By Ian Ferguson
BEACONSFIELD’s Bgrade team rediscovered last season’s form after it narrowly defeated neighbouring club Upper Beaconsfield by five runs in their traditional ‘Ashes’ clash.
Kris Fletcher was the architect of the Tigers’ victory, scoring a valuable 82, while Matt Ravenhall contributed 31.
The wickets were evenly shared by the Maroons’ bowling attack.
Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll continued its march to finals action, defeating the highly rated Cranbourne Meadows team by three wickets and 112 runs.
The Rebels bowling attack produced little fear among the Goon’s top order trio of Matt Lownds, Craig Lewis and Sean Somers, all of whom scored halfcenturies.
KilcundaBass was let down by tardy fielding when it pursued outright victory against an improved Merinda Park team on Saturday, and the Sharks had to be content with a 59run first innings victory.
Cobra junior Jarred Armitage scored an outstanding 62 against the strong Shark bowling attack, while youngster Matthew Grayson added 47.
Spinner James Mahood bowled economically for the host team, snaring 3/9 from nine overs.
Nyora coasted to a 261run win against PUT, but the Yabbies’ batsmen clung on tenaciously before losing their grip on the game.
Zac Clough (41), Chris Sharpe (40) and Stewart Davis (28) all scored useful runs for the visitors, while Adam Taglaferro, who collected 5/37 from 13 overs, was the leading bowler for the day.
Cardinia easily accounted for Emerald by 133 runs despite strong batting performances from the Bomber pair of Jesse Mathers and Don Alenson, who scored 60 and 39 respectively.
Wickets were evenly shared among the Bulls’ herd of bowlers.
Tooradin easily eclipsed Pakenham by 170 runs.
The Lions threatened to challenge when they reached 3/131, but their batting resistance fell away badly after the tea interval.
Ashley Bailey top scored for Pakenham with 67, while Andy Parker contributed 31.
Spinner Rory Alder snared 4/43 from 17 overs for the Seagulls, while Nathan Findlay collected 3/13 from six overs.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:C GRADE
Chris Hasselberger scored a superb 143 when the Lyndhurst Vikings obliterated Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll by 196 runs.
Michael Chapman, who scored 42, and Ash Peters (39) added to the Vikings’ run pillage, despite spirited opposition from the Goon’s Dave Harvie, who took 3/62 from 23 overs.
Lang Lang obtained a vital victory against Officer in a lowscoring encounter.
Fine bowling from Alan Jenkins (4/42 from 24 overs) and Kurt Nestor (3/28 off 15 overs) maintained winning pressure for the home side, while scores in the 30s from Bullant batsmen Peter Tucker and Glen Longmuir kept the visitors in touch for much of the game.
Upper Beaconsfield easily accounted for Clyde by 151 runs after the Cougar batsmen were routed for 110.
Shawn Hassell (5/21 from 18 overs) and Luke Soratti (4/17 off 17 overs) were the Maroons’ bowling heroes.
Gembrook secured an important 21run win at Beaconsfield after the Tigers were dismissed for 215.
The Brookers’ Grant Whytcross completed a good allround double by snaring 5/60 from 19.3 overs, while Dave Lennon (46 runs), Brad Pitcher (40 runs) and Jamie Ingham (35 runs) all batted well for the host team.
Kooweerup received the perfect Christmas gift when it gained coveted outright points against Pakenham.
The undermanned Lions were bundled out for 83 and 75 in their respective innings, and Demon bowler Brett Hobson returned the superb match figures of 7/39 from 15 overs.
Chris McConnell (5/25 from 13 overs) and John Bright (4/35 off 15 overs) also performed well.
Catani won a thriller against Devon Meadows by four runs.
Owen Fitzpatrick (5/119 off 25.3 overs), and Clint Fulton (4/65 from 24 overs) bowled tirelessly for the Blues, while a score of 52 from Glen Fairbrother, together with 40s from Mick Cloutter and Matt Davidson, kept the Panthers in the contest.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:D GRADE
PUT obtained an important outright win over Tooradin.
The Yabbies were well served in their batting by a useful last wicket partnership which yielded 59 runs, and the Seagulls were then scattered for a disappointing 103 in their second innings.
Ben Divigerlo, who captured 2/34 and later top scored with 24, toiled hard for the visitors, while Dave Merrigan topped the Yabbies’ scorecard with a pleasing 37.
Cranbourne Meadows fell 271 runs short of Emerald’s massive total when it was shot out for 125.
Andrew Rolfs (4/25 from nine overs) and D. Scott (4/29 off 13 overs) led the successful Bombers’ bowling attack.
Merinda Park comfortably accounted for Clyde by 93 runs after the undermanned Cougars were bundled out for 113.
Sean Blundy scored a defiant 54 for Clyde, while Patrick Graham (4/34 from 1.2 overs) was the Cobras’ main strike bowler.
Beaconsfield overcame Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll by 32 runs.
The Goon captain Jason Campbell top scored with 40, while Tiger cub Jayden Mack captured 4/48 from 19 overs.
An excellent innings of 94 not out from Paul Hart failed to avert a 101run defeat for Pakenham against Nyora.
Exciting allrounder Billy Hayes bowled brilliantly to capture 6/45 from 18 overs for the winning team.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:E GRADE
Craig Robertson celebrated Christmas early by scoring his first club century for Merinda Park when the Cobras slithered to an 86run win against Lang Lang.
Robertson contributed 107 not out, and a halfcentury from Robert Strang and a useful 41 from Michael McCalman helped the home team score an imposing 319 runs.
Gembrook scored an exhilarating outright win over Beaconsfield, thanks to excellent batting from Jason Mills and Clint Osseweyer who scored 81 and 62 respectively.
Mark Costa then continued the Brookers’ dominance, taking 3/14 from eight overs when the Tigers were shot out for 66 in their second dig.
The Lyndhurst Vikings bowling attack was too strong for Emerald, which bombed out by 124 runs after only totalling 143.
Jim Burke top scored with 50 for the host team, while the spoils were evenly shared among the Viking bowlers.
Cardinia easily overcame Devon Meadows by 171 runs after the Panthers were routed for 127.
Kyle Salerno top scored with 45, while Bulls’ bowler Chris Lemmon snared 4/49 from 14.1 overs for the victors.
Tooradin convincingly defeated PUT by 64 runs.
Young Seagull batsmen Michael Ralph and Grant Atwell both scored halfcenturies, while PUT’s Damien Garth captured 3/52 from 15 overs
Kooweerup overwhelmed Officer by 150 runs despite suffering a neardisastrous batting collapse in its second innings.
The Bullants clung on to score 194 in its innings, and then scared the devil out of the Demons when they had them 8/85 at stumps.
Officer was well served in its batting with 40s from P. Quigley and Wayne Danks, while Tom Bullonock and T. Black each collected four wickets when Kooweerup batted again.
There were no matches played in F grade or in junior ranks in the last weekend before Christmas.
