By Jarrod Potter
ANY other week 246 is a good total for an entire team. When one bloke in D grade makes that on his own, it deserves special adulation. Craig Jennings’ double-century set up a massive 256 run victory for Beaconsfield over Merinda Park.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:B GRADE
Kooweerup (172) was unable to defeat Devon Meadows (195), with the middle order failing to prop up. The Demons lost Dan Hawken (2) early before Trent Cochrane (48) and Stephen Johnson (26) accumulated 61 before Johnson was dismissed by Luke Howard (3/45). Cochrane didn’t last much longer and the middle order fell away quickly as usual run-maker Daniel Pirotta (3) and Richard Light (2) not lasting long against the Panthers. Hayden Watson (22) and Luke McMaster (21) resisted Devon Meadows’ before finally succumbing 23 runs short. Josh Walker (3/32) and Chris Floyd (2/26) were the other multiple wicket takers.
Nearly 500 runs were belted at Donnelly Reserve as Merinda Park (9/241cc) fell to Emerald (9/250). An 82 run opening stand between Cam Williams (65) and Caleb Lobbe (40) kicked off the chase in great style. Williams was dismissed by Scott Kunziak (1/30) and when Lobbe was removed at 4/128, the Bombers’ innings looked shaky. Revival came from R.Smith (52) and David Alenson (23), who added 87 for the fifth wicket. Once again, the likely looking heroes fell and Emerald was struggling at 6/211. The tail wagged for the Bombers as James Burke (15 not out) got the job done to help keep their finals chances alive. The Bombers will need an outright victory over Devon Meadows.
Pakenham (222) saw off the challenge from Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (120), with Lions bowlers Terry Smith (4/28), Zac Chaplin (2/14) and Duane Lucas (2/29) chipping in with consistent wickets to stop the Yabbies’ march towards the target. Nick Black (29) was the best batsman for PUT.
Beaconsfield (5/248dec) thoroughly thumped Officer (118 and 59) with the Bullants unable to make or sustain partnerships. Playing one man down, Officer was bowled out in 27.3 overs, with Jarrod Williams (3/20), Ben Martin (3/28) and Rhys Miller (2/4) doing the heavy lifting for the Tigers. The outright win rockets Beaconsfield into first place and creates a showdown with Merinda Park to take home the minor premiership this round.
B grade matches this round: Officer v Pakenham, Kooweerup v Pakenham Upper-Toomuc, Emerald v Devon Meadows, Beaconsfield v Merinda Park.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:C GRADE
Clyde (6/231cc) dispatched with Beaconsfield (96) to maintain their lead at the top of the ladder. Tigers’ captain Steve Glen (38) got the side away before getting trapped in front by Stuart Williams (1/12). From there, the rot developed into a full-blown rout as Gerry Visscher (3/23), Shane Webster (2/9) and Daniel Waite (2/17) did the damage with the ball.
Catani (148) took their lumps against Tooradin (7/283cc). Clint Fulton (48) and David Spierings (33) tried in vain to stop the wickets tumbling, but eventually both succumbed. Jarred Thompson (4/29) and Andrew Proctor (3/16) struck hardest for the Seagulls.
Cranbourne Meadows (81) couldn’t hold back the tumbling of wickets as Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (8/263dec) leaped into third place. Nick Strong (20) was aptly named this week as he fought hardest of the Rebels’ batsmen. Coming in at first drop, Strong stuck around until finally falling at 9/75. Ian Mortimer (3/5) and Ben McLeod (3/16) were the best of the Yabbies bowlers.
Lyndhurst Vikings (69 and 4/65) took the points against Cardinia (68 and 8/157dec) after winning the battle of attrition in the first week. Keith Scharenguivel (60) boosted the Bulls’ total before Cardinia declared 156 runs ahead of Lyndhurst Vikings. Chris Slater (5/44) was the best of the Bulls bowlers.
Inroads were made by Bulls’ openers Nathaniel Wade (2/12) and Trent Wheller (2/5), with the latter finishing on match figures of 9/30. Vikings’ Ash Peters (22 not out) and Stephen Marshall (19 not out) stopped any further problems occurring to leave Cardinia only a mathematical chance of reaching the finals.
