Above: Clyde bowler Steve Madin receives the ball as he walks back to his bowling mark in Saturday’s 27-over spell. IT WAS a nailbiting round for three of Clyde’s senior teams and close finishes fell the Cougars’ way in two games.
A GRADE
It was going to take something extraordinary for Clyde to overcome Cardinia’s strong batting lineup as the Bulls resumed 2/80 with 50 runs wanted. Clyde was unable to get the early breakthrough needed and a 171-run stand including centuries by John Nooy and Troy DaRose put the game beyond doubt. It was a long hard toil in the field for Clyde and the Cougars bowled 133 overs over the two days and the Bulls finished 6/327.
Justin Leontini took two wickets late in the day to finish with 2/32 from his eight overs. Bryan Guthrie again bowled great line and length, ending with 2/44 from 24 overs including 10 maidens. Steve Madin took 1/57 from 27 overs while Callum O’Hare toiled hard without luck for 0/51 from 21 overs.
B GRADE
Clyde began chasing 87 runs to beat Merinda Park but still needed 56 with only five wickets in hand. Brodie Yapp was looking to continue from the first week but, when he fell for 21 and Daniel Waite followed next over for 10, the Cougars were unable to provide further resistance and the experienced Marty Donaldson cleaned up the tail with a brilliant 7/9 from 14.4 overs. Clyde just avoided the follow-on with only 44 and bowled again early in the day.
Nathan Lillee and Daven Johnston got Clyde a brilliant start, taking wickets in the first three overs. Four overs later Lillee took another plus a further a further two wickets in two overs, Johnston chipping in with another. The Cobras were in strife at 7/13 before Donaldson started big hitting. Lillee grabbed another wicket to finish with 6/18 from his 11 overs, while Peter O’Hare took the final two wickets and the Cougars were dismissed for 66. Johnston ended with 2/14 and O’Hare 2/17 in a great fightback.
Set 110 for reverse outright victory with an hour and a half to play, Derren Sullivan and O’Hare got Clyde a solid start before O’Hare was dismissed for 17. Captain Ian Knox came to the crease and started to lift the run rate and when he was dismissed for 18 Clyde needed 40 from six overs. With the chase on Clyde lost a few quick wickets and fell short by 13 runs, Sullivan playing an attacking innings of 38.
D GRADE
The game against PUT was in the balance, Clyde defending 170 but having two players missing through injury. Mick Bishop and Luke Moxey got early wickets, having the Yabbies 2/31. Nick Miles then broke a partnership that threatened to take the game away at 3/86. Alan Johnston took two quick wickets and Miles a second and the Yabbies were in trouble at 6/106. Moxey and Johnston bowled long spells as the game got close but both took vital wickets to snatch a victory in a tense game by just 14 runs.
Johnson took 3/53 from 24 overs, Miles 2/36 from his 15 overs, Moxey 2/53 from 21 overs and Bishop 1/10 in a great effort from the four bowlers. Clyde batted for 10 overs and reached 1/19 at stumps.
F GRADE
In a thrilling game at Emerald Clyde got across the line by just three runs in the final over after bowling first. Captain Ken Marshall took 2/20 from his six overs and Gavin McGuiness 2/13 from five. Marcus Bird, Bob Chalkley and Duane Derozario all chipped in with a wicket and they kept the score to 110. Derozario then got the Cougars off to a good start with 21 and his brother Ali continued, making the top score of 36 before Marshall hit the winning runs in the final over and finished 16 not out. Wayne MacNamara made a handy 13 late in the match in his return game to the club.
UNDER 16
Playing Lang Lang at home, Clyde batted first and struggled to make runs on a slow outfield. Opener Darcy Manks contributed 13 to a 69-run partnership with Nick Miles, who played a brilliant innings of 53 retired, and Shane McBride made 10 not out. Clyde, chasing quick runs at the end, lost a few wickets but ended the day 7/109.
UNDER 14
On a soggy ground Clyde batted and ended 6/117 after the allotted 40 overs. Joel Avard made 30 retired, Dylan Hadfield 18, Adam Ballard 18 not out and Nick Sadler 11 (opening the innings) Patrick Lawson made a patient 10.
UNDER 12
Playing Devon Meadows Red at home, the Cougars amassed 9/79. Top scorers for the day were Kane Avard (17 not out), James Harmes (5), Sam Adamson (4) and Leon Hanson (3).
