Smith leads with tons of runs

By Ian Ferguson
CHRIS Smith, who recently celebrated his 16th birthday, became one of the youngest Agrade century makers in WGCA history after he scored an excellent 105 not out for Pakenham UpperToomuc against Pakenham on Saturday.
Smith’s fine innings places PUT in a winning position at the Toomuc Reserve and centuries from Catani’s Brad McDonald, Clyde’s Jarrod Leontini and Merinda Park’s Brett Armitage have lifted their teams’ chances against their opponents.
In other WGCA senior games the match between Officer and Devon Meadows is evenly poised and the game between Emerald and Beaconsfield will be played as a oneday fixture next week after rain caused play to be abandoned on Saturday.
It is presumed that the same situation occurred at Kooweerup where the local team is hosting Merinda Park.
Pakenham UpperToomuc (PUT) started well after being invited to bat first at the Toomuc Reserve.
Openers Justin Harris and Luke Willis shared a useful opening stand of 47 before Harris departed for 17, but runs continued to flow freely on the lightningfast ground and by the tea interval Yabbies were strongly placed on 2/134.
After Willis was dismissed for a valuable 75 and the hardhitting John Wallin fell for 52, it was Smith who dominated the final session of play.
Richard Fromhold’s score of 31 provided useful support as the impressive teenager raced to his first Agrade century, enabling the Yabbies to finish with the formidable total of 8/308.
Pakenham’s tireless opening bowler Dale McCraw, who collected 5/64 from 21 overs, was the best performer in the host’s attack, while wicketkeeper Daryl Rooks snared four catches and a stumping in an excellent performance behind the stumps.
The Lions now face the challenging task of scoring more than 300 to win the game this week and the odds very much favour the visiting Yabbies.
Officer also sent in the opposition after winning the toss and during the first session the gamble appeared to be successful after the Devon Meadows toporder batsmen appeared to invent ways of being dismissed.
Visiting coach Darren O’Brien was caught at fine leg from a skied hook shot, captain Travis Canavan and another key batsman in Dave Simpson were needlessly run out and the teatime score of 5/65 well reflected the Bullants’ dominance.
However useful middle and lateorder partnerships enabled the Panthers to claw their way back into the game.
Doug Loudon and Darren Morrow contributed feisty hands of 42 and 32 respectively and Peter Zauner and Matt Davidson shared a crucial lastwicket stand of 28 runs.
The main wickets were evenly shared in Officer’s versatile attack between Brett Reid and Kable Dowsett before Devon Meadows was finally dismissed for 163.
When Travis Canavan led his charges back onto the field late in the day, he hoped this would be a competitive score on the slow Starling Road ground.
Currently this has proved to be the case as Officer lurched to 3/20 in the final nine overs of play.
Morrow removed both openers before the score was 20 and when Doug Loudon trapped the host skipper Colin Tucker lbw for a duck, shock waves resounded through the Bullants’ nest.
Officer still has significant batting strength in hand, so this seesawing game is far from over and an exciting finish is expected this week.
Clyde was unfazed about losing the toss after being relocated from the scheduled venue at Cranbourne and finally compiled the formidable total of 8/285.
Jarrod Leontini notched his maiden Agrade century and his fine innings of 112 continued what has been a pleasing season for this stylish batsman.
Numbereight batsman Mick McGuinness contributed a feisty 32 and scores in the 20s from Callum O’Hare, Shane Jack and Dan Waite also helped the Cougars to reach their competitive total.
Cardinia’s champion offspinner Dwayne Doig kept the Bulls in the game and his excellent figures of 5/77 from 31 overs was a fitting reward for an accurate and penetrative bowling performance.
Fellow spinner Mark Cooper snared 2/112 and Cardinia’s spin twins were brilliantly supported by wicketkeeper Luke Turner who stumped four of the opposition batsmen.
Catani produced its best performance for the season when it scored the mammoth 333 against the highly rated Tooradin bowling attack.
The Blues’ run orgy was led by seasoned opener Brad McDonald who struck 15 boundaries in his memorable knock of 105, while fellow opener Owen Fitzpatrick clouted nine fours and a towering six in his valued contribution of 74.
The pair shared an outstanding opening stand of 161 runs and Lionel Sexton continued the home side’s batting dominance when he pounded 12 fours and a six in his quick innings of 80.
Sam Clarke bowled with determination and deserved his fine figures of 5/77 from 21 overs, while Greg Bethune (3/71 off 18 overs) and Ricky Holland (2/80) from 21 overs also performed well.
Tooradin has risen to batting challenges on previous occasions this season, but the odds strongly favour the Blues in this interesting encounter.