By Jarrod Potter
PAKENHAM B grade’s young willow wielders, Luke Jackson and Zachary Chaplin, lead the highlights this week in the other grades of the WGCA, with Braydon McHugh, Peter Scicluna and Michael Cloney all claiming six wickets each in their respective grades.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:B GRADE
Pakenham (3/341cc) smashed around the Kooweerup bowlers at Toomuc Reserve Two, with the Demons unable to find answers to stop Luke Jackson (112 not out) and Zachary Chaplin (98 not out). The pair added 213 runs for the fourth wicket after the good work of Richard North (62) and Steve Dillon (32) set a good foundation. Paul Bright (1/110) registered the bowler’s ton after toiling through 22 overs.
Officer (2/21) bowler Braydon McHugh (6/41) tore through the Devon Meadows (143) lineup and claimed his career best figures in the process. From 2/6, Devon Meadows fought back through Nick Thompson (36) and D.Cooper (31 not out) to scramble to 143 all out. The response from Officer wasn’t promising as Chris Floyd (2/4) dismissed both openers.
Matt Donaldson stabilised the innings for Merinda Park (174) to set up a coin-flip prospect against Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (1/16). The Cobras didn’t make the most of their opportunities, with eight batsmen going into double figures but only Donaldson got past 25. Coming in at 3/49, Donaldson held firm as wickets fell around him, eventually succumbing after a well made 44 at 8/137. Some wag from the tail pushed the Cobras to 174. John Miller (3/36), Justin Temby (3/54) and Ben Clough (2/8) were the multiple wicket takers. PUT will resume at 1/16, losing Temby late in the day for a duck.
Beaconsfield (259) number three Don Kerslake (61) set up a massive chase for Emerald. The top order for the Tigers roared into life, with Andrew Jones (34) and Ray Cook (28) helping set up the lower order slogging from Rhys Miller (37). Rod Smith (3/39) was the best of the Emerald bowlers.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:C GRADE
Tooradin (126) will need early morning miracles next week to stop Clyde (3/75) after being bowled out cheaply. Dean Williams (4/42) and Nick Sadler (3/14) were the chief destroyers as the Seagulls were unable to stay at the crease for prolonged periods. All Jarred Thompson (46 not out) needed was someone to stay in the middle as the order collapsed around him. Thompson came in at 2/17 and stayed the entire journey, eventually getting some help from Ben Lackmann (27) as the pair made 51 for the ninth wicket to give some respectability to the scoresheet. In response, Williams (33) top scored as Clyde inched towards first innings points.
Lyndhurst Vikings (250) laid down the gauntlet to Beaconsfield as Paul Gray (92) and Ammar Bajwa (52) set up the imposing total. Lyndhurst was quickly brought to three down before Gray and Bajwa stabilised the innings to build the core of the score. Stephen Marshall (31) and Garry Godfrey (29) kept the runs ticking once Gray and Bajwa were dismissed. Ross Mitchell (4/35) and Angus Bunnell (3/70) were the best of the Tigers’ bowlers.
Cardinia (5/181) set up first innings points against Cranbourne Meadows (9/113 all out). Jason Viney (4/24) and Nathaniel Wade (2/18) did the heavy lifting with the ball as Cranbourne Meadows struggled to stay at the crease. Harvinder Gakhal (23) top scored for the Rebels. In response, Evan Webster (61 not out) and Josh Brown (41) smashed about the Rebels at 6.96 runs per over to get Cardinia into a winning position early. The only question left is how long Cardinia decide to bat for this week, having stitched up the match already
Pakenham Upper-Toomuc won on Catani forfeit.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:D GRADE
It was all downhill for St Francis Xavier (145) against Emerald (2/42) after being well poised early on. Josh Collins (68) and Will Bodsworth (23) guided SFX to 1/101 before the rot began. Both were dismissed on 101 and the rest of the order fell accordingly. Paul Bourke (19) steered what was left of the batting order, but when he departed at 7/134, the X-Men were left to lick their wounds. All told, they lost 9/44 at the behest of Keiran Burns (4/46) and Jake Rosen (3/28). In response, Emerald lost two quick wickets to Dominic Ciconte (2/9) to finish the day at 2/42.
The battle of the Beaconsfields swung towards the flatlanders as Beaconsfield (1/12) skittled the hillsiders Upper Beaconsfield (112). At 6/59, the Maroons were in serious dismay before some runs finally came with Paul Taylor (32 not out) and Richard Edwards (21) creating something to defend. M.McBride (4/24) was the pick of the Tigers’ bowling troupe. Beaconsfield was one-down in reply.
Merinda Park (275) set a massive chase for Lang Lang (1/35) on the back of Mark Dipilla’s 70. Dipilla opened for the Cobras and struck the Swamp Tigers about before being dismissed at 4/157. The impetus of scoring shifting to the Cobras’ middle order and while four batsmen went past 30, none kicked on any further. Jace Field (34 not out) was left at the end as Merinda Park piled on the runs. Richard Adderley (4/86) held his own with the ball against the onslaught. Lang Lang is 1/35 in response with Brian Christensen 25 not out.
Tyler Guan (61 not out), Geoff Ball (37) and Jack Salan (26 not out) guided Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (3/174dec) to what they must believe is a first-innings winning lead over Nyora (2/20). Nyora lost Simon Vella and Dylan Ford in their 17 over innings.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:E GRADE
Kooweerup (0/15) bowler Peter Scicluna (6/25) was the scourge of Beaconsfield (108) as he tore through the Tigers lineup. Scicluna ripped out six batsmen, including top-scorer Brian Monaghan (45), who held on as long as he could before eventually falling to the man of the moment. Ryan Wilby (2/21) was the other multiple wicket taker for the Demons. In response, Kooweerup dug in for the long haul, getting to 0/15 off 19 overs.
Everyone got a start for Pakenham (3/245dec) as they put the sword to Officer (1/16). Harley Hulme (73 not out) and Matt McCormick (47 not out) were the leading aggregators for the Lions as Officer couldn’t find ways to dismiss them. Jarryd Cock (2/29) was the best of the Bullants’ bowlers.
Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (184) made an imposing score for Clyde (0/1) to chase. Mark Pearse (46) and Jake Able (36) led the way for the Yabbies after Cougars’ bowler Jack Hazendonk (3/35) took the wickets of both openers. Clyde eventually dismissed PUT for 184 and survived the remaining two overs of the day.
Brendan Jones (53 not out) and Brett Murray (51) steered Tooradin (228) to an impressive score after some early hiccups against Emerald (1/14). Murray watched the top order collapse to 4/27 before he found Greg Bethune (31) and put on 91 for the fifth wicket. Another collapse triggered before Jones and Peter O’Hare (33) salvaged the innings with 54 runs together for the ninth wicket. Opening ball pair Ryan Appleby (3/25) and Paul White (3/50) snared crucial wickets. Emerald conceded 40 extras, including 25 byes, in a sloppy effort from bowlers and fielders alike.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:F GRADE
Rick Marshall’s (60) half century helped steer Officer (173) out of trouble against Gembrook (0/8). Marshall took the initiative away from Gembrook as the home side threatened to take the game away from them at 3/66. Dean Allcott (3/37), Alan Cook (2/20) and Roger Armstrong (2/38) were the best of the bowlers for Gembrook.
Clyde felt the full force of Merinda Park (9/287cc). Paul Humphrey (68) and David Field (60) piled on the runs against the Cougars’ attack. Michael Cloney held up an end to claim 6/47.
Devon Meadows defeated Beaconsfield on forfeit, as did Pakenham over Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll.
