DARREN Cooper’s maiden A-grade half century helped steer Devon Meadows to a two-wicket victory over rivals Tooradin on Saturday.
Resuming at 1/0 in pursuit of the home side’s 197, Cooper and Dave Carson shared a 46-run stand ending when Carson was caught for 22.
Tony Scott (seven) and Travis Canavan (two) fell soon after, leaving Cooper and Jason Brzezowski to consolidate, taking the score to 4/103 at tea.
Their 76-run stand ended when Brzezowksi was bowled for 38, followed by Cooper soon after on 70.
When Bill Louden (two) and Chris Blake (three) fell, the game was delicately poised with the Panthers 8/173.
Darren O’Brien (19) and injured skipper Danny Diwell then patiently steered the visitors to victory, reaching their target in the 77th over.
Diwell (37 not out) and Luke Wishart (five not out) added 29 for the last stand, the Panthers finishing 9/229.
C GRADE
A Peter Zauner century steered the Panthers to a comprehensive victory over Kilcunda-Bass.
Chasing a moderate 128 for victory, Zauner and Luke Marrow made an explosive start to the chase, adding 45 runs before Marrow (30) skied a pull shot in the ninth over.
Steven Hosking joined Zauner and the pair made light work of the target, passing the visitor’s total in 27th over.
At tea, the home side had reached 1/149 with Zauner 95 not out.
Their 106 run stand ended shortly after when Hosking was caught for 20.
Finning First National player of the week Peter Zauner fell soon after for an excellent 110, leaving Ian Hopper to blast 48 (including eight boundaries) before skipper Lincoln Hepburn declared the innings closed at 5/222.
In search of an outright, Zauner (1/11) claimed the only wicket as Kilcunda-Bass reached 1/55.
E GRADE
The Panthers fell 38 runs short of its chase against Beaconsfield.
After Russell Delalande was caught on the third ball of the day, skipper Mick Cloutter and Kevin Salerno added 20 before Salerno fell for five.
Cloutter followed for 24, as did Brett Vance (eight) and Matt Pappas (one) to leave the Panthers 5/68 at tea.
When Hosking went for 22 soon after the resumption, the Panthers found themselves in dire trouble at 6/73.
James Howard (seven) and Bobby Burns set about resurrecting the innings, taking the score to 112 when Howard was run out.
Colin Churchill (two) and John Bowles (zero) followed soon after, before Burns and Shane Brewster (three not out) added 17 for the last wicket, Burns the last batsman to fall for an excellent 62.
F GRADE
David Simpson snared 4/11 and retired on 51 to steer the Panthers to an 82-run win over Nyora.
Simpson cut a swathe through the Maroons line up after sending the home side into bat.
Dale Loftus (2/2), Mark Fairbrother (2/3), John Casey (1/28) and Paul Ladiges (1/19) took wickets as all but one of the Nyora batsmen failed to reach double figures.
In reply, Simpson shared a 105-run second wicket stand with Ladiges (41) as the Panthers cruised to victory in the 23rd over.
Loftus (23 not out) and Trav Mohr (nine) also made runs.
UNDER 14
Mitch Kemp and Luke Howard starred as Devon Meadows White reached 7/230 against Devon Meadows Red.
White made an excellent start, Kemp and Howard both retiring, Chris Morrell being the first wicket to fall when he was bowled for 17 by Brandon Mackie (1/20), who claimed his first under-14 wicket.
Daniel Marascia (two) then played on off Luke Ostram (1/27), and when Jarryd Harley was run out without facing a ball, White was 3/114.
Hayden Endlund (10) and Ben Hussey (five) then consolidated, before an inspired spell of bowling by Callum McLean (2/10) removed the pair.
Jake Shannon (four) scored his first career runs before becoming Corey Mackie’s (1/23) first career victim. Kye Gillespie added an impressive 14 before Craig Bradley (1/25) was reintroduced to the attack to leave the White 7/165.
Retirees Kemp and Howard then returned, Kemp finishing 64 not-out and Howard 52 not-out after bringing up his milestone off the penultimate ball of the innings.
CLUB NOTES
Devon Meadows will host Eye Candy, four of Australia’s best up-and-coming stand-up comedians at Glover Reserve on Saturday, 26 November, starting at 8pm.
Tickets are $10 and available from Mick Floyd (0409 426 562) or at the door.
