By Jarrod Potter
DEVON Meadows (6/150) reclaimed top spot in District Division with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Emerald (146).
Emerald’s top order failed to fire as the Bombers slumped to 4/40 with Anthony Flint’s (25) dismissal, before the rescue work of Geordie Scott (37) and Don Alenson (19) turned around a likely disaster.
The pair put on 55 for the fifth scalp before Matt Clayton got one onto Alenson’s stumps with the Bombers 5/99.
Some late-order hitting from Alex Cann (26) pushed Emerald to 146 from 38.4 overs.
Panthers bowlers Bill Louden, Pete Zauner, Lucas Carroll and Mick Floyd all claimed two wickets.
In response, Devon Meadows made the runs with relative ease, despite losing opener Jason Holman for a duck straight away.
The steadying force of Carroll (66) and Steven Robinson (55) put the Panthers back on track with 114 runs, the second-best partnership for the second wicket this season. After Robinson had his pegs removed, Carroll stuck around a bit longer to get the job done.
Andrew Walker (3/27) was the best bowler for Emerald, with Clint Marsh (2/21) the other multiple wicket taker.
Devon Meadows travels to Nyora this weekend and Emerald faces Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:LYNDHURST VIKINGS v ST FRANCIS XAVIER
David Greensmith fell four runs short of a well-earned century as Lyndhurst Vikings (8/212cc) easily accounted for St Francis Xavier (153).
Greensmith (96) came in with the Vikings precariously placed at 4/32, soon to be 5/42 before sharing in a resurgent fight-back with Stephen Marshall (27) and Martin Davies (36).
Greensmith put on 93 with Marshall and 33 with Davies before hitting out just shy of a debut hundred in the WGCA. Davies flourish at the end saw the Vikings pass the double-century mark. The Shepherdsons – Chris (4/47) and Tim (2/19) – did the damage with the ball.
The X-men’s batting didn’t fare well against Vikings pair Mark Henry (3/23) and Trevor McGeachin (3/39), as Lyndhurst kept SFX from getting remotely close to the total.
The Old Collegians finished 59 runs adrift of the Vikings.
The win keeps the Vikings within a game and a half of the finals and SFX remains fourth despite the loss.
SFX faces Catani at home and Lyndhurst has Merinda Park in a must-win match for the Vikings’ finals aspirations.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:NYORA v CATANI
Catani (7/213cc) took a 44-run victory in the battle of the spoon against Nyora (169), with James McMahon (83 not out) proving the difference between the sides.
McMahon came in at 2/44, soon to be 3/52 when David Williams (25) departed. With Brad McDonald (29) and Nick Close (32), McMahon steadied the ship and helped push Catani to a competitive total. Paul Hendry (2/48) was the only multiple wicket taker for Nyora.
Nyora showed some grit and determination with the bat, as for the first time this season their top six batsmen all passed double figures.
The Maroons would have loved for one or more of the batsmen to go on to a big half-century, but they had to settle for Michael Guinine (34) top scoring as Nyora made 169 from 37 overs.
It was a successful effort from a side that had failed to pass three figures on six occasions this season.
McMahon (2/18) backed up his batting with good bowling and Owen Fitzpatrick and Travis Kitchin were the other multiple takers.
Catani has all but sealed its spot in District next season with the win.
Nyora faces Devon Meadows at home while Catani has SFX away.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:NAR NAR GOON/MARYKNOLL v MERINDA PARK
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (9/155cc) succumbed to the surging Merinda Park (2/159) in their eight-wicket loss at home.
The first versus third match was highly anticipated, with Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll given the chance to maintain its hold at the top of the table.
It wasn’t to be however, as the Cobras’ strike-force of Brendan Fairlam (3/30), Uma Rattan (3/44) and Jess Mathers (2/17) tore through the Marygoons.
In response, the Cobras made light work of the total with Matt Grayson (58 not out) and Daniel McCalman (57) putting on 121 for the opening stand, the best for the division this season.
Mathers (18 not out) was the other major batting contributor to the victory.
The win brings Merinda Park within two points of the leading pair while Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll lost top spot with the loss (no batting results available for Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll).
