A STUNNING fightback by Officer’s lower order saw the Bullants win a classic contest against Catani with just one wicket to spare.
In a thrilling encounter where the ascendancy swung between each side throughout the afternoon, an 18-run last-wicket partnership from Officer’s Brett Davis and Chris Savage saw the visiting Bullants to victory, retaining third position on the Premier Division ladder.
After being sent in to bat, Catani looked to be in trouble early when it slumped to 5/65 with Brett Davis (2/29 from nine overs) and Mick Torney (2/20 from nine overs) causing the bulk of the damage.
However, a defiant partnership of 86 from Nicholas Close and Luke McFarlane put Catani back in control, before some powerful hitting at the end of the innings saw the Blues finish at 9/194 from their 45 overs.
Close was superb for his side, batting throughout the majority of the innings to score 90 runs.
Lionel Sexton then went about taking two early Officer wickets before Mick Torney (38 runs) and Clinton Scott (34 runs) put the ascendancy back in the Bullants’ hands.
Three quick wickets then saw Catani looking to be in the box seat for victory with Officer 6/115.
That score soon became 8/141 before Jarrod Goodes hit a quick 23 runs and following his departure, Davis and Savage saw their side home in a memorable encounter.
Sexton finished with the figures of 5/37 from his nine overs, while Savage’s innings of 42 runs proved to be the match winner for Officer.
Tooradin remains in the top four on the ladder after it narrowly overcame Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (PUT) by 18 runs.
Batting first, the Seagulls reached 9/220 from their allotted 45 overs, with Aaron Avery blasting six boundaries and a six in his innings of 52 runs.
For the Yabbies, Adam Cooper (3/55 from eight overs) and Shannon Price (3/30 from nine overs) were the pick of the bowlers.
After losing early wickets, the Yabbies kept the match evenly poised throughout most of their innings, with Chris Smith again in the runs scoring 69, while Callum O’Hare (3/14 from nine overs) and Avery (3/46 from eight overs) keeping the Seagulls in the match.
The Yabbies were eventually dismissed for 202 after 44 overs, and now sit one game outside the top four on the ladder.
The dominance of Kooweerup’s batsmen proved the difference between the Demons and Beaconsfield at Kooweerup Recreation Reserve, with the home side gaining victory by 45 runs.
After captain Shane Dole won the toss and elected to bat, Michael Giles (60 runs) and Dole (73 runs) went about building the Demons’ formidable total of 8/231 from 45 overs.
Giles hit eight boundaries and two sixes in his innings, while number-three batsman Dole hit five balls into the fence and two over it in his terrific knock.
For the Tigers, Justin Stanton was the only significant wicket-taker with 3/35 from six overs.
Stanton then opened the batting and hit 61 runs to give his side a real chance of victory, combining with Brad Miles (49 runs) to take the Tigers to 2/132 before Matthew Bright produced something special.
The Kooweerup bowler destroyed the Beaconsfield line-up, taking the astonishing figures of 7/36 from 7.3 overs as Beaconsfield was knocked over for 186 in the 43rd over.
The Demons now sit in equal first position on the Premier Division ladder, behind Cardinia on percentage.
At Nar Nar Goon, Cardinia went about claiming top spot on the ladder by easily gaining victory over the Marygoons.
After being sent in by Bulls’ captain Mark Cooper, the home side lost continual wickets to be all out for just 109 in the final over of its innings, with Cardinia spinner Dwayne Doig again the best of the bowlers, taking 3/26 from 8.3 overs.
Cardinia then scored 4/113 in reply from 38.4 overs, with Cooper top-scoring for his side with 43 not-out, while fellow opening batsman John Nooy scored a fine 33 runs.
