Lang Lang’s Sam Jenkins bowls in Saturday’s D-grade game against Beaconsfield.Beaconsfield D-grade batsman Paul Benbow survives a stumping opportunity by Lang Lang captain Alan Dowson.By Ian Ferguson
DANNY Linton made an eventful debut with Cardinia in the B-grade fixture against Emerald. Linton gained the excellent figures of 3/4 from nine probing overs before a shoulder injury forced him to withdraw from the Bulls’ attack. The Bombers then recovered somewhat to reach 124, David Black top-scoring with 47. Cardinia’s veteran bowler Wayne Snooks also performed well, capturing 3/21 from 21 overs.
Nyora appeared to hold a slight edge over Cranbourne Meadows after totalling 159 at the Rebels’ home base. Club stalwarts Brian Knight and Peter Jensen both scored useful 30s for the visitors, while Andrew Clappers and B. Baker each captured three wickets for the Rebels.
Bowlers also held sway in the match between Merinda Park and Kilcunda-Bass, when the visitors were contained to the reasonable total of 8/180. The consistent Paul Hammer scored 46 for Kilcunda-Bass, while Craig Heart and Rod Bodsworth both contributed 20s. Wickets were shared evenly among the accurate Cobra bowlers.
Clyde provided strong opposition for the powerful Beaconsfield. The Cougars reached the useful total of 149 after Ben Lackman and G. Tuckwell both scored fighting 30s, while Troy McDermott captured 3/38 from 12 overs for the visitors. The Tigers made a shaky start to their run chase, stumbling to 1/9 in the final eight overs of play.
Upper Beaconsfield desperately needs a win to stay in touch with the B-grade leaders, but the Maroons had their colours lowered when they hosted Kooweerup on Saturday. Last season’s A-grade team only managed the moderate total of 158 against the Demon bowling, which was capably led by Matt Davey (3/41 from 16 overs) and Ben Miller (2/32 off 13 overs). Rohan Escreet top-scored for the hosts with 32.
The B-grade game between Pakenham and Tooradin was evenly poised, the Seagulls’ totalling 150 and Pakenham advancing to 0/7 by stumps. Michael Ash and Andrew Gray both scored 40s for the Seagulls, while Eddie Duiker (4/50 from 15.5 overs) and promising junior Jack Ryan (3/25 from eight overs) performed well for the Lions.
In C grade Lang Lang returned to form, scoring 243 against Upper Beaconsfield. Skipper Ian Creasey led the revival, scoring an excellent 114, while Sean Lambie added a useful 44. Aaron Gray proved to be the Maroons’ best bowler, capturing 4/35 from 13 overs, while Richard Edwards collected 3/26 from eight overs.
Catani’s Lehman family dominated the Blues’ encounter with Officer, Jamie Lehman blasting 85 while his son Russell stepped up from the under 14s to score 27. The Blues were comfortably placed to win after scoring 195, despite the fine bowling of James Quinn, who captured 4/34 from 21.4 overs. Officer reached 0/3 in the final two overs of play.
Beaconsfield’s Dave Lennon scored a brilliant, undefeated and chanceless 168 against the Kilcunda-Bass attack when the Tigers posted the formidable total of 4/281. Lennon shared a huge partnership of 186 with Tiger junior Peter Sofra, who contributed a pleasing 51.
Devon Meadows was strongly placed against PUT team, which was dismissed for a lowly 123. Brett Carey scored 38 for the Yabbies, while Luke Wishart pressed strongly for reinclusion in A grade after collecting the excellent figures of 5/29 from 15 overs. In reply the Panthers reached 1/26 before stumps.
Gembrook compiled an impressive 222 against Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll. Craig Heppell top-scored with 52 for the Brookers, while Daniel Woodd chipped in with 45. Goon veteran Brian Webster bowled well, collecting 5/80 from 19 overs.
Merinda Park performed well, totalling 7/221 against Lyndhurst Vikings. Russell Dunn scored a fine 70, while Shaun Hughes chipped in with 45. Damien Higgins led the Viking attack best, capturing 3/50 from 12 overs.
Nyora’s speedster Kevin Toogood returned the superb figures of 7/26 from 19 overs when his team dismissed the PUT D-grade team for a lowly 82. Captain Bill Hessell completed an excellent day for Nyora when his direct hit from deep mid-wicket resulted in a Yabbie run out decision. The home side faltered in the final 11 overs, however, slipping to 2/8.
Clyde and Cranbourne Meadows were staging an interesting D-grade game at Clyde. Captain Chris Hymas top-scored with 42 when the Cougars totalled a competitive 191 and the Rebels were 21 without loss when play ceased. Clayton Blair was the Rebels’ wrecker, capturing 3/12 from eight overs.
