By Ian Ferguson
A MAGNIFICENT sevenwicket bowling performance from Kooweerup captain Matt Davey placed his team in a strong position against dual premiers Beaconsfield in day one on Saturday.
In other Agrade games, Merinda Park, Pakenham and Catani are all well placed to record victories and Officer holds a slight advantage over Tooradin after gaining vital wickets late in the day.
The remaining senior fixture between Devon Meadows and Clyde will be played over next weekend on the turf wicket at the Cranbourne Racecourse.
Beaconsfield continued its worrying middleorder batting collapses against a resurgent Kooweerup team before finally registering a competitive total of 196.
At one stage, after a secondwicket partnership of 92 between Don Kerslake and Jack Benbow, a large total appeared certain before an inspired spell of bowling from Demon skipper Matt Davey tipped the scale towards the visiting team.
Davey, whose late inswinging deliveries troubled all the Tiger batsmen, finished with the outstanding figures of 7/43 from 15 overs and provided Kooweerup with a real chance of causing one of the season’s upsets.
A score of 50 from the consistent Kerslake, contributions of 40s from Benbow and skipper Luke Sibley and a fighting lastwicket partnership of 34 runs between Tiger cubs Madison Andrews and Gus Patti enabled Beaconsfield to finally finish with a worthwhile total.
However in the final ten overs of play, Kooweerup continued to demonise the host team when it advanced to a total of 31 without loss.
Last season’s Bgrade premiers are now in a strong position to overtake the reigning Agrade premiers that will greatly boost the Demons’ hopes of a 200607 senior finals’ berth.
Host team Tooradin fought back well, despite grassing five catches, to dismiss the top team Officer for 200.
The runaway ladder leaders appeared to be well in command when it cruised to 1/136, but the spirited Seagulls lifted both their fielding and bowling performances to cause a middle and lateorder batting collapse in the Bullants’ colony.
Impressive new opener Sean Marchetti top scored with 73 for Officer, while coach Colin Tucker contributed 51.
Consistent Seagull wickettaker Sam Clarke (4/29 from 11.2 overs) and off spinner Brenton Adams (3/46 from 17 overs) were Tooradin’s main wicket takers, but new speedster James Haupt was unlucky to return the figures of 2/52 from 16 overs as vital chances were missed from his bowling.
Excellent catches from Ben Tivendale and Andrew Tucker resulted in the Bullants swarming back into the game in the final 22 overs of play.
This week the Seagulls resume on a shaky 4/31, but prolific run scorer Trevor Johnston is still at the crease on 6 not out and Tooradin’s hopes now rest firmly on the shoulders of its brilliant captain.
Three weeks ago Merinda Park was in the depths of despair after suffering defeat in the opening three rounds, but a moraleboosting roundfour win against the reigning premiers Beaconsfield has produced new venom in the Cobras’ nest.
On Saturday the revitalised Cranbournebased team scored an imposing 340 against Pakenham UpperToomuc (PUT) thanks to another excellent innings from consistent opener John Atwell, as well as significant scores from Brett Whittingham and Grant Mills.
Eleven fours were included in Whittingham’s commanding innings of 91, while respective scores of 69 and 54 from Atwell and Mills enabled the Cobras to post the formidable tally of 340.
Persistent bowling from host captain Darren Warne (4/111 from 27 overs) and club veteran Matt Price (4/60 off 17 overs) maintains some grip on the game for the Yabbies.
However it will take a monumental batting effort from them next week to record their first win of the season. A highlight of the day was the keeping of PUT’s Luke Willis who took an excellent catch and effected a brilliant stumping.
Pakenham continued to defy the pundits after scoring a very competitive 261 against the early season bolters Cardinia.
Other emerging Lions covered themselves in pride in this convincing total, with Richard Harrop scoring a feisty 65 while his teammate K. Ramanayake contributed 61.
The enterprising duo shared a secondwicket partnership of 129 runs that has placed Pakenham in a strong position.
Dwayne Doig was the main contributor in the Bulls’ herd of bowlers with his fine figures of 6/107 from 32.9 overs, while returning speedster Justin Berry captured 2/57 from 18 overs.
Cardinia’s batting lacked leadership against Officer in the previous round and more resolve is needed this week before it can overcome the revitalised Lions.
A determined innings of 86 from skipper Nic Close has resulted in the home side Catani holding the upper hand in its clash with Emerald.
Close received valued assistance from 15yearold Russell Lehmann, who scored a gritty 37, and the crucial thirdwicket partnership of 85 runs between this pair enabled the home side to post the competitive score of 193.
Emerald captain Quenten Lucas (3/42 from two overs) and offspinner Tim Sproule (3/40 off 17.3 overs) shared the main bowling hits for the visiting Bombers. However when Lionel Sexton claimed Emerald opener for Mark Alenson for seven in the final three overs of the day, the pendulum swung decisively towards a Blues’ victory.
