a controversial lbw decision later that over and when Scott (23), Peter Zauner (5) and Darren Cooper (11) fell soon after, the Panthers again appeared to be staggering at 8/196.
A valuable 24run ninthwicket partnership between Peter O’Brien (10) and Matt Boswell ensured the Panthers wouldn’t have to bowl on the first day and Carson (11 not out) recovered to add a further 19 runs with Boswell (23 not out) to guide the Panthers to their competitive total.
C GRADE
The Panthers continued their good batting form with a solid 250 against Clyde at a slow Junction Village.
After being sent in, Luke Marrow chanced his arm as he and Mick Cloutter put on 79 off the first 21 overs, Marrow the first to fall when caught for 45.
Despite being in early control, the Panthers allowed Clyde back into the game when Cloutter (40) and Matt Davidson (14) fell in quick succession and when Steven Hosking was bowled off the last ball before tea, the Panthers had stumbled to 4/104.
Mick Floyd and Lucas Carroll steadied the innings after the interval, adding 34 runs when Carroll’s classy innings ended on 22.
The Panthers then looked to accelerate the scoring, Mark Fairbrother capitalised on his promotion in making 19, Floyd followed soon after, caught and bowled for 42, and Cgrade debutant Darren Logan (21) pushed the score to 8/235.
Lincoln Hepburn (27 not out) and Glen Fairbrother (8 not out) added 15 off the last two overs to reach 8/250.
E GRADE
Despite losing three quick wickets three times during the innings, the Panthers find themselves in a strong position against Officer after being dismissed for 243.
Paul Kempson (14) was the only batsman to make an early impression as Devon Meadows slipped to 3/39 early.
Numberthree batsman James Howard was joined by Brett Vance and the pair kickstarted the home side’s innings, blasting 99 runs off the next 22 overs, the stand ending when Vance chased a ball off the pitch and was caught for 67.
Luke Howard was dismissed in the last over before tea and the game was back in the balance at 5/141.
James Howard’s outstanding innings of 42 ended in the first over after tea, however firstgamer Craig Evans and skipper Danny O’Sing added 62 for the seventh wicket before Evans was bowled for 36.
Quick wickets again fell before under15 prospect Arthur Churchill (six) joined O’Sing (47 not out) to add 27 for the final wicket.
F GRADE
The Panthers scored a convincing victory against Cranbourne Meadows, defeating the Rebels by a massive 318 runs at Donnelly Reserve.
Scott Sunderland took 5/8 off five overs and David Hussey 1/4 as the home side was dismissed for just 28.
In reply, Sunderland (52), Scott Young (53) and John Bowles (53) all retired, while Mitch Cullen (44), Hussey (38) and junior Hayden Endlund (16) were among the runs as the Panthers piled on 6/346 off their 35 overs.
UNDER 15
The Panthers are evenly placed in their match against last season’s runnersup Tooradin after reaching 9/87.
Despite many of the toporder looking comfortable in their innings, only Brandon Mackie (10) reached double figures as the junior Panthers slumped to 8/65.
Andrew Saxon then salvaged the innings, his fine 18 notout late in the innings guiding his side to what should be a competitive total.
UNDER 13
Alex Edgar captured 4/14 from five overs as the Panthers were set 160 to win against Merinda Park.
