Kyle Gibbs picked up 5/31 for Upper Beaconsfield as the side upset Clyde. The Maroons might have to do it again this week depending on the draw. 76762
By Jarrod Potter
WHILE the rain washed away a fairly inconsequential weekend of home and away matches, the real stuff starts in earnest this week with the Saturday-Sunday semi-finals.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:MERINDA PARK V DEVON MEADOWS
The big showdown between Merinda Park and Devon Meadows will finally decide the best of the pair, with the sides splitting their previous encounters 1-1.
Devon Meadows claimed the one-dayer on 4 December after a ruthless spell of bowling from Mick Floyd (7/31) before Merinda Park turned it around in the following round’s two-dayer. Glen Ward’s 103 not out and Andrew Newstead’s 4/18 defined the encounter and brought the points back to Donnelly Reserve.
Both have ruthless opening bowling pairs – Andrew Newstead and Jess Mathers for Merinda Park, Mick Floyd and Peter Zauner for Devon Meadows. The sides also share strong top orders and useful batting depth through to the tip of the tail.
Ward and Mathers and openers Matt Grayson and Chris Smith have belted the runs in for the Cobras while Steve Robinson, Darren O’Brien and openers Jason Holman and Alex Travaglia have done likewise for the Panthers.
Devon Meadows’ captain/coach Shane Filius said that despite the Panthers playing below their best for the last couple of months, the signs were there for an improvement at the crux of the season.
“We’ve got to be at 100 per cent with all elements of our game or they’ll towel it in,” Filius said. “Last time they blew us out of the water and got early wickets.
“We’ve worked on a few things and we’ll have Peter Zauner in, who makes a big difference.
“We haven’t played as well as we should, so hopefully it comes together in the semi final as there’s no second chance.”
Merinda Park captain Jamie Smith said the impetus was on their Cobras getting away to a good start, whether with bat or ball in hand, because their loss to Devon Meadows came through losing clumps of wickets against Floyd.
“Glen Ward and Chris Smith have been getting runs over the last few weeks and that’s probably the strength in the side and our bowling seems to be going ok,” Smith said.
The key for Jamie Smith rests with Merinda Park openers Chris Smith and Grayson holding out Zauner and Floyd and not giving up easy scalps for the Devon Meadows’ new-ball pair.
“The openers play a massive role for us…coming off 180 from last game they’re very confident, and they have to stop Zauner and Floyd from getting early wickets,” Smith said.
“The game that we lost on the turf was because of Floyd and Zauner, who ripped through us.
“I think if you let the opening bowlers get quick wickets, when they get on a roll they’re extremely hard to stop.
“If we bat 80 overs we’ll get a score that is defendable, especially on our ground as we love playing at home.”
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:NAR NAR GOON/MARYKNOLL V EMERALD
In a David versus Goliath encounter, Emerald is eyeing off the biggest upset of the year, while Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll has everything to lose after securing the only win of round 14 when it defeated St Francis Xavier before the rain set in.
Emerald has a couple of sneaky all-round weapons in Andrew Walker and Andrew Flint, but likewise every man in the Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll order knows his way around the bat and especially the ball.
Vinny Van Strijp, Sam Vanderzalm, Chris Lewis and Tom Keily have rattled off consistent wickets for the Marygoons and the explosive batting of Lewis, David MacDermid and captain Jamie Glen completes a daunting challenge for any opponent.
Emerald captain Nick Kearton said that despite the side’s bad track record against Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll this season, its form leading into finals placed it in good stead.
“We’ve played Nar Nar Goon twice and had a rough trot of it earlier on and didn’t fare much better the second time, so they’re going to be a pretty stiff opposition,” Kearton said.
“But we’ve got form on our side and while we didn’t bowl well last week, we’re on track and we’ll give this match a good shake.”
Kearton said they’d need Tom Baldock and AJ Walker to perform to stand a chance against the Marygoons’ rampant attack.
“I think the two big ones are Tom Baldock, who has taken quite a few wickets and AJ Walker, who has been a little bit out of touch with the bat but has been pretty good with the bat at training and will be pretty good for us,” he said.
Clint Marsh, who has had impeccable timing with bat and ball all year, has mistimed one crucial event – his wedding. Marsh has been on his honeymoon for the past two weeks and will miss the semi-final, but will be available if Emerald makes the big dance.
“We’ll miss him (Marsh), so hopefully we can get up and he’d be back for the final,” Kearton said.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:SUB-DISTRICT
With a decision still pending over the Tooradin versus Cardinia match from round 13, Lang Lang and Clyde could face Upper Beaconsfield, Tooradin or Cardinia.
With Tuesday’s meeting of the WGCA presidents unable to foster a decision, a secondary tribunal hearing will be held tonight (Wednesday night).
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:LANG LANG V POSITION FOUR
Lang Lang hit its straps at the right time of the season, getting half of the job done against ladder leaders Clyde before the rain intervened.
With a batting lineup that runs all the way to number 10, the Swamp Tigers have the means to make 300-plus scores or grind out hard fought 150s and 200s in pursuit of the points. They have 11 half-centuries to their name – the highest in the division – but no hundreds.
Lang Lang captain Rogan Fraser said the team was up and motoring at the right time of the year thanks to a long batting order and the stability of its bowling attack.
“It’s (last round’s 9/352cc against Clyde) probably the first time all year when everything has clicked,” Fraser said.
“It’s easier to think it might have been a week early, but I think it’s building toward things that are bigger and better.”
Fraser said the Lang Lang batting had been rock-solid and he could always rely on someone in the XI to guide the team when the chips were down.
“I think the thing that we’ve shown over the last few weeks is that we can score runs and as far as our batting goes, we’re not reliant on any one guy,” he said.
“We’ve got one of the longest batting orders in the league and having Bodie back is a real bonus as well.”
Fraser didn’t seem phased by not knowing who his opponent would be until tonight.
“When it comes to finals, you can focus on what your side can do rather than what your opponents are capable of,” he said. “I think on our day we’re capable of beating any of those sides.”
Lang Lang will face either Cardinia or Upper Beaconsfield pending the tribunal’s decision.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CLYDE V POSITION THREE
The ladder leader Clyde earned its spot through hard graft and contributions up and down the order. Adrian Buller’s 9/32 against Gembrook leads the league for best figures this season and with seven five-for efforts, Clyde is well-known for extracting the opposition time after time.
Buller, Dean Williams, Pat Lawson and Nick Miles form a brilliant bowling quartet and with eight half centuries posted by the batsmen, the line up can get the job done from any position.
The middle order of David Denton, Gavin Adams and Noel O’Brien has powered through this year with good success but with Clyde initiating a mostly floating order, you can’t ever predict where these blokes will line up.
Clyde could face Tooradin or Upper Beaconsfield pending the tribunal decision.
Clyde captain Noel O’Brien said the bowling had been pivotal to the Cougars’ success this season.
“Our bowling has been our best strength all year,” O’Brien said.
“Dean, Adrian, Patty Lawson and Nick Miles have all done well all year.
“I think our batting is pretty consistent, but if you look throughout the year, we haven’t had to bat a whole lot because the bowlers have done so well.
“Some guys have only had to bat two or three times for the year but I’ve got full faith in the boys to take care of that side of things.”
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:UPPER BEACONSFIELD V CLYDE/LANG LANG
With a young side peppering the opposition, Upper Beaconsfield is the surprise packet of Sub-District. Kyle Gibbs has torn through opposition attacks with the ball while Chris Haw and Paul Atkins have led from the front with the blade. They are a side of limitless potential, as seen when the Maroons rolled Clyde in round 12.
