ONE of the most amazing individual performances ever seen in a WGCA match occurred at Emerald on Saturday, with the Bombers’ Rod Smith claiming eight wickets for eight runs and scoring 70 runs as the home side completely dominated Clyde.
Smith was majestic for the Bombers, with his 6.3 overs completely bamboozling the Cougars, who were dismissed for 123 from 34 overs after earlier looking strong at 3/104.
In reply, Smith then blasted ten boundaries and a six on his way to 70, being well supported by fellow opening batsman Geordie Scott who scored an undefeated 50 runs as Emerald reached 1/130 from its 20 overs.
Kooweerup scored a tight victory over Upper Beaconsfield by 15 runs, with the Demons scoring 5/153 before the Maroons were dismissed for 138 in reply.
Michael Glasscock was the match-winner for the Demons, scoring 38 runs and taking 4/13 from just three overs, while young Upper Beaconsfield batsman Taylor Joyce hit two boundaries and a six on his way to 31 runs.
Cardinia’s 174 proved to be too strong for Merinda Park, with the Cobras only managing 157 in reply after Chris Remy took five wickets for the Bombers.
Earlier, Brad Remy hit a strong 71 runs for the Bulls to help set up the imposing total, while Tim Peebles bowled well for the Cobras to take 4/16 from his eight overs.
Only one Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (PUT) batsman managed to reach double figures as the Yabbies were knocked over for just 55 from 30 overs against Beaconsfield, before the Tigers scored 4/114 in reply.
Geoff Bliss was the chief-destroyer for the Tigers, taking 4/7 from eight overs, while with the bat Paul Hoenderdaal top scored with a well-made 35 for Beaconsfield.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:C GRADE
PUT was too strong for Beaconsfield, with the Tigers being dismissed for just 85, before the Yabbies reached 8/104 in reply from their 40 overs.
Stuart Davis was the pick of the bowlers for the Yabbies, taking 2/9 from 3.1 overs, while David Merrigan scored 25 not-out for PUT after his side had been in real trouble at 7/47.
Tooradin produced a solid team performance to gain victory over Catani, dismissing the Blues for 110 in reply to the Seagulls’ total of 8/137 from 40 overs.
Greg Bethune, Darren Mantel and Peter O’Hare all claimed three wickets for the Seagulls in a strong performance.
Devon Meadows recovered from an horrific start with the bat to post the match-winning total of 8/146 after earlier being 3/1, with its opponent Officer only managing 81 in reply.
Chris Benedek’s innings of 54 helped set up victory for the Panthers, while a terrific spell from Michael Aughtie (4/5 from 5.5 overs) ensured the Bullants’ total didn’t reach triple figures.
Pakenham scored a comfortable victory over Emerald after the Bombers were dismissed for 9/136, before the Lions reached 5/140 in reply.
Derek Scott scored a fine half-century for the Bombers, while Andrew Millar hit two boundaries and two sixes on his way to 53 runs for the Lions.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:D GRADE
Ash Peters struck 75 runs for Lyndhurst as the Vikings proved to be too strong for Pakenham, with the Lions managing just 8/144 in reply to the visitors’ 5/202.
Pakenham skipper Matt McCormick did his part for the Lions by scoring 60 runs, while Vikings’ opening bowler James Gilbert took three wickets for the victors.
Ricky Campbell smashed nine boundaries and four sixes in his innings of 80 for Cardinia as the Bulls easily overcame Kooweerup, reaching 5/128 from just 19.4 overs in reply to the Demons’ 8/123.
Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll’s first-innings total of 123 was too strong for Kilcunda-Bass, with the Sharks being dismissed for just 73 on the back of six wickets from Jacob Sweeney, who took the figures of 6/27 from eight overs.
Merinda Park easily overcame Nyora at Nyora Recreation Reserve after the Maroons were dismissed for just 68 with Dhamira Fernando’s match-winning six-wicket spell being the highlight for the Cobras.
Merinda Park opening batsman Craig Robertson then scored an undefeated 40 runs as the Cobras reached 1/83 from 17 overs.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:E GRADE
A great innings of 67 from Tooradin opening batsman Ross Simpson saw the Seagulls to victory over Officer, with Tooradin’s total of 164 proving to be too strong as the Bullants were held to 8/123 in reply.
Only one Emerald batsman managed to reach double figures as the Bombers were dismissed for just 69 against Clyde, before the Cougars reached 7/72 from 22 overs in reply.
James Harmes was the pick of the bowlers for the Cougars, taking 4/7 from six overs.
PUT’s total of 5/130 from 40 overs was enough for it to gain victory over neighbours Pakenham, with the Lions dismissed for 109 from 31.1 overs in reply.
Yabbies skipper Craig Spicer was the best of the batsmen in the match, scoring 31 runs.
There were no scores available from the Merinda Park v Cranbourne Meadows match at the time of writing this report.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:F GRADE
A close encounter was seen in the match between Lyndhurst and Devon Meadows, with the Vikings’ total of 7/194 not being quite enough to hold out the Panthers, who reached 6/201 in reply from 40 overs.
Ashley Clements scored a fine 66 runs in the Vikings’ innings, while for the Panthers, Jason Brzezowski’s innings of 63 helped set up their victory.
Beaconsfield held on to record a one-wicket victory in its match against PUT, reaching the total of 9/103 from its 40 overs after the Yabbies had earlier scored 101.
PUT’s Mitchell Abel was the pick of the bowlers in the match, taking 5/23 after earlier scoring 36 with the bat.
Upper Beaconsfield scored a strong victory over Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll, with the Maroons’ total of 7/189 proving to be too strong with the Marygoons reaching 6/158 in reply.
Maroons’ skipper Andrew Haythorpe was the key for his side, scoring 45 not-out and claiming three wickets.
Four wickets and 27 runs from Aaron Matthews saw Gembrook to victory against Lang Lang, with the Swamp Tigers’ score of 157 not being enough for victory as Gembrook compiled 5/168 in reply from 35 overs.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:G GRADE
Adam Brownlie and Tim Owens each scored half-centuries as PUT defeated Clyde, while Cardinia was dismissed for just 36 in its loss against Kooweerup, with the Demons reaching 9/61 in reply, despite five wickets from John Grogan for the Bulls.
Devon Meadows proved to be too strong for Upper Beaconsfield, with Alan and Brenton Tibballs taking five and three wickets respectively, while 49 runs from Scott Van Weel saw Nyora to victory over Cranbourne Meadows.
Half-centuries from Phillip Cooper and Glen Connell helped Kilcunda-Bass to victory over Beaconsfield, while Lyndhurst won its match against Officer after a forfeit from the Bullants.
James Litterbach and Glenn Tucker scored half-centuries in Emerald’s victory over Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll, while three wickets from Caleb Boswell saw Merinda Park to victory over SFX.
