By David Nagel
A REMARKABLE season where bat has dominated ball continued on Saturday as two of West Gippsland’s elite went on a merry run chase on day one of round 13 in Premier Division Cricket.
Tooradin’s Tom Hussey (124) became the first man to crack the 600-run barrier this season but was upstaged later in the afternoon by the “Great Man” of cricket, Kooweerup’s Shane Dole (178 not out) as the gifted top order batsman helped the Demons to a monstrous score against Pakenham Upper-Toomuc.
Batsmen right through the competition have reached new heights this season and a quick comparison between the feats of this season and last prove that point conclusively.
Ten players have scored more than 400 runs in 2011/2012 compared to three for the whole of last season. Fifteen players have crashed through the 300 run barrier compared to eight in 2010/2011. There’s also been a big discrepancy in centuries with a Neil Barfuss double century being backed up by 14 tons this season while there were eight scores of 100 or more in the leagues previous chapter.
Dole’s brilliant knock was the second highest score this season and sent the Yabbies to the hot-pot for the second time in two weeks.
Kooweerup (5/384cc) skipper Travis Canavan won the toss and elected to bat against the visiting Yabbies and any thoughts of an even contest were squashed early by Chris O’Hara (81) and Michael Giles (43). With Yabbies danger-man Chris Smith unable to bowl through injury, the openers saw off the new ball and helped themselves to a 78-run stand before Giles surprise departure.
Dole came to the crease at number three and despite his high standing in the association has been largely sitting in the shadows of the Giles and O’Hara show for most of this season.
Saturday’s innings was a reminder of his own star billing and his importance to the Demon’s when the ratings period starts in March.
Dole planted the seeds for his masterpiece with a 130-run partnership with O’Hara, who backed up his 92 against Cardinia with another top knock, before blossoming into full bloom after the tea-break.
The Yabbies received some respite when last week’s heroin Chris Bright (4) and Canavan (0) went in quick succession but Paul Bright (44) then joined Dole for a late afternoon century stand that pushed the score beyond 350. John Bright (19 not out) rubbed salt into the Yabbie wound at the end with his cameo.
It hurts to even say this but the battered Yabbies attack has conceded 799-runs in its last two matches at a rate of 4.99 per over.
It’s copped more whacks than the class-clown lately. Skipper Darren Warne (3/73 off 24) was a clear top pick for his side against the Demons while Peter Richards (2/98) was expensive but claimed multiple wickets.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:OFFICER V TOORADIN
COUNTRY Week Coach Luke Sibley recently described Tooradin’s (5/262dec) Tom Hussey the best batsman in the competition and the Seagulls opener laid further claim to that title with a majestic 124 when his side visited Officer (2/31) on Saturday.
After being sent in to bat by Bullants skipper Ollie Brown the high-flying Seagulls got off to the perfect start with Brenton Adams (52) sharing a 180-run stand with Hussey, who dominated the partnership.
Hussey’s century was his second for the year, topped off by three half centuries and when he was the second man dismissed with the score on 186 it left his season total on a phenomenal 601-runs at an average a tick over 50.
Apart from Hussey’s brilliant knock the best thing to come out of the Seagulls’ innings was the return to form of Adams. The experienced top-order bat will be crucial in partnership with Hussey come finals time and tops off a perfect preparation for the in-form Gulls.
Callum O’Hare (36 not out) performed well as usual and Jay Wilson (24) topped off an innings that was declared by Aaron Avery in the 64th over. Brown (3/31 off 10) led his team well with Brett Reid (2/50 off 9.3) providing the main support.
The Seagulls declaration was obviously motivated by the sniff of outright points and O’Hare (1/13) and Ash Adams (1/2) have made early inroads.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:PAKENHAM V UPPER BEACONSFIELD
UPPER Beaconsfield (140) threw away a good start and quite possibly a finals berth on Saturday when its mid to lower order got tied down then meekly surrendered against Pakenham (2/48) at Toomuc Reserve.
After being sent in by stand-in skipper Ben Maroney (2/29 off 16) the Maroons were going along nicely at 3/108 but then lost an inexcusable 7/32 to show it’s probably not worthy of a finals spot this season.
Key batsmen Shawn Flegler (44) and Daniel Brennan (13) opened the innings and put on 44 before Russell Lehman (1/11 off 4) removed Brennan, but it was the Lions’ left-arm off-spinner Jesse Hayhow (4/38 off 23) who had the day’s biggest impact.
Maroney’s tactics of taking the pace off the ball worked a treat when Hayhow had the dangerous Flegler caught by Ben Miller to make the score 2/71.
From there it was all the Lions as Hayhow, Maroney and Sugeesha Dinushan (1/11 off 11.2) suffocated the Maroons with slow bowling.
Hayhow’s four wicket haul was his best of the season as the Lions rolled the Maroons in the 65th over.
All three slow bowlers were frugal with their economy.
The Lions need to win this game to lock down a finals berth and its reply started well with Maroney (23 not out) and Lehman (21) sharing a 43-run stand. Two late wickets from Xavier Gargan (2/4) has given the Maroons some momentum leading into day two and with the Lions propensity for very high or very low scores in recent times, the visitors will still give itself a chance.
Maroney’s wicket holds the key.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CARDINIA V BEACONSFIELD
CARDINIA (188) and Beaconsfield (171) completed their round 13 match on the weekend and it was the Bulls who came out on top despite an unimpressive batting display on Saturday.
Visiting skipper Justin Stanton won the toss and sent the home side to the crease but the move backfired early as Dwayne Doig (15) and Mark Cooper (31) set things up with a 50-run opening partnership. From that position of strength the Bulls usually power onwards and upwards but they lost 5/31 to look vulnerable at 5/81.
Troy Darose (48 not out) and Ricky Campbell (32) steadied the Cardy Bulls with a 51-run venture but that was nullified with three more quick wickets to leave the hosts 8/144. Dean Henwood (14) and Darose then put their heads down for a crucial 33-run stand that at least made the total competitive.
For the Tigers Jordy Andrews (4/54 off 18.2) continued to develop his all-round reputation and the experienced Jason Dodd (3/38 off 12) bowled well off a few steps. Beaconsfield then looked to survive a hostile eight-over spell but crashed to be 3/6 overnight. Danny Diwell with two wickets and Doig with one caused the damage.
Sunday’s play began in bleak and miserable conditions and that reflected the Tigers’ mood when Diwell (3/18 off 8) claimed a wicket off the third ball of the day to leave the visitors reeling at 4/6.
Brad Miles (62 not out) and Jordy Andrews (83) joined forces but play was halted after just seven overs due to rain. Upon resumption Andrews lifted the tempo and by the time the second band of rain had hit the ground the Tigers had the momentum with 45 runs coming off just eight overs.
With the ball wet the pair had little movement to worry about and put on 123 for the fifth wicket before Neil Barfuss (4/46 off 16) stepped in and changed the course of the match. Barfuss took four of the next five wickets to fall and finished off the job with a run-out.
Doig (2/55 off 16) toiled manfully in the wet conditions which restricted his usual influence but it was still enough to see the Bulls home by 17 runs.
