A SUPERB individual performance from Mark Cooper ensured that Cardinia’s Agrade team started its season off in winning style against Devon Meadows on Saturday.
Cooper starred last week with a majestic 91 not out and this week shone with the ball for the Bulls, claiming 5/38 to thwart Devon Meadows’ chances of victory.
The Panthers were off to a steady start before Chris Remy broke through with the first wicket of the day to see the score at 1/43.
Devon Meadows then pushed on to 97 before Cooper snared his first wicket.
Dwayne Doig took another before the Panthers could add another run to their tally, the score stuttering at 3/97.
The rest of the Meadows’ side showed little resistance as the spin duo of Cooper and Doig tore through the bats them all out for 155 chasing the Bulls’ 178.
Doig finished the day with 4/68 from a mammoth 34over spell and Remy 1/17 off 10.
B GRADE
Pakenham UpperToomuc was set 218 for victory last week, but fell short as Cardinia’s young stars shone.
The Yabbies couldn’t curb 16yearold Nathaniel Wade, who bowled with plenty of pace and accuracy, taking 3/39 in a superb stint of bowling.
Just as many headaches came from 15yearold Bradey Welsh at the other end who took 3/24 in only his second Bgrade match.
Captain Matthew Adlam returned to cricket with the ability to still tweak the ball at right angles as he led by example to finish with 3/22.
Rob Allan also took a wicket before he left the field after tearing his groin – an injury that will keep the allrounder out of the game for up to eight weeks.
Having a second hit, the Bulls got some valuable time in centre.
Daniel Strahan knocked up 38 and Ryan DeReus 33 in an opening stand of 76.
Adlam (26), Ben Monckton (20) and Welsh (15 not out) all got amongst the runs as Cardinia compiled 6/168 in what was a great start to the season for a side that only won one game last year, which incidentally was also the first of the season.
D GRADE
The Bulls ventured back up into the hills to defend their total of 100 against Emerald.
The Bombers were 4/74 and surpassed the total with four wickets to spare and were all out for 137.
Captain Wayne Snooks was the main wicket taker, claiming 6/46. Trevor Hobson (1/15), Matt Waixell (1/19) and Evan Webster (2/9) also took wickets.
Missing two players for its second dig, Cardinia made 78 with veteran Craig Bell scoring the majority of the runs with 52, the only batsman to make double figures in the Bulls’ lowly total.
Needing just 41 for outright victory, Emerald passed the total three wickets down.
Snooks (2/30) was again among the wickets as was Matt Waixell (1/5).
UNDER 17
In the Bulls first hitout of the season they came up trumps against Officer.
The young Bulls compiled 2/124 from their 25 allotted overs with both Nathaniel Wade (25) and Dylan Mitchell (25) retiring. Phil Strahan smacked 23 and Jack Cole made 21 in the team’s total.
Officer unfortunately only had eight players for the season opener which helped the Bulls’ cause as they bowled the Bullants out 7/91.
Tom Bennett took 5/11 and Jack Cole 2/10 in the victory.
