By Jarrod Potter
THE runs flowed freely in District and Sub-District in the WGCA, as four big centuries were made across the divisions. District Division had four men pass the triple figures with Devon Meadows’ Darren O’Brien, Merinda Park number 10 (not a printing error, their number 10 batsman) Adam Newstead, Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll pair David McDermid and Craig Lewis making the ton and one in Sub-District from Tooradin opener David Freeman.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:DEVON MEADOWS V ST FRANCIS XAVIER
Darren ‘Camel’ O’Brien cashed in for his second century of the season, belting 165 not out around Racecourse Reserve as Devon Meadows (7/346cc) piled on the runs against St Francis Xavier. The Panthers lost Alex Travaglia (21) and Lucas Carroll (11) early to the Shepherdsons, Chris (2/62) and Tim (2/94) and prospects weren’t looking positive at 2/43. Enter the Camel, who survived in the harsh haze of a scorching day to strike one of the stand-out innings in District Division this season. O’Brien and Robinson (42) added 87 for the third wicket before Robinson had his pegs rearranged by Leigh Otten (2/82). The Camel kept plugging away as he put on 60 with Bill Loudon (16) and 70 with Jason Holman (29). One last push from O’Brien and Mick Floyd (36 not out) steered Devon Meadows past 300 towards an imposing total. The eighth wicket partnership delivered 79 runs and to the relief of the St Francis bowling troupe, O’Brien ran out of overs as he finished unbeaten on 165, the highest score in District in 2011/12. Joy was sparse for St Francis, with Chris Shepherdson the best of the bowlers.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CATANI V MERINDA PARK
Lazerus strapped on the pads at numbers eight and ten for Merinda Park (388), as the Cobras fought back from 6/109 to leave Catani ruing their missed opportunity to bowl out the premiership contender cheaply.
Merinda Park began the innings with the top four all getting starts. Jess Mathers (35) and Daniel McCalman (25) made steady progress before the batting collapsed. From 2/84 to 6/109, the carnage was exacted on the Cobras’ middle order as they wobbled towards an unexpected early exit from the crease. After McCalman’s rearguard innings was brought to an end, not many would’ve predicted the Cobras to go beyond 300. But that they did with the tail wagging ferociously as Catani failed to put the final nails into the Merinda Park coffin.
The path back was charted by captain Jamie Smith (48) and Shannon Mathers (22) and two massive innings from tailenders Adam Newstead (108) and Uma Rattan (86). First on the path were Rattan and Smith, who added 80 for the seventh wicket, breaking the season record, to get the Cobras to a reasonable total. Next, Rattan and Shannon Mathers kept the run rate ticking along for a 41-run partnership. Finally, chaos was unleashed as Newstead and Rattan turned on the cannons. Newstead hit an astonishing 10 sixes and nine fours in his century and Rattan went two sixes and eight fours as the pair showed rank disregard for Catani’s bowlers. The fun ended with the pair making 127 for the ninth wicket in another season record-breaking innings for the Cobras. Catani’s bowlers all suffered, with David Spierings (4/39) the best of a beaten bunch.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:NAR NAR GOON/MARYKNOLL V LYNDHURST VIKINGS
The second wicket stand between David McDermid (105) and Craig Lewis (103 not out) guided Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (299) to a commanding position against Lyndhurst (0/26). The Marygoons put 42 on the board before Tom Kiely (20) was the first man to fall. From there, it was all Mcdermid and Lewis. The pair had a 133-run partnership which was finally broken just after Mcdermid made his maiden century for the Marygoons. Wickets fell quickly around Lewis, who was forced to weather the Vikings’ onslaught as batsmen at the other end came and went consistently. The middle order was scalped easily, with the Vanderzalms, Sam and Justin, Shane Lewis and Jamie Glen leaving the crease having only made five between them.
Some late order assistance from Leigh Tomkins (22) and Joey Sweeney (15) helped Lewis to his first century of the summer. Lewis was left last man standing when Vinny Van Strijp saw the bails fly. Heath Straughair (3/68) and Martin Davies (3/36) were the best bowlers for Lyndhurst. In response, Lyndhurst saw off nine overs with Straughair (15 not out) and Trevor McGeachin (7 not out) surviving as the Marygoons tried five bowlers to claim a late wicket on day one. Lyndhurst Vikings will resume on Saturday needing 224 for victory.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:NYORA V EMERALD
Nyora (97 and 3/22) lost 13 wickets in a day as Emerald (4/111dec) took the first innings victory and will attempt an outright win this weekend.
The Maroons were staring down at an embarrassing total when the Atlas-like Troy Ferguson failed to burden the entire Nyora batting load for a change, getting bowled for an uncustomary duck.
At three down early on, Nyora thankfully found a few able bodies with Paul Pattison (30) and Adam Tagliaferro (17) adding something to defend. Nyora was cleaned up the first time around for 97 off 40 overs. Andrew Walker (4/19) and Clint Marsh (3/25) exacted the most damage to the Maroons’ order.
