Will Daniel Brennan’s spinners help Upper Beaconsfield keep pace with the reigning premiers Kooweerup? 88637 Picture: JARROD POTTER
By DAVID NAGEL
THE two losing semi-finalists from last season, Pakenham and Cardinia, lock horns at Toomuc Reserve in the pick of round three of West Gippsland premier division cricket this weekend.
The Lions will be champing at the bit to finally see some action, being one of two sides not to have hit the field yet this season, while the Bulls’ revamped line-up will look to continue its solid and winning form against Upper Beaconsfield last weekend.
The Lions’ batting seems suited to one-day cricket. Skipper Mick Torney and Sean Gramc are ultra-aggressive hitters while Jason Williams, Dom Paynter and Sugeesha Dinushan are class players who can lift the tempo when required. Less aggressive players like Russ Lehman and Jack Anning will play vital roles, feeding the big hitters the strike while providing stability to the innings.
Cardinia’s bowling line-up looks more settled and harder to score against. Neil Barfuss, Craig Boswell and Dean Henwood may lack potency, but they ooze consistency and this could play on home side’s minds.
It would not surprise to see the Lions get up here but we’ll go for the Bulls in a tight one.
BEACONSFIELD v MERINDA PARK
MOMENTUM is huge in any sport and current cellar-dwellers Beaconsfield and Merinda Park will be playing for that most precious of commodities when they clash at Perc Allison Oval on Saturday.
The winner will more than likely be sitting in the top four on Saturday night, buoyed by its success, while the loser looks headed for a long, hot and laborious summer.
Both sides were punished by far superior opposition last week and the fact that only two players from each side scored double figures, speaks volumes for the fragility of both batting line ups at the moment.
Beacy’s bowling relies on the experience of Jason Dodd and talented young out-swinger Callan Tout while the Cobras need big games from Adam Newstead, Shannon Mathers and Uma Rattan.
This one really is a flip of the coin but we’ll go with the Cobras, on the back of a big partnership between Glen Ward and Jason Pongracic, to get the job done.
UPPER BEACONSFIELD v KOOWEERUP
A MASSIVE question mark hangs over Upper Beaconsfield’s ability to match it with the big boys in the WGCA and the Maroon’s will once again be under the microscope when it plays host to reigning champs Kooweerup.
On paper, the Maroons look a talented proposition for any team to take on. A strong batting line-up led by Shawn Flegler, Daniel Brennan and John Simpson, combined with a versatile bowling attack including Chris Pentland and youngster Kyle Gibbs should see them with enough ammunition to contend.
A solid performance with the ball last week was wasted by a top-order collapse and it’s that ability to put all forms of the game together, at once, that seems the Maroons’ biggest ongoing challenge.
Kooweerup was relentless against Merinda Park last week and still has plenty of room for improvement. Players like the two Matts, Bright and Davey, were still in reserve and it’s that depth that will see the Demons too strong on the weekend.
PAKENHAM UPPER/TOOMUC v TOORADIN
TWO washouts and now a visit from premiership fancy Tooradin.
That’s the tough scenario that new Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (PUT) captain Jason Eastwood is confronted with and one his side must meet head-on when the two sides clash this weekend.
His side is up against it because the Seagulls stepped out in style last week and were super impressive with both bat and ball. It’s hardly the ideal time for the Yabbies to be going in underdone.
Tooradin’s bowling is clearly the most dangerous in the WGCA. Lukas Hoogenboom will be a better bowler after a full season on the synthetic while big Cal O’Hare is the perfect foil with the new ball. Steve Hamill and Ash Adams make sure there are no easy runs after the initial onslaught.
Can Darren Warne, Andrew Hilder and company post a competitive score, or will they be steamrolled by the persistent Seagulls?
Let’s hope for the former, but the latter looks more likely and the Seagulls will win convincingly.
