WGCA A grade

By Ian Ferguson
NAR Nar Goon-Maryknoll, Pakenham, Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (PUT) and Catani have all languished at the bottom of the competition this season, but the four cellar sides did well against better-performed opponents on Saturday.
In other A-grade games in the West Gippsland Cricket Association, Beaconsfield appeared to have the upper hand at Merinda Park’s Donnelly Reserve and Officer amassed a large total at Clyde.
Catani decisively overcame its bowling problems when it obliterated the Emerald Bombers for only 75 runs. The Blues’ attack of Luke McFarlane (5/24 from 14 overs), Owen Fitzpatrick (3/45 off 16.5 overs) and Ben Maroney (2/5 from three overs) dominated the day’s play. The visitors displayed encouraging batting form in round five, but only three players reached double figures after batting first against the inspired home team.
The resurgent Blues then gained first-innings points against their shell-shocked opponents, plundering 5/122 from the Bombers’ attack, before captain Maroney declared a halt to its first innings. Then, in the final five overs of the day, Catani continued its strong bid to gain coveted outright points when the dangerous McFarlane removed opener David Alenson for a duck. The Bombers were a perilous 1/17 when play ended and they will need to improve considerably to avert the stigma of outright defeat.
Luke McFarlane and Ben Maroney were Catani’s heroes of the day. McFarlane has already obtained the superb match figures of 6/31 from 17 overs, while Maroney top-scored with 29 after collecting two wickets in Emerald’s disappointing first innings.
A useful 61-run third-wicket partnership between Craig Lewis and Wade Crawford, aided by double-figure scores from five other batsmen, enabled Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll to post the competitive total of 232 against premiership contender Cardinia on Saturday.
Lewis, the Goon’s exciting youngster who recently appeared lost to local cricket because of his work commitments, scored a fine 60, while the experienced Crawford reached 42. Neil Rankin added a valuable 27 and overall this was a pleasing team batting performance from the A-grade newcomers.
Champion spinner Dwayne Doig led the Bulls’ attack, claiming an impressive 5/87 from 27 overs, John Nooy snared 2/26 from his six overs, while opening bowler Chris Remy only conceded 17 from 15 accurate overs. The Bulls are tipped to overhaul this testing total this week, but the Goon remained in contention following Saturday’s feisty batting performance.
Pakenham also showed marked improvement when it removed finals aspirant Tooradin for the moderate score of 202 at the Toomuc Reserve. The Seagulls soared to 2/94 in the first session, but excellent bowling from the Lions’ captain-coach Andrew Cooper brought the hosts back into the contest.
Cooper gained the fine figures of 5/67 from 30.5 overs, while young off-spinner Jason Williams snared 2/65 from his 24 overs. Tooradin top-order batsman Brenton Adams scored a valuable 67 in 50 overs at the crease, his skipper Trevor Johnston notched 39 and openers Michael Ash and David Freeman both scored 20s. The visitors’ key bowler Matt Finch will need another swag of wickets before the Seagulls can enjoy victory.
PUT also gained more self-respect after compiling the formidable total of 268 against the in-form Devon Meadows. Many batsmen performed well for the Yabbies. The talented Anthony Young scored an unbeaten 76, Darren Warne compiled a sound 51, keeper Luke Willis a defiant 49 and Jason Wingrove and Josh Bardwell both scored 22.
Opening bowlers Travis Canavan and Craig Boswell were the pick of the Panthers’ attack, Canavan capturing 4/71 from 22 overs while Boswell collected 3/59 from 21 overs. The visitors reached 0/2 in the final over of the day and will need a strong batting performance this week to overhaul PUT’s large total.
A fighting second-wicket partnership of 72 between Chris Shepherdson and Brett Whittingham provided Merinda Park with a golden opportunity to post a large total before a disastrous batting collapse altered the course of the match. The Cobras surrendered three key wickets when the score was locked on 77 and they then struggled to reach the modest total of 155.
Whittingham top-scored with 42, Shepherdson and the Cobras’ captain Gary Davidson both reached 32 and late-order batsman Darren Morrow added a useful 25. Morrow later gained a vital breakthrough in five overs at the end of the day when he removed Tiger opener Ray Cook and Beaconsfield will resume this week on 1/4.
Jason Dodd led the Tiger attack well, capturing 3/48 from 23 overs, while Matthew Meehan (2/35 from 13 overs), Rick Colling (2/20 off 13 overs) and Ray Cook (2/25 from 10 overs) were the other Beaconsfield wicket-takers.
Officer continued its impressive batting form, scoring a challenging 258 at the Clyde oval. Berwick recruit Sean Stanton scored an excellent 80, which included four robust sixes and five fours, Peter Quinn reached 36, while Chris Savage, Ben Tivendale and Daniel Savage added 20s.
The Cougars’ opening bowler Bryan Guthrie toiled hard to capture 4/54 from 17 overs, all rounder Steve Madin collected 3/35 from 17 overs, while trundler Simon Rogers snared 3/13 from four overs. The Cougars’ key batsmen need to plunder large scores from the Bullants’ bowlers this week to overhaul this more than useful total.