PLAYING in the annual Brian Van Den Berghe memorial match, Cardinia took on Beaconsfield in a highly anticipated Agrade contest on Sunday.
The Bulls won the toss and elected to bat, much to the dismay of the Tigers who had to endure extreme heat as they toiled away with the ball.
The ascendancy fluctuated for the entire day.
Beaconsfield struck early to have the Bulls at 2/18, however a steadying partnership of 89 between John Nooy (47) and Troy DaRose had the Bulls heading back in the right direction.
Three quick wickets fell and DaRose was out for an exceptional 70 in the extreme heat.
The Bulls staggered to 7/187 and Brad Goodman (15) and Dwayne Doig added 20 more to the score.
Adam Hobson and Doig then put on 42 for the ninth wicket before Doig was out for stubborn 28.
Chris Remy and Hobson pushed the score past 250 before Remy was felled for 8, leaving Hobson, a developing allrounder, on 30 not out. The Bulls were dismissed for 251.
B GRADE
An immaculate century from Cardinia’s Justin Van der Zalm has put his side into a commanding position after day one action against Tooradin last weekend.
Van der Zalm played a superb innings in which he brought up his half century with a lofty six.
He was out for an even 100 and he was well supported by skipper Matt Adlam (65) and Daniel Strahan who contributed 35.
Brodie Glen put on an exhibition of batting, however his innings of 27 not out was cut short when the declaration came at 5/278.
Bowling a nasty sixover session at the Gulls, Ryan Kitchin snared a wicket and Tooradin finished at 1/15.
D GRADE
The Bulls have already claimed first innings points against Clyde after compiling 192 in their fist innings.
Matt Hobson (59) top scored for the Bulls, and new captain Darren Aurisch smashed 53. Peter Wilson again was among the runs, gathering 39.
The relentless Bulls then bowled the Cougars out for 92.
Wickets were shared among the bowlers, with Nat Wade, Ryan Webster and Matt Hobson each taking a wicket, while Matt Waixel (2/10) and Ricky Campbell (2/2) were the best of the bowlers.
There were also two sharp run outs, both of which made possible by the wicketkeeper.
E GRADE
The juggernaut continues to roll on as the seemingly unstoppably Cardinia Egrade side powered home to beat Officer on the first innings, playing at E. Gunton Reserve.
Cardinia bombarded an undermanned Officer with fast and accurate bowling. Chris Lemmon was the destroyer taking 3/8 – his first wickets at this ground.
Brad Snooks probed to take 2/21 and Bobby Baumgartner, Jeff Baily and Peter McEwan chimed in with one apiece.
In their pursuit, the Bulls were 6/121 with Lemmon not out on 28 and other contributions coming from Gary Quinlan (29), Craig Bell (20) and Baily (17).
UNDER 17
A sensational team effort saw the young Bulls make 8/170 against Merinda Park on Saturday.
Under 15 player Glen Easton showed his older peers how to handle the willow, hitting a brilliant halfcentury.
Dylan Mitchell (36) was against in the runs and Ricky Campbell (17) and Phil Strahan (12) both got starts.
This is a defendable total for the Bulls, as they look to upset the top team.
UNDER 15
Playing Devon Meadows at Rythdale, Cardinia was asked to bowl.
Travis Welsh bowled tightly to take 2/12 from six overs, and brother Bradey took 3/24 off five. Devlyn TraceyShaw, Pat Nolan, Keith Linford, Jason Fisher and Dean Gillot each took a wicket as the Bulls restricted the Panthers to 153.
