There was little wicketkeeper Jarrod Leontini could do but watch as Ben Tivendale got up onto his toes and played a copybook pull shot during Officer’s thumping win over Clyde on Saturday.By Ian Ferguson
ALL is set for a thrilling finals’ series as Catani surged into the four after edging out Devon Meadows by 23 runs and seizing the coveted position of fourth place on the ladder.
Neighbouring swamp team Kooweerup moved up to third spot after eclipsing Pakenham in a highscoring game, while Cardinia and Officer gained the advantage of homeground semifinals by finishing first and second respectively after comfortable wins.
In other games in the WGCA, Beaconsfield only gained sixth place on the points’ table, despite accounting for Tooradin in a highquality game, so the Tigers are unable to defend their dual premiership crown in 200607.
Tooradin and Devon Meadows, the other two teams with finals hopes before the final round, finished in fifth and seventh respectively, while Emerald is now forced into the Bgrade competition next season after losing at Merinda Park.
Catani made early inroads into Devon Meadows’ toporder batsmen before some useful middleorder partnerships revived the home teams’ chances.
Bill Loudon extended his starting score to 38, while key Panther batsmen Darren O’Brien and Travis Canavan both reached 30.
However the remaining Devon Meadows batsmen contributed little and the Panthers only managed to total 169.
Three members of the Blues’ attack clinched the vital victory, with Lionel Sexton taking 5/47 from 17.1 overs, Paul Govaars 2/40 from 18 overs and Luke McFarlane 2/30 from 15 overs.
Catani has peaked at the right end of the season and the Blues now have the selfbelief to perform well against the powerful Cardinia team in next weekend’s semifinal.
Beaconsfield gained a stirring 22run victory against Tooradin, but Catani’s win at Devon Meadows ended the Tigers’ finals’ chances.
The game developed into a tense arm wrestle in the Tigers’ lair as each side held sway at different stages throughout the day.
An impressive innings of 70 from teenage opener Sean Baker maintained the Seagulls’ on a victory path and when Brenton Adams chipped in with a timely innings of 91, it seemed as if Tooradin was destined to take part in the late March finals’ action.
However no other batsman reached the score of 20, so the gallant BakerAdams hands were largely wasted.
The Tiger attack was persistent all day with wickets being evenly shared between Jason Dodd (3/49 from 20.5 overs), Ryan O’Connor (3/56 off 17.2 overs) and Ray Cook (2/34 from seven overs).
This was a good fighting win by Beaconsfield and the young Tiger cubs will be a force to be reckoned with again in the near future.
The Lions of Pakenham have ended season 200607 with a defiant roar by totalling 290 at Kooweerup.
Captaincoach Rawan Weerawardena compiled an aggressive 85; the returning Brett Harrop chipped in with 50, while Alan Ruddell and Daryl Rooks both scored 30s.
The Demons’ main bowling weapon was young spinner Matthew Bright who snared the excellent figures of 7/47 from 15 overs, while reliable ’keeper Steve Johnson snapped up two stumpings and a catch.
Kooweerup won this game by a healthy margin of 130 runs.
However with the finals starting this week, the Demons appear to have problems with their bowling attack that conceded nearly 300 runs to the ninthplaced team on the ladder.
Pakenham UpperToomuc (PUT) appeared to have a victory score after amassing a formidable 8/376 last week, but the Cardinia Bulls trampled over that hurdle with consummate ease with four of the visiting batsmen especially enjoying a run orgy.
In Cardinia’s mammoth total of 8/446, Ben Da Rose made a timely return to form with his excellent innings of 125, Luke Turner’s explosive tally of 100 not out included nine thundering sixes, Steve Patterson added a pleasing 65 and Troy Da Rose scored 50.
Yabbie captain Darren Warne withstood the batting assault best by taking 2/113 from 28 overs, while feisty ’keeper Luke Willis accepted two stumpings.
Officer enjoyed a solid start to its innings and appeared to be coasting towards victory against Clyde when it reached 2/97.
However the introduction of club stalwart Ross Elston into the Cougar’s attack caused the Bullants to scatter after the leg spinner captured three wickets in his first five overs.
The premiership fancies then settled and went on to win handsomely by 155 runs after scoring an imposing 343.
In an impressive allround batting performance Shane White clouted three sixes in his rapid score of 62 notout, Ben Baxter and Brett Reid both notched halfcenturies, Peter Quinn contributed 41 and openers Chris Savage and Rod Zlonzak both scored 30s.
Elston completed a pleasing performance at the bowling crease by snaring 5/98 from 16 overs, while Steve Blundy accepted four catches in the field and Jarrod Leontini two.
Merinda Park ended its season on a high note after comfortably defeating Emerald by116 runs.
Consistent opener Mark Alenson top scored with 46, while Andrew Walker, Brodie Lucas and Rod Smith all contributed 20s.
However the remaining batsmen were disappointing and the Bombers capitulated after 3/90 and were all out for 175.
Cagey spinner Shannon Mathers (4/60 from 20.5 overs) and under17 player Anthony Burr (3/33 off 12 overs) took the bowling honours, while the Cobras’ young wicketkeeper John Atwell accepted five catches in a brilliant display of glovework.