SUB-DISTRICT
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:
GEMBROOK v UPPER BEACONSFIELD
Craig Haw chalked up an impressive century as Upper Beaconsfield (4/221cc) put Gembrook (87) to the sword by 134 runs.
Haw (117 not out) posted 52 for the opening wicket with Luke Willis (21) before putting on 133 with Paul Atkins (50), in the biggest second wicket score of the season.
Haw kept the fun going after Atkins departed to guide the Maroons to 4/221.
Gembrook had four individual wicket takers.
In response, Gembrook was unable to mount any sizeable offence, with Dean Allcott (38) doing most of the work as the rest of the batting slumped to 87 all out.
Kyle Gibbs (3/4) was miserly for Upper Beaconsfield.
The Brookers sit in last place and Upper Beaconsfield is knocking on the door of a grand final spot, sitting in third with a 12-point gap to Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll in fourth.
Upper Beaconsfield faces Lang Lang in the match of the round this weekend while Gembrook has Cranbourne Meadows at home.
CORRECTION: In previous weeks I’ve stated that Gembrook looks likely to be relegated to B Grade next season. I was informed this isn’t possible as WGCA rules require each club to have at least one team in the top three divisions at minimum. They might sit in last place, but Gembrook will remain in Sub-District cricket in 2012/13 as will Cranbourne Meadows for the same reason.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CLYDE v NAR NAR GOON/MARYKNOLL
Gavin Adams’ half-century guided Clyde (3/119) across the line against Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (9/115cc).
Adams (56 not out) came in chasing the meagre target and made light work of it at Lineham Oval.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll struggled to overcome the Clyde bowling contingent, with Adrian Buller (2/21) and Joel Avard (2/27) the best of the bunch for the Cougars.
Clyde maintains a 12-point lead at the top of the ladder while Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll falls back from the leading pack and is eight points clear of fifth-placed Tooradin.
Both teams travel away next week, with Clyde heading to Tooradin and Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll facing Cardinia away.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:TOORADIN v LANG LANG
Lang Lang (2/108) asserted a strong claim to being a grand final contender by belting Tooradin (105).
Tooradin batted first and was immediately put to task by Ricky Caddell (4/22) and the competition’s leading wicket taker Bodie Brown (3/27).
Rogan Fraser (2/17) was the other multiple wicket taker as Tooradin batsmen struggled to stay at the crease for prolonged periods.
Brown’s 26 scalps for the year has him seven wickets clear in the best bowlers category and Caddell sits fourth on the list with 15.
In response, Lang Lang cantered to victory, requiring only the top four batsmen to get the job done.
Glen Easton (35) top scored for the Swamp Tigers and Caddell (27) capped off a great all-round game with some runs to his name.
Lang Lang maintains second place on the ladder with the win while Tooradin missed the chance to sneak into the top four.
Lang Lang faces Upper Beaconsfield and Tooradin will host Clyde.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CARDINIA v CRANBOURNE MEADOWS
Cardinia (7/176) scrapped it out against Cranbourne Meadows (8/171cc) to keep its chances of staying in Sub-District next season alive.
Cranbourne Meadows batted first, with Lee Murdoch (44 not out) and Andrew Clappers (34) putting on 56 for the second wicket.
Murdoch kept the show going with Shannon Marum (39) and the pair contributed 45 together before Marum was dismissed.
Murdoch found little help from the tail, with positions five to nine adding 12 runs between them as a mini-collapse halted the Rebels’ chances of clearing 200.
Troy Darose (3/34), Ryan Little (2/29) and Matt Weeding were the multiple wicket takers for Cardinia.
In reponse, Brad Remy (30) got the run chase off to a flying start before nicking it to Marum via the bowling of Jason Poole.
From there on, the steadying presence of Ricky Campbell (69 not out) kept the runs ticking over and took Cardinia to a much-needed victory.
Adrian Savage (2/33) and Poole (2/40) were the best bowlers for Cranbourne Meadows.
Cardinia faces Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll this weekend and the Rebels play against Gembrook.
