Beaconsfield’s Brad Miles top scored with 42 in the Tigers’ win over Pakenham last week. Miles will have to be at his best against a potent Tooradin attack in their round 12 two-day clash at Perc Allison Oval which starts this Saturday.
By David Nagel
THIRD placed Tooradin can all but sew up a finals spot over the next two weeks when it travels to fifth placed Beaconsfield in a battle of the last-round upset winners.
The Seagulls have worked hard to crack a top-four spot but after its win over Kooweerup last week finally has a chance to take a well earned breath if it can knock off the Tigers. Captain Aaron Avery knows the feeling of being on the precipice all too well.
“The last couple of years we’ve always been thereabouts and then drop a game and then be back fighting amongst it,” Avery said.
“We’re definitely suited more to the two-day game, most of our team are not really attacking batsmen more grafters.”
Avery was superb against the Demons last week alongside all-rounder Callum O’Hare in a team that seems to be peaking at the right time. Tom Hussey is an ever-present danger to the Tigers this week who themselves are playing terrific cricket in recent times.
Troy McDermott was outstanding with both bat and ball last week as he led the Tigers to its fifth win in six starts. He took over the pavilion end from youngster Callan Tout who was also impressive opening the bowling with his lovely outswingers.
Beacy’s batting stacks up OK in comparison to the Seagulls, but there looks to be a significant disparity in the quality of the attacks and that should see the Seagulls flying high in this one.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:PAKENHAM UPPER-TOOMUC V PAKENHAM
FRESH off its first win since round one, Pakenham Upper-Toomuc would love nothing more than to ruin the season of its cross town rivals Pakenham when the Lions make the short journey up the hill this week.
The Yabbies hadn’t been winning before last week’s last ball victory over Upper Beaconsfield but had been pretty consistent; a trait the Lions seemed to have lost in recent weeks. Scores of 85 and 105 in its last four innings is not good enough from a team with so many talented players.
The good early season form of some Lions’ batsmen has disappeared lately and that must be worrying skipper Mick Torney. Dom Paynter is an exception as he has looked in good knick over the last two weeks.
The Yabbies won’t be lacking confidence and have a nothing to lose mentality, gun bat Chris Smith was run-out without facing a ball last week so will be keen to make the Lions pay with a big one.
Jamie Somers, Pat Garvey and Daniel Fry were all valuable contributors last week and will need to reproduce at least those efforts for the Yabbies to be a sniff.
If all players on the park play to their best the Lions will win but that’s a very big if at the moment.
Time to stick the neck out, the Yabbies to send the Lions home without the Glen ‘Bagga’ Porter Shield on the back of a Smith century.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:UPPER BEACONSFIELD V OFFICER
UPPER Beaconsfield needs a minor miracle to occur to play in March this season but gets an ideal opportunity to at least get a win on the board when it plays host to Officer this week.
The Maroons welcome back Shawn Flegler from Melbourne Stars duty and his return couldn’t come at a better time. The Maroons have gone four games without a win since beating Tooradin in round seven and just need someone to occupy the crease.
The Maroons’ top order has all had starts in recent times but can’t go on to significant totals. Six batsmen reached double figures last week with the best score being 27 by number eight David Taylor.
Having said all that, it will be enough against Officer who now have no hope of survival in the Premier Division and will be lacking motivation. A bad season got horribly worse last week when it was rolled for just 67 by Cardinia.
There are no positives to come out of a performance like that and it will be interesting to see how aggressively the Maroons attack the Bullants in the early stages of the match pushing for outright victory.
The Maroons will win easily but if Flegler has a big one it could be maximum points heading up the hill.
