West Gippsland Cricket Association – round 11

By Ian Ferguson
CATANI’S surge towards finals’ action may have stalled at the last hurdle with Devon Meadows holding a slight advantage at the end of day one, after a destructive eightwicket haul from Doug Loudon.
In other round 11 senior games, reigning premiers Beaconsfield strongly pushed its claims to reenter the final four with an imposing total of 288 against Tooradin.
Kooweerup again demonstrated its formidable batting depth by amassing more than 400 against Pakenham.
Pakenham UpperToomuc moved decisively away from the relegation threat by scoring 376 against the top team Cardinia while Officer is well placed against Clyde and Merinda Park has the upper hand against Emerald.
Catani opted to bat first on the turf wicket at Cranbourne, but the Blues only managed the useful total of 192.
Opener Owen Fitzpatrick was the Blues’ saviour scoring a vital 80, while Lionel Sexton contributed 34.
The visitors appeared well placed at the tea interval when they advanced to 3/108, but the momentum of the game changed dramatically in the final session.
It was an inspired spell of bowling from pace bowler Doug Loudon that gave the Panthers the opportunity to pounce on a chance of victory.
Loudon returned the superb figures of 8/39 from 22 overs and was well supported in the field with wicketkeeper Peter O’Brien gloving three catches.
Catani fought back initially in the final 16 overs of play when Devon Meadows stuttered to 2/16, but steady batting from Bill Loudon and Mick Floyd enabled it to advance to 41 without further loss of wickets before stumps were drawn.
Catani will be looking for its key bowlers to turn the game around early this week to keep alive its finals’ chances.
A pleasing team batting performance from dual premiers Beaconsfield has reminded opponents that the Tigers’ could still be a 200607 finals’ force.
Determined halfcenturies from Brad Miles and Don Kerslake provided the start the Tigers’ needed, but the highlight of the day was the excellent innings of 67 from debut player Andrew Jones.
Ryan O’Connor and Peter Sofra both scored 20s, and overall it was a convincing batting performance from the host side.
Sam Clarke was the leading wicket taker for Tooradin, claiming 4/68 from 12 overs, James Haupt and Greg Bethune both collected two wickets and Brenton Adams bowled tightly, only conceding 49 runs in his 19 overs.
The Seagulls face a formidable task this week to overtake Beaconsfield and the anticipated close finish could deliver a finals’ place to the victor.
Kooweerup again showed its liking for its home oval by amassing the formidable total of 402 against Pakenham.
Eleven fours and two sixes were included in Chris O’Hara’s fine innings of 134 his second century since the Christmas break.
Captain Matt Davey blasted nine fours and four sixes in his a robust score of 118 notout and Steve Johnson and Ben Miller also contributed to the avalanche of runs with their scores of 35 and 33 respectively.
Pakenham’s opening attack of Dale McCraw and Dale Haggar toiled hard to return the respective figures of 3/84 and 3/86 from their 19 over spells and Brett Harrop made a welcome return to the Lions’ den by collecting two catches behind the stumps.
Kooweerup, the Bgrade premiers from last season, now appear likely to be part of the March Agrade action in 200607, which is a gratifying performance for this exciting team from the swamp.
A welldeserved century from consistent PUT opener Justin Harris, combined with valuable backup scores from other determined teammates, has probably maintained the Yabbies’ grip on an Agrade slot for next season.
Against the season’s likely minor premiers, PUT produced its best batting performance for many weeks when it compiled a formidable 376 against the Cardinia attack.
Harris scored a commendable 129, wicketkeeperbatsman Luke Willis contributed 76, Chris Smith added a stylish 61 and Zac Clough an undefeated 42.
The Bulls have been trampling opposing teams recently, but there were leaner pickings for the top team on Saturday.
Spinner Dwayne Doig toiled manfully to take 6/120 from 33 overs, but the Bulls dropped at least five catches in the field.
Clyde performed reasonably well to total 188 at Officer, but its chances of posting a matchwinning total evaporated after it lost its final seven wickets for 43 runs.
Patient hands of 38 and 28 from openers Callum O’Hare and Dan Waite provided a promising start for the Cougars and when its batting star Jarrod Leontini caressed seven boundaries in his elegant innings of 62, Clyde appeared to be competitive.
The last session batting collapse however decisively turned the game towards the host team that advanced to 21 without loss in the final 12 overs of play.
Allrounder Sean Marchetti was the Bullants’ leading wickettaker with figures of 4/59 from 13 overs, while opener Andrew Tucker captured 2/28 from 15 overs.
Merinda Park’s unpredictable batting star Brett Whittingham shrugged off some recent indifferent batting form to score a timely 131 against Emerald.
Lateorder batsman Scott Kunziak and allrounder Clayton Riddle added 34 and 28 respectively, but the day’s batting honours belonged to Whittingham who was largely instrumental in the host team totalling an imposing 291.
Andrew Ferrier, who captured 5/71 from 18 overs, led the Bombers’ squadron of eight bowlers well, while veteran Rod Smith collected 3/89 from 19.1 overs.
The Cobras’ strike bowler Jess Mathers removed Emerald opener David Alenson for a duck in the final 12 overs of the day and the visitors start the action this week on the shaky score of 1/22.