EVEN though the longawaited Agrade clash on turf at Cranbourne Racecourse was postponed, Clyde set a competitive total of 213 at home against Pakenham UpperToomuc on Saturday.
The game on turf was called off after heavy rain on Thursday made it unplayable.
The Cougars lost the toss and were sent in to bat by PUT.
Both Clyde openers were dismissed early and they were in trouble after the loss of a third wicket with the score on 40 in the 15th over.
Jarrod Leontini found some form and batted well with captaincoach Noel O’Brien as they rebuilt the innings. Leontini was dismissed for 26 and O’Brien’s wicket fell just before tea at 28.
Dave Denton celebrated his 21st birthday with a return to form and was joined by Mick McGuiness as they steadied the score with a 58run partnership.
McGuiness batted well for a handy 31, but wickets fell around Denton was the partnership was broken.
Denton top scored with a wellmade 46 and Clyde was 9/192. Bryan Guthrie 21 got some valuable lastwicket runs with Shane Webster to take Clyde’s total to a competitive 213 in the 76th over.
Clyde then had one over to bowl and unfortunately put down a vital catch that would have been an ideal start for next week.
C GRADE
Clyde’s home match against Devon Meadows was moved to Junction Village.
The Cougars won the toss and bowled, but five dropped catches allowed the Panther openers to get away to a flying start.
Ross Elston took the first wicket and then Daven Johnston (3/19) took his three wickets in two overs to get Clyde back into the game at 4/104.
Devon Meadows then steadily put on runs with handy partnerships while Bun O’Hare bowled tightly to take 3/47. A wicket in a tidy spell by Aaron Jones in his first game back was handy, but Clyde will be chasing a large total this week of 8/250.
D GRADE
Clyde’s away game against Nar Nar Goon was switched to Hillcrest and Clyde was sent in to bat first already a man down.
The Cougars again struggled early and were in trouble at 4/30.
Steve Houlihan again provided some backbone to the batting and was joined Mick Bain as they resurrected the innings with a 56run partnership.
Houlihan was dismissed for 34 that took 40 overs to compile and this triggered another collapse.
Bain stuck to the task and was the last wicket to fall also for 34 with Clyde all out for 107.
Clyde then bowled 11 overs and Ben Lackmann and Troy TharleAdams took a wicket apiece to have the game in the balance at 2/31.
UNDER 17
Clyde played at home against the Beaconsfield Bandits.
The Cougars struggled early before Nick Miles (16) and Patrick Harmes (11) built a fourthwicket partnership.
Clyde then lost a few quick wickets with Zac Clarke (11) and Adam Ballard (8 not out) providing some late runs.
Clyde was dismissed for 69 and then bowled eight overs without getting a breakthrough.
UNDER 15
Clyde won the toss and elected to bat against Pakenham UpperToomuc and got off to a solid start with Ben Riley departing after making seven.
Dylan Hadfield continued to make runs and ending up on 32 and Joel Avard contributed 30 retired. Others to bat well were Nick Sadler (21), Sharq Shaika (8 not out) and Marcus Miles (6 not out).
UNDER 13
Playing Cardinia at Cardinia the Cougars batted first and made 8/128.
Best of the batsman were Josh Brown (34 not out), Kane Avard (28 not out), Brayden Kennedy (11) and Chris Basset (10). Jonty McPherson made his highest score of 4.
