Left: Cardinia Egrader Chris Lemmon rearranges the stumps of Officer batsman Jayden Bell during the weekend clash.By Ian Ferguson
NYORA showed its determination to be a part of the March finals action with a strong performance against Pakenham in Bgrade.
A blazing first century in senior cricket from Andrew Collis set the tempo for the host team.
Collis thrashed 110 from 24 overs, including 10 fours and seven sixes, and one of his huge hits out of the ground brought up his ton.
Under 17 player Jake Hackett produced his second Bgrade halfcentury for the season, while allrounder Nick Fairbank contributed 45.
Nyora declared its innings closed after reaching 9/364, and Pakenham responded with 2/70 before play ended.
Eddie Duiker remains 41 not out, and a strong batting performance from him will be vital in the Lions’ huge run chase next week.
Upper Beaconsfield batsmen persevered well at Bass, and when the team scored a quick 68 in the final 10 overs of the day, the Maroons were able to finish with the satisfying tally of 9/255.
Daniel Brennan and Luke Pitcher scored 68 and 67 respectively for the visitors, while Paul Mathews and Paul Cornelius each collected three wickets in the Sharks’ hardworking attack.
Beaconsfield has thrown out a strong challenge to top team Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll.
The Tigers reached a competitive total of 242 in their own den, with Andrew Jones scoring 82 and young allrounder Troy McDermott 64.
Cardinia continued its recent pleasing form by scoring 5/278 before declaring its innings closed at Tooradin.
Justin Van Der Zalm scored an excellent 100 while Matt Adlam contributed 65.
The Seagulls lost one of its flock to a fine catch in the covers towards the end of the day, and resume this week on 1/14.
PUT scored a laborious 158 against Cranbourne Meadows.
Club president Brett Carey top scored with 52 while J. Pearse reached 39.
Merinda Park scored a more enterprising 220 at home against Emerald, with Andy Sydall (64), Mark Beecham (39) and Pat Graham (36 not out) all contributing valuable runs.
The Bombers’ Glenn Maunder bowled well, capturing 3/28 from 15 overs.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:C GRADE
Teams enjoyed the scoring conditions on Saturday with all teams totalling more than 200 runs.
Topoftheladder Lang Lang reached an imposing 7/226 against Catani, with Cameron Chasemore and Chris McCurdy scoring 57 and 50 respectively.
Ross Kortholt was the pick of the Blues’ attack, claiming 4/31 from 14 overs.
Clyde amassed 262 at Kooweerup with club president Steve Houlihan scoring 69, Tom Sinnema 66 and Peter O’Hare 46.
Demon youngster Jack Carson captured 2/48 from 11 overs, and he reached 14 not out when the host side scored 0/15 by stumps.
Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll totalled 222 against Gembrook, with Bob Simpson (63), Mick Lewis (49) and Geoff Pimm (42) the main run scorers.
The Brookers Aidan Weichard and Rick Atkinson each captured three wickets.
Devon Meadows scored an imposing 239 at Pakenham, thanks to excellent innings from Mick Floyd and Darren Logan, who scored 85 and 64 respectively.
A. Selby (4/40 from 13 overs) and youngster Jack Anning (3/60 from 17 overs) both bowled well for the Lions in the oppressive conditions.
G. Matheson reached 70 and Shawn Hassall 41 when Upper Beaconsfield totalled 201 against neighbouring Beaconsfield.
Mathew O’Connor toiled hard for the Tigers and deserved the figures of 4/38 from nine overs, while a frugal Dave Lennon captured 2/26 from 14 overs.
The Lyndhurst Vikings recorded the highest total in C grade when they pounded 8/316 against Officer.
Paul Gray top scored with 75 while G. Godfrey and Heath Straughair reached 64 and 47 respectively.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:D GRADE
Cardinia has already gained a first innings result over Clyde.
The triumphant visitors scored 192 when they batted first with Matthew Hobson scoring 59 and Darren Aurisch 53, while the Cougars’ Ash Adams returned the fine figures of 5/67 from 19 overs.
Clyde was then trampled for a disappointing 88 by the Bulls’ attack, with Matt Waixel collecting 3/10 from five overs.
Merinda Park smashed more than 300 against shellshocked opponent Cranbourne Meadows.
The Cobras struck 6/333 before declaring, and the Rebels were dangerously under siege on 6/27 at stumps.
Merinda Park captain John Cuthbertson pounded 90 runs, while his opening bowler Grant Pearson currently enjoys the superb figures of 6/5 from six overs, which includes four maidens.
Beaconsfield is strongly placed against Tooradin.
A defiant knock of 34 from Mitch Adderley was the only solace for the Seagulls, who were shot down for 113 in its innings.
The Tigers have already advanced to 3/58 and are well placed to record a win.
Pakenham performed well to score 219 at Emerald.
Ashley Bailey and Paul Hart both batted impressively to score 86 and 67 respectively, while the Bombers’ Lee Ligtermoet performed well in the host’s battery of bowlers, claiming 5/56 from 22 overs.
A fine innings of 92 from PUT’s Terry Bowler enabled the Yabbies to total 9/253 against Nyora.
B. Robinson and Peter Jenson both captured three wickets for the visitors.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:E GRADE
Cardinia has already triumphed in the first innings against Officer.
The Bullants’ batting lineup was trampled by the Bulls’ hostile bowling attack, which scattered the visitors for the small total of 106, before Cardinia raced to 6/121 by stumps.
Chris Lemmon has enjoyed a stellar match for Cardinia, already scored 28 not out after claiming an outstanding 5/8 in Officer’s innings.
The evergreen Gary Quinlan contributed 29 for the winning team.
An interesting game is being staged at Gembrook.
The host team dismissed the Lyndhurst Vikings for 148 and reached 1/11 before stumps were drawn, while Merinda Park compiled a mammoth 377 against Kooweerup.
Cobra veteran Ron Hughes top scored with an excellent 91, while Gerard Healy and Dave Spencer both contributed 63 runs.
Tooradin occupied the crease for most of the day against Emerald before being dismissed for 233.
Brad Richmond scored 41 for the Seagulls while the Bombers’ Brock Barlow snared 4/30 from 13 overs.
Simon Lewis scored 59 and Scott Campbell 43 when Nar Nar GoonMaryknoll reached 206 against KilcundaBass, while Beaconsfield and Lang Lang could stage a close finish next week in their encounter.
The Tigers boldly declared after reaching 6/158 and the visiting Swamp Tigers were 1/7 in reply.
Beaconsfield captain Greg Tomamichael batted well to score 60, while Lang Lang youngster Sam Cole bowled with spirit to capture 2/35 from 18 overs.
The Yabbies have a firm grip on victory at Devon Meadows.
The Panthers were all out for 97 and PUT was 6/82 in reply.
Brett Vance top scored for Devon Meadows with 35 and has 3/29 from 10 overs, while the Yabbies’ Ben Clough bowled with nip to take 5/19 from 11.4 overs.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:F GRADE
Five players reached the grade retirement score of 50 in the match between Nyora and Emerald.
Jim Bourke, Gary Santini and Tim Robinson were the halfcenturions for the Bombers, while Michael Huglin and Neil Easton both claimed this honour for Nyora.
David Hill (Gembrook), Beaconsfield’s Cameron Fletcher and Jess Douma, and PUT’s Greg McKie also scored halfcenturies.
Clyde’s Brendan DeRozario, with the fine figures of 4/7 from six overs, was F grade’s leading bowler.