C grade matches this round: Catani v Cranbourne Meadows, Tooradin v Lyndhurst Vikings, Beaconsfield v Cardinia, Pakenham Upper-Toomuc v Clyde.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:D GRADE
Hats off to Craig Jennings (246) who hit the biggest score of the season in the association as Beaconsfield (8/384) thumped Merinda Park (128). Jennings couldn’t find any help so he did it himself. Jennings was dismissed at 272 after contributing 246 of them off his own blade.
Matt McBride (38) and Michael McMahon (62) put together 84 runs and from there the rout was halted by reaching the forced completion. Dylan Cuthbertson (4/55) was the best of the Panthers’ bowlers.
Emerald (8/177dec) took maximum points on the back of a Keiran Thoms century against Nyora (60 and 72). Nyora couldn’t hold out as Jay Kleinsmit (5/18) ripped through the order. Brian Knight (24) was the top scorer for the Maroons.
Lang Lang (76 and 69) took first innings points, but the greater awards went to St Francis Xavier (64 and 4/87) who took the outright points to stay in touch with the top four going into the last round. X-Men bowler Matt Swift claimed 4/29 in the second innings to finish on match figures of 9/53. St Francis Xavier made up for first innings errors with Josh Collins (43) and Paul Bourke (21) adding 61 for the first wicket to all but finish the job for the X-Men.
Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll (4/190dec) defeated Upper Beaconsfield (8/164cc) with David Shepherd (53 retired not out) and Jack Salan (29 not out) taking the initiative.
D grade matches this round: Lang Lang v Beaconsfield, St Francis Xavier v Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll, Nyora v Upper Beaconsfield, Merinda Park v Emerald.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:E GRADE
Clyde (88) fell 12 runs short of Tooradin (100) after an incisive spell of bowling from Seagull Ross Simpson (5/22). Greg Bethune (3/7) was the other multiple wicket taker as Tooradin restricted Clyde and successfully stitched up a semi-final berth.
Alan Sauvarin (59) and Joshua Butler (41) fought hard for Beaconsfield (181), but the required total from Emerald (8/323cc) was too far out of reach. The 103 run second wicket partnership was the only highlight from the Tigers as the next nine wickets fell for 55 runs. Colin Burns completed an all-round masterclass display with 4/19 to back up his 114 last week.
Kooweerup (116) was no match for Officer (9/259cc). Graham Davey (35 not out) held up the batting with Peter Thompson (23), but they couldn’t hold off the Bullants. Andrew Cock (5/43) and Ben Monagle (3/30) and Jeff Stephanitsch (2/13) were the best bowlers for Officer.
Pakenham (6/171) knocked off Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (162) as the number two side put the first dent in the Yabbies wonder year. Rob Newell (50 not out) struck his third successive 40-plus score in a row to guide the Lions to victory.
E grade matches this round: Beaconsfield v Officer, Emerald v Pakenham Upper-Toomuc, Clyde v Pakenham, Kooweerup v Tooradin.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:F GRADE
Officer (8/228dec) took the maximum points as the undermanned Beaconsfield (96 and 103) struggled valiantly. Wayne Holden (46 and 33) held up the top order, but couldn’t find enough support to save the match for the Tigers.
Devon Meadows (7/268) thumped Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll (107) with five batsmen going past 30. Antony Scott (45) and Mark Hosking (42) were the best of those five as the Marygoons struggled to get wickets before the batsmen were set. Marygoons captain Scott Campbell used every other bloke in his side to try and get wickets, but the Panthers kept ticking away to eventually run out 161 runs ahead.
Pakenham (4/236dec) openers Dennis Porter (110) and Neil Tomkins (41) practically defeated Clyde (109 and 6/141) on their own as the pair posted 106 for the first wicket. From there Pakenham set 127 for Clyde to avoid an innings defeat, which the Cougars managed on the back of 87 from Mark Coe.
Everyone got a slice of the run-scoring wagon wheel for Gembrook (6/296) as it inflicted a massive defeat on Merinda Park (136). Mark Newton (85) and Anthony Williams (59) fared the best for the Brookers.
F grade matches this round: Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll v Clyde, Devon Meadows v Gembrook, Officer v Merinda Park, Pakenham v Beaconsfield.
