A BRILLIANT century by Emerald captain Quenten Lucas, led Emerald to its first victory of the season against Pakenham UpperToomuc (PUT) on Saturday.
Lucas (an unbeaten 110) starred with Andrew Ferrier (65) in a partnership that yielded 148 runs.
After an impressive display the previous week, where Emerald bowled PUT out for 228, the Bombers resumed at 1/43.
Mark and David Alenson opened and the two batted the Bombers into an excellent position with a partnership of 89 that was broken in the 43rd over with David dismissed for 42.
When Mark was out in the 59th over for a classy 80, the Bombers still looked a little shaky.
However Lucas and Ferrier got together to see the Bombers to their first victory of the year.
Emerald ended up on 7/384.
B GRADE
After a disappointing display the previous week where the Bombers were bowled out for 89, Emerald put in an improved performance this week.
With PUT resuming at 4/80, the Bombers had to work hard for wickets as they were seeking quick runs.
Aaron Cameron was the pick of the bowlers with 22 overs to return with the unlucky figures of 4/88.
The other wickets were shared around as PUT was bowled out for 246.
In the second innings Mick Borkowski (14) and Cameron (24) got Emerald off to a good start, putting on 46 for the first wicket.
Then Jesse Mather came in and batted well for his 44 and was well supported by Jay Kleinsmit.
The Bombers managed to avoid the outright, making 132 in the second dig.
D GRADE
After making 105 last week and having Tooradin 6/54, Emerald faced a close game.
Andrew Rolfs and Derek Scott bowled well from the start to have Tooradin 9/85, but then the Bombers couldn’t hold on to their chances as Tooradin ended up passing their score and went on to make 116.
Andrew Rolfs was the best bowler as he finished with 5/46 off 23 overs.
Adam Failla bowled well with 2/19 while Scott also did well to collect 2/39 off 24 overs.
Emerald had a second innings and after the loss of an early wicket, Jarred Gillespie and Corey Sweeney batted very well for 24 overs to take the score to 1/100.
Gillespie batted well for 22 notout, while Sweeney continued his good form with an unbeaten 55.
E GRADE
Emerald went into this week trying to defend the 231 it made the previous week.
The Bombers had to wait until the 14th over with the score on 44 for the first wicket, by Tom Baldock who collected three in two overs to put Emerald in the box seat.
From there it was a steady flow of wickets as the score ended up on 8/121.
Brock Barlow and Chris Alenson bowled well and each were rewarded with wickets.
Then for the last two wickets Emerald had to fight harder and it was young Callum Thoms who picked up the last two to see the Bombers home by 36 runs.
Tom Baldock was the best bowler with 4/33 off 16 overs and was well supported by fellow junior Thoms who got 2/5 off 13 overs.
F GRADE
The oneday team played Kooweerup and batted first.
Geoff Worrell (24) and Gary Santini (17) got Emerald off to a good start and then Rowan Pascoe and Tim Robinson batted well together to bring the score to 9/175 after their 35 overs.
Pascoe made 23, while Robinson was at ease in his 51 retired.
In the second innings Emerald attacked well to bowl Kooweerup out for 113 in the 27th over.
Jim Burke, Tim Robinson and Kevin Stapleton all got two wickets each to be the best bowlers.
UNDER 17 BLACK
Emerald could only manage 122 the previous week and this week bowled well, but just fell short of a win.
Dan Leversaha bowled a good opening spell to finish with 3/20, while Euan Thoms, Chris Bray and Adam Purdy each bowled well to get the other wickets.
The score finished on 5/129 after 42 overs.
UNDER 15 BLACK
Emerald was trying to defend the previous week’s total of 175 and bowled well from the start to dismiss Pakenham for 141 off its allotted overs.
Nick Lang was the best bowler and finished with 3/24 off six overs. He was well supported by Tye Johnstone who got 2/9 and Chris Wynne with six overs and 2/3.
UNDER 13 REDBACKS
The Bombers bowled the previous week against Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll that made 173 off its 40 overs.
This week Emerald batted and put in one of its best performances to end up 8/125 off its 40 overs.
Thomas Murray (16) and Nathan Copey (20) got the Redbacks off to a good start and then top scorer Caleb Lobbe continued on the good work to make 22.
The lower order batted well to make sure Emerald didn’t get bowled out.