Koweerup’s skipper Damian Barker top-scored with a gritty 37 not out and Grant Wilby and Chris McConnell also reached the 30s when the Demons totalled 178 against Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll. Col Hodson performed creditably for the Goon, collecting 4/35 from 20 overs. The visitors will resume 0/4 on Saturday.
Michael Borkowski scored an excellent 55 and Robert Stewart a resolute 39 when Emerald notched 4/189 against Merinda Park, while Beaconsfield pounded 7/316 opposed off the Lang Lang attack. Tiger cubs Paul Benbow and Brad Pitcher performed well to score 70 and 65 respectively.
In E grade Devon Meadows’ Mick Cloutter batted resolutely for 67 overs when he scored 84 against Gembrook. Bob Burns provided robust assistance with 43 when the Panthers totalled a formidable 9/264, while Brett Vance added a useful 30.
The 14-year-old Madison Andrews scored a superb 108 not out when Beaconsfield compiled 7/236 against Kooweerup. Andrews batted for 42 overs in compiling his memorable century.
PUT had gained a first-innings result against Merinda Park. The Cobras were shot out for a meagre 61 and, when stumps were drawn, the Yabbies had reached 4/103. Ben Jarred clawed the fine figures of 5/14 from 12 overs for the Yabbies, while Damien Garth grabbed 3/10 from nine overs. Jonathon Rewell resumes on 52 not out on Saturday.
Wickets tumbled in the close match between Pakenham and Cardinia, 14 batsmen falling during the day. The Bulls were bundled out for 78, thanks to an excellent spell of bowling from the Lions’ Mick Chilcott, who captured 6/15 from 12 overs. Chris Lemmon, who top-scored for the visitors with 24, then revived the Bulls in the final 18 overs of play, capturing 3/10 from nine overs when the Lions stuttered to their stumps’ total of 4/36.
Tooradin produced a commanding batting performance against Officer, thumping 298 for the day. Andrew Sparks clouted five fours and a six in his total of 62, while Adam Calea scored 53.The Bullants did not help their cause when they failed to grasp eight catches.
The Merinda Park Red E-grade team dismissed Emerald for 157. Mark O’Brien scored a timely 59 for the Bombers, while Gordon Lewis captured 5/37 from 22 overs for the Reds, who reached 2/39 in reply.
A number of F-grader batsmen, including Jack Allan (Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll), Duane DeRozario (Clyde), David McConchie (Upper Beaconsfield), Shane Anderson (Catani), Rory Gilliate and L. Watson (Nyora), G. Storey and T. Pooza (Cranbourne Meadows), D. Logan (Devon Meadows), James Dury (Beaconsfield) and G. Powell (Pakenham) reached the retirement score of 50.
The best bowling figures for this grade were obtained by John Bourke from PUT (3/0 off two overs) and Pakenham legend Brett Hanks, who captured 4/3 from six overs.
Junior fixtures produced notable performances. In under 12-grade J. Payroli scored 35, while Joshua Lownds and James Canty added 20s when Nar Nar Goon Black scored 6/186. When Officer fell for 86, Mitchell Preen captured 3/10, J. Gurdic 3/4 and Jacob Sweeney 2/10.
Cardinia under-12 captain Nick Nolen scored his maiden boundary off the final delivery of the morning, which resulted in victory for the Bulls against Nyora. His nine not out was his highest score in cricket.
The under-14 fixture between Merinda Park and Kooweerup resulted in a tie when both teams totalled 91.
Jarred Harley, from the Devon Meadows White under-14 team, collected the fine figures of 3/6 from four overs, while Nick Thompson gained his first wicket in cricket. Andrew Saxon, representing Devon Meadows Red, reached a career-best 18 not out, which helped avoid outright defeat for his team.
Brad Pitcher and Troy McDermott produced superb eight-over spells for the Beaconsfield Bandits under-16 team, which easily accounted for Emerald Reds. Pitcher collected 3/22 while McDermott, who bowled five maidens, captured a frugal 2/3.
Andrew Martin from the Merinda Park under-16 team enjoyed a memorable match against Kooweerup, which they narrowly defeated by four runs. Martin captured 4/6 from 5.5 overs and remained 33 not out when the Cobras batted. His teammate, Trent Vonderling, snapped up an excellent catch in this close game.
Jack Benbow from the Beaconsfield under-16 team struck three fours when he scored 51 not out against Officer, which fielded well throughout the morning, especially when Mitch Wilson hit the stumps twice with accurate throws.