The response from Emerald was incisive, brutish and quick as the Bombers set about hunting down the total quickly to force Nyora to bat again. Ryan Scott (51 not out) and Nick Kearton (33 not out) went the tonk and chased down the runs off 28 overs, setting the mark at 4/111dec off 28 overs.
Nyora went back in for the second time and was equally unflattering with the bat, slumping to 3/22 off nine overs. David Batrouney, Sam Dixon and Peter Dixon all returned to the shed for twice in a day as Pattison and Jake Hackett survived to face the Bombers’ attack again this weekend.
Marsh added two more wickets to his single-day haul of five and Andrew Alenson (1/5) claimed the other wicket. With St Francis staring down a massive chase against Devon Meadows, Emerald could leap over them to get them back above the fold in the finals race.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:SUB-DISTRICT
LANG LANG V CRANBOURNE MEADOWS
Despite the still notable void left by Bodie Brown’s injury, Lang Lang (5/56) bowled out Cranbourne Meadows (187) but will have to work hard with the willow to avoid a first innings defeat.
The Rebels fell in clumps as they went from 0/23 to 5/60. The Murdochs came and went with sub-20 scores as Rogan Fraser (6/69) went on a wicket-taking spree. The fightback came from Brett Richards (49) and Mat Smith (44) with the pair adding 79 for the seventh scalp.
Their dismissals spelled the end for Cranbourne Meadows, lurching to a halt at 187.
Fraser was impressive with his six wickets and Kurt Nestor (2/38) was the other multiple wicket taker as Lang Lang worked around Brown’s absence.
The response from Lang Lang was tepid as five men departed from the centre in only 22 overs. Ross Douglas fought hard for his 31, but soon joined the precession of wickets.
Jason Poole (2/21) and Lee Murdoch (2/16) skittled the Swamp Tigers’ top order as Lang Lang still requires 131 runs to take the points and stay in touch with Clyde at the top of the ladder.
CLYDE V UPPER BEACONSFIELD
Wickets tumbled when Clyde (5/40) dismissed Upper Beaconsfield (148) for an under-par score. Nick Miles (2/24) and Pat Lawson (1/35) opened the bowling for the Cougars and Miles claimed Lachlan Henstock’s wicket early. Craig Haw (39) and Luke Willis (22) steadied for a 55 run partnership before Willis became the first of Adrian Buller’s five victims.
Three wickets fell with Upper Beaconsfield locked on 75 and when Matt Scanlon left soon afterwards, the Maroons were 6/82 and in dire trouble. William Haines (23) and Kyle Gibbs (20 not out) added some respectability to the total before Upper Beaconsfield was all out at 148. Buller’s 5/35 was the match highlight. In reply, Clyde faltered with the top order succumbing to Gibbs (3/10). Brad Goodman (15 not out) watched the carnage unfold at the other end before Joel Avard (12 not out) halted the slide. Clyde remains 108 runs short of a first innings victory.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:TOORADIN V NAR NAR GOON/MARYKNOLL
In the battle for fourth place, Tooradin (6/278cc) claimed the upper hand against Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll through a well-made David Freeman century. Freeman saw opening partner Kane Latham (18) and Mat Walker (17) fall early in the piece to Michael Jennings (3/69) and Shane Somers (1/40) before Michael Ralph (48) came in to steady the innings for Tooradin.
The Freeman-Ralph partnership accumulated 133 runs before Freeman succumbed to Jennings after making a crucial 108. Ralph and Andrew Sparks (48) kept the run rate ticking along before the last flourishes were added by Steve Hamill (26 not out). Jennings was the best of the Marygoons’ bowlers with his three crucial scalps of Latham, Freeman and Sparks coming off 20 overs. The loser of this match could find themselves in relegation trouble with Cardinia on the verge of an outright victory against Gembrook.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CARDINIA V GEMBROOK
Gembrook (64 and 0/12) couldn’t carry on their resolute efforts from last round as they slumped under pressure from Cardinia (6/184dec) bowlers Caleb Boswell (4/28), Kallan Braid-Ball (2/14) and Ryan Little (2/2).
The onslaught was over quickly for the Brookers as Boswell ripped through their batting. The young Cardinian took four wickets in quick succession as Gembrook struggled to post anything defendable.
Put in chasing the meagre target, Cardinia walloped the Gembrook bowlers around E Gunton Oval. Ryan DeReus struck 75 before being trapped in front by John Shipp.
Shipp claimed two more wickets to take some of the wind from the Cardinia sails, but the damage was done and DeReus called Boswell (66 not out) and Brad Drews (12 not out) back in to have another go with the ball.
Gembrook navigated 12 overs before stumps without losing a wicket, but still 108 runs in arrears of making Cardinia bat again. An outright victory would push Cardinia potentially out of the relegation zone, depending on results from the Tooradin versus Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll match, so the young lads will want to skittle Gembrook early on Saturday.
