By David Nagel
DEVON Meadows (171) have slipped from a coveted top two position in District division after it was beaten by top-of-table NNG/Maryknoll (8/199cc) at home on Saturday.
Unless there’s an upset in the next few weeks the Panthers now face the unenviable task of an away semi-final against either the Marygoons or Merinda Park.
Panthers’ skipper Shane Filius sent the visitors into bat and once again it was Peter Zauner (2/13 off 8) and Mick Floyd (3/41 off 8) who led the way. Zauner struck twice early before the Panthers struck stern resistance from the Marygoons middle order.
In reply the Panthers’ top order struggled on its home deck slipping to 3/28 with Lucas Carroll (34) the only top six player to offer anything. A slight recovery to 3/65 was soon 6/68 then 7/87 and an early trip home looked on the cards for the Goon boys.
Bill Loudon (45) and Floyd (35) put on 82 for the eighth wicket but the damage had been done, the Panthers falling 28 runs short of victory.
MERINDA Park (1/90) was the benefactor of the Panthers loss, taking over second spot after a predictable rout of Nyora (89) at home.
Bowling first the Cobras didn’t have it its own way early with Troy Ferguson (37) helping the Maroons to 2/48. Once he went it was all downhill as Jess Mathers (5/26) helped himself to a five wicket haul. Adrian Slater (3/9) and Shannon Mathers (2/18) cleaned up the tail as the Maroons lost 8/41 to end its innings in just 22.3 overs.
Daniel McCalman (50 not out) helped himself to some nice red-ink as he and Chris Smith (27) put on 71 for the first wicket. The match was over inside 20 overs.
LYNDHURST Vikings’ (192) finals aspirations are over after it failed to defend its sizeable total against an improving Catani (3/194).
Batting first the Vikings registered what it thought would be a winning score but the Blues had other ideas. The Vikings could only take three wickets as Catani won with seven overs to spare.
@BT Sub Sport News:SUB-DISTRICT
CLYDE (4/165) consolidated top spot on the Sub-District ladder with a hard fought victory over a gallant Cardinia (158) at home on the weekend.
Captain Noel O’Brien sent the Bulls into bat and after 40 overs he had a contest on his hands. O’Brien (4/9) did serious damage from his four over spell after his usually reliable pace attack struggled to make inroads. Joel Avard (2/20) and Nic Miles (1/23) were both tidy from eight over spells and were best behind O’Brien.
The Cougars needed a solid start and exceeded its own expectations when David Denton (50) and Brad Goodman (39) put on 96 for the first wicket. A few quick wickets fell but O’Brien (29 not out) capped off a great day by guiding his team home with three overs up its sleeve.
TOORADIN (194) haven’t given up hope of a third successive Sub-District premiership and those hopes received a major boost on the weekend when it paid a profitable visit to Cranbourne Meadows (140).
The Seagulls now sit in fifth position on the ladder and face fourth placed NNG/Maryknoll this week in a crunch game for both teams.
After being sent in to bat it was a team effort rather than individual brilliance that pushed the score towards 200. Kane Latham (39), Michael Ralph (26), Mat Walker (24), Adam Galea (24) and Andrew Sparks (24) all kept the innings flowing through the mid to late overs.
For the Rebels Adrian Savage (4/46 off 7.1) was expensive but claimed wickets while Mat Smith (2/26) and David Waller (2/27) chimed in with a couple each.
In reply the Rebels had the same type of consistency but at a much lower level as promising starts weren’t converted into match-winning knocks. Only Smith (40) and Trevor Poole (22) got past the teens.
For the Seagulls Galea (4/22 off 4.2) claimed top honours with four wickets but Rick “Dutchy” Holland (3/8 off 6) was the most effective combining wickets and economy.
