Beaconsfield’s Ray Cook was the pick of the Tigers’ bowlers on Saturday claiming 3/68 in his side’s tough day at the office against Pakenham Upper-Toomuc. The Tigers will need to keep up their recent form with the bat if they’re to chase down the Yabbies’ 9/257.
By David Nagel
TWO Seagulls, a Yabbie and a Fisher-man gave a distinctly piscatorial flavour to day one round eight of West Gippsland Cricket Association’s Premier Division on Saturday.
Tooradin’s Callum O’Hare (108 not out) and Bradley Sauer (115), Pakenham Upper-Toomuc’s Chris Smith (110) and Pakenham’s Jason Fisher (4/4) hooked up to reel in the biggest catches of the day and left their opponents feeling gutted.
At Tooradin (5/278cc), there was nothing fishy about the home sides’ batting as O’Hare and Sauer overcame the shock of a Tom Hussey (4) failure to produce the WGCA’s highest partnership of the season against third placed Upper Beaconsfield.
Hussey was run-out for the third time this season but for the first time this season his team mates rallied around his failure to produce the goods.
O’Hare batted at three and was well set when Sauer joined him with the fifth placed Seagulls in a precarious position at 4/70.
Hussey, Kane Latham (9), Aaron Avery (6) and Brenton Adams (8) were four quality performers all back in the shed when the two joined forces with the Seagulls’ season on the line.
Captain Avery had said early in the week that a loss could prove the killer blow in the Seagulls’ finals aspirations but a 191 run fifth wicket partnership left his team in a perfect position to fight another day.
O’Hare is in the top echelon of all-rounders in the WGCA and his ton confirmed that status while Sauer showed his early season half century against Pakenham was not a blip on the radar.
Maroons’ skipper Scott Pitcher (2/99) was back to his resilient best bowling 28 overs while Chris Pentland (1/29) and Paul Matthews (1/27) were the only other wicket takers.
After a century against the Seagulls in round seven Shawn Flegler looms as a big danger this Saturday but even a repeat of that performance might not be enough to get the Maroons across the line.
Tooradin will join Upper Beaconsfield on 54 premiership points if it can defend its total this week.
PAKENHAM Upper-Toomuc’s (9/257cc) leading wicket taker, Chris Smith, decided to give himself a decent score to defend this week as his century put the Yabbies in the box seat in their away encounter with Beaconsfield.
Smith walked onto Perc Allison Reserve with his side at 1/15 and eventually departed at 8/237, his magnificent hundred a long awaited reminder of the star quality he possesses.
All other Yabbie batsmen played support roles with Peter Richards (33) sharing in a 72 run third wicket partnership and Andrew Hilder (30) topping things off at the end, making sure Smith’s earlier brilliance didn’t go to waste.
For the Tigers, Ray Cook (3/68) and Jordy Andrews (2/49) cheered loudest while O’Connor, Kerslake and McDermott all chimed in with single wickets.
Beaconsfield has been in great form with the bat in recent times so a mouth-watering second day contest seems assured.
PUT will leap-frog the Tigers into sixth position if it can claim first innings points this week.
DESPITE a half century from surprise opener Dwayne Doig (50), top side Cardinia (131) look like lowering their colours to Pakenham (1/15) for the second time in as many rounds when the two sides conclude their round eight clash at Rythdale this Saturday.
The Bulls usually find their way out of trouble but there wasn’t a hero to be found on the weekend as Fisher’s four late order wickets saw the home side crash from 6/121 to be all-out 131.
Dom Paynter (1/23) started the Lions’ day when he removed skipper Mark Cooper (11) then Sugeesha Dinushan (2/44) claimed the in-form duo of Neil Barfuss (8) and Mark Andolfatto (0) in quick succession to leave Bulls on 3/50.
Doig and the ever reliable Ben Darose (27) put on a valuable 42 run partnership before Pakenham’s gun batsman Ben Maroney (3/40) put a halt to the middle order revival.
He took the wickets of Darose, Danny Diwell (3) and Doig to see the Bulls plummet to 6/111 before Fisher did the rest.
Pakenham’s run-chase will be interesting to say the least.
Maroney (1) is already back in the hut courtesy of Doig’s (1/3 off six overs) off-spinners and the usually aggressive Lions played for stumps on Saturday, not runs.
That same attitude will play into Doig’s hands this week and with every run sure to be hard earned the Lions will know their job is far from complete, someone or two will need to stand up.
Runs will be as valuable as gold and a fascinating afternoon looks in store.
KOOWEERUP (4/90dec) did what was expected at Officer (89) on Saturday and will now to try convert its first innings points into outright victory for the perfect Christmas gift this week.
Top spot on the ladder beckons for the Demons who were once again discipline and frugal with the ball and completely unselfish with the bat.
Adam McMaster (4/20) backed up his three wicket haul from round seven with another polished display while Michael Giles (3/19) swapped willow for leather as his favourite piece of cricketing hardware.
It sounds like a broken record but Matt Davey (1/11 off 14 overs) was once again hard to get away while Ron Bright Jnr (1/16 off nine overs) also found a tidy line and length. Ollie Brown (19) top scored for Officer.
The Demons were once again swift and savage in their response.
Matt Bright (28), Shane Dole (21) and Giles (20) stuffed 12 points into the Demons’ Christmas stocking in just 14 overs and another eight points look set to follow this week.
Adam Reid (3/17) and Toyosi Solanke (1/20) tried hard for the Bullants.
