Hussey ton seals Seagulls’ win

By David Nagel
A CHANCELESS home ground century by Tooradin’s Tom Hussey against Officer was the highlight act in Saturday’s round two one-day action of WGCA Premier Division cricket.
In other games, a rampant Ben Maroney (88) helped Pakenham chase down Upper Beaconsfield’s 123; Cardinia strangled the life out of Beaconsfield’s batting before cruising home and Kooweerup looked shaky before finally getting over the top of Pakenham Upper Toomuc (PUT).
Batting first, Hussey’s 101 guided Tooradin to a position of strength at 5/235cc, but his team needed every bit of that score as a rejuvenated Officer almost stole the points. Hussey received solid support from Callum O’Hare (41) and Jay Wilson (34) against an Officer attack that couldn’t capitalise on an early breakthrough.
The Officer run chase started disastrously, with James Waldron making his second duck in two games, but there was light at the end of the tunnel when Tooradin pace-ace Lukas Hoogenboom went down with a side strain injury. Hoogenboom felt a twinge at Thursday night’s training session and his worst fears came true in only his second over.
Brett Reid (89), Peter Quinn (61), and Ollie Brown (52), enjoyed Hoogey’s absence and had Officer poised for victory until two late run-outs when the pressure gauge was rising left the visitors just short of glory on 8/229. For the winners, Ben Martel (3/53) and Craig Dicks (2/36) toiled hard with a wet ball.
Pakenham had their first win in the top flight since last season’s promotion and it was all set up by frugal bowling performance against Upper Beaconsfield. Last year’s leading wicket taker, Russell Lehman (3/39) and Sri Lankan off-spinner Sugeesha Dinushan (2/15) did most of the damage, but a look through the Lions’ bowling figures suggest a team effort made the difference.
Shawn Flegler (39) and John Simpson (31) were the only batsmen to put a decent score on the board and 123 was never going to be a winning score.
Ben Maroney came out blazing for the Lions and his 88 was laced with 12 fours and three sixes. Russell Lehman (17) and Dinushan (10 not out) were the two lucky ones, with the best seat in the house as Pakenham won with nine wickets in hand and 14 and a bit overs to spare.
Beaconsfield’s title defence is turning ugly after Cardinia toyed with its grand final conqueror at Perc Allison Reserve. The Bulls were all charged up to make amends and it was their plethora of bowling options that had Beacy in trouble early. Captain Justin Stanton (26) was the only player to show resistance against a Cardinia attack led by Craig Boswell (3/10 off eight overs), Dwayne Doig (2/17), Neil Barfuss and Dean Henwood, who both returned figures of 2/18, Beaconsfield scoring just 96.
It was the old firm at the top of the order that steered the Bulls home, with skipper Mark Cooper (42) and John Nooy (34 not out) getting close to the finish line before Neil Barfuss cracked a couple to the boundary as the score finished on 1/97.
In the last game of round two, Kooweerup (8/179cc) got up in a tight one against Pakenham Upper (170). Batting first, Kooweerup’s regular run makers were at it again; Chris Bright (46), and Chris O’Hara (35) both getting good starts before Colin Moore chimed in with 22 not out to set PUT a tough chase.
Chris Smith (4/36) continued his solid form with the cherry while Luke Gunton (2/37) was an able assistant. Peter Richards kept things tight against the powerful Demons’ line up and his 1/20 off eight overs helped give PUT hope at the break.
Andrew Hilder (62) and the in-form Darren Warne (33) gave PUT the perfect start before a mid-order collapse saw the momentum swing again. Stephen Boltong (23) played well under pressure, but when Gunton was ninth wicket out with score on 152, things looked dire.
Youngsters Jack Ryan and Lucas Plozza held the Demons out well until Plozza was run out, still with eight balls remaining and nine runs short. O’Hara (3/44), Shane Dole (2/11) and Adam McMaster (2/23) were the pick of the bowlers.