By Ian Ferguson
UPPER Beaconsfield’s Luke Pitcher cut a swathe through the Merinda Park Bgrade team when he captured the superb figures of 9/36 from 17.4 overs.
The Cobras were bundled out for a meagre 78 with Dgrade captain Andy Sydall top scoring with a gritty 21.
However none of the host batsmen could cope with the Maroons’ opening bowler.
David Taylor and fellow opener Daniel Brennan then continued the Maroons dominance with a blistering undefeated partnership of 105 in the final 13 overs of play.
Taylor reached 53 not out, while Brennan is undefeated on 45 and this week the Maroons are likely to press strongly for outright points.
Rain caused 8.2 overs of play to be lost at the Bass ground where Nyora reached the competitive total of 7/193.
It was a satisfying team batting performance by the visitors with captain coach Mark Pearse top scoring with 40, while Nick Fairbank and Nathan Smith contributed 39 and 26 not out respectively.
KilcundaBass opening bowler Paul Cornelius performed well to capture 5/74 from 24 overs. A close result is expected in this game this week.
Fifteen overs of play were also lost at Cardinia where the host team reached the tally of 6/172 against the top Bgrade team, Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll.
Brad Remy blasted a robust 32, Stuart Williams scored the same total and Ben Da Rose reached 30 before he was brilliantly caught at point by Van Strijp.
This was a strong performance by the Goon in the field as they were missing key bowlers in Brendan McGrath and Adam Cooper.
Tiger cub Peter Sofra scored an impressive 50, while fellow junior Troy McDermott and allrounder Travis Turnbull both contributed useful 20s, when Beaconsfield reached 7//176 against Emerald.
M. Borkowski was the pick of the Bombers’ squadron of bowlers with his figures of 3/31 from 12 overs.
Tooradin compiled 183 against Cranbourne Meadows before rain ended play at 5pm.
Ben Mantel struck eight boundaries when he scored an enterprising 58 while Dene North contributed 49.
Rebels’ spinner B. WarrenSmith was the leading bowler for the day, snaring 3/6 from his short spell of four overs.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:C GRADE
Lang Lang’s R. Douglas placed the ladder leaders in a formidable position after he scored an excellent 103 at Gembrook on Saturday.
The inform Swamp Tiger guided his team to an imposing 7/203 against the Brookers, who were well served by T. Kendall (4/24 from eight overs).
Dave Selby scored an excellent 81 and Gary Sewell a valuable 37 when Pakenham scored 199 against Clyde.
Cougar bowler Darren Johnston collected 5/41 from 19 overs and the visiting team reached 24 without loss in the final 12 overs of play.
Officer reached 166 against Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll before being dismissed in the 68th over of the day.
Peter Tucker scored 42 not out for the Bullants, while Steve Pimm and Shaun McGrath both collected two wickets for the Goon.
Beaconsfield scored an imposing 268 against Catani. Mick McMahon (64), Jamie Ingham (40) and Brendan Ewert (39) all scored valuable runs for the Tigers, while the Blues’ Mark Evans produced an excellent bowling performance, taking 7/116 from 24 overs.
The Lyndhurst Vikings reached 4/109 against Kooweerup before rain ended play after the tea interval.
At that stage Chris Hasselberger was 42 notout, while John Bright had captured 2/23 from his nine overs.
The match between Upper Beaconsfield and Devon Meadows was abandoned without a ball being bowled and this game now becomes a oneday fixture this week.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:D GRADE
Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll amassed the huge total of 307 against Tooradin. Chase Saunders (68), skipper Jason Campbell (61) and Michael Payroli (39) all notched significant scores for the Goon, while Gareth Andrews (3/59 from 13 overs) was the best of the Seagulls’ flock of bowlers.
Nyora is well placed against Cardinia.
The visiting Bulls were dismissed for 171, with M. Hobson scoring 54 not out and D. Mitchell 33 while Nyora was 2/78 in reply.
Billy Hayes and R. McIntosh both collected three wickets for the home side and Peter Jensen was 28 not out when stumps were drawn.
Beaconsfield batted well to reach 7/236 against Cranbourne Meadows. Tristen Kerr and John Scales were both unconquered when they scored 57 and 39 respectively, while Tom Carlyle contributed 30.
The Rebel bowling attack was well lead by C. Sullivan who captured 4/78 from 22 overs.
Clyde forfeited its Dgrade game against Pakenham.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:E GRADE
Cardinia continued its impressive form scoring 244 against PUT.
Run machine Jeff Bailey smashed 74, while M. Ryan and Matt Masin scored 69 and 32 respectively. Yabbie veteran Ron Milnes snared 5/54 in a strong bowling performance.
Beaconsfield batsmen also defied the elements scoring 6/245 against Devon Meadows. Greg Tomamichel scored an excellent 102 and Wayne Holden contributed 74 for the dominant Tigers.
Gembrook should prevail at Lang Lang.
The host team only managed to total 107 and the Brookers are currently 0/54 in reply. D. Fry will resume on 38 notout while Tony Riley top scored for Lang Lang with 29.
Only 52 overs of play were possible in the match between Merinda Park and the Lyndhurst Vikings and in that time the Vikings totalled a free scoring 9/253.
J. Dight (80), D. Higgins (41 not out) and C. Perkins (32) were the visitors’ main run scorers, while the Cobras’ Paul Humphries captured 4/55 from 16 overs.
A penetrative spell of bowling from Rob Simpson enabled Tooradin to dismiss Officer for the lowly score of 129.
Simpson captured 4/31 from 21.1 overs and the Bullants’ top score of 26 was recorded by Wayne Danks.
Tooradin then advanced to 1/58 by stumps with Adam Richmond scoring an undefeated 32.
Fgrade resumes its competition this Saturday.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:JUNIOR GRADES
Tooradin under17 player Sean Wilson captured his first hattrick when he claimed 4/17 from seven overs against KilcundaBass. Two of his victims were caught behind, while the other two were bowled.
Many batsmen shone at this grade level.
Chris Gunton (PUT), Chris Smith (PUT) Peter Sofra (Beacy Bandits) and M. Cooper (Officer) all compiled 40s, Gus Patti and B.Hollick both scored unconquered 60s for Beaconsfield and Lang Lang’s Aaron Creasey, Beaconsfield’s Peter Sofra and Kooweerup’s John Bright all recorded undefeated halfcenturies.
The leading allrounder in under15 ranks was Cardinia’s T. Welsh who scored 30 notout and currently has the figures of 2/2 from two overs against Lang Lang.
W. Evans from Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll, who captured the superb figures of 3/0 from five overs and Hayden Mitchell (Beacy Saints), who snared 4/7 from six overs, were the leading under15 bowlers, while Beaconsfield’s Brent Andrews, who scored an undefeated 53, was the top scorer in this grade.
Matt Tripp (PUT Gold), Nick Thompson (Devon Meadows) and John Avard (Clyde) all scored 30s in under15 games.
The Devon Meadows under13 team recorded its first oneday win against Clyde.
Daniel Horvat, who captured 3/2 from three overs, was the Panther’s star performer.
Scott McQuilton from Upper Beaconsfield (3/3 off three overs), was another under13 bowler to excel.
L. Bardwell (PUT), J. Davis (Pakenham) and Nick Bruneau all scored 20s to be the leading under13 runmakers.
