By RUSSELL BENNETT
WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 5 (DAY 2)
JUST in case anyone needed reminding just how crucial Chris O’Hara is to the Kooweerup Premier side, he delivered a trademark innings against the old enemy Tooradin on Saturday.
Chasing 189 for victory, the Demons opened with teenager Cody Miller alongside skipper Michael Giles, with one eye set towards the future.
O’Hara (62), after batting at number five in his only other Premier innings so far this season, came in at an uncustomary number three on Saturday.
He and long-time opening partner and Giles put on a 50-run stand after Miller was removed by Ash Adams for 11. The Demons captain made a quickfire 36 with plenty of fours before he was dismissed by Brenton Adams.
From 2/59 O’Hara and Paul Bright (22) combined for a 50-run stand but Ash Adams claimed Bright and wicket-keeper brother Chris both with the score on 109. From 1/58 to 4/109, the Demons were suddenly looking vulnerable.
But as they’d done so many times before, O’Hara and Matt Davey (43) put on a strong showing for the fifth wicket – for the most part both decisive and confident.
But just as they were set to steer their side to victory, former Lang Lang duo Ross Douglas and Bodie Brown combined for a particularly tight bowling partnership – bogging the Kooweerup pair down. Douglas, specifically, was very full and gave Davey nothing to free his arms and unleash with.
Gulls all-rounder Aaron Avery finally caught O’Hara hitting out off Thompson for 62 and not long after Davey was out stumped by Tom Hussey off the round-arm off-spin of Thompson for 43. From 4/109, the Demons had slipped again to 5/171, and then 6/179.
Tooradin’s chances of what would have been a remarkable comeback were well and truly alive with the visitors in all sorts of toruble at 8/184, but the Demons went on to reach 210 before they were finally dismissed. The win-loss column won’t show just how close the reigning champions’ season came to being in real jeopardy but a win is a win. Jarred Thompson finished with 4/45 from his 12 overs while Ash Adams claimed 3/39 from 16 overs.
Emerald, meanwhile, will enter Round 6 full of confidence after an excellent all-around performance against Beaconsfield.
The Bombers declared on 8/274 with 13 overs left to play on day one after Julian Scott (98) and Ian Litterbach (59) shone in the middle order.
But with the Tigers resuming on day two at 1/50, the match was far from decided.
Enter Clinton Marsh and Darcy Hellriegel. Marsh (4/67) was involved in Beaconsfield’s first five dismissals – taking four either caught behind, bowled or leg-before; and running the other out.
Big Hellriegel, meanwhile finished with 3/47 as the Tigers were rolled for 159.
With the Bombers still a chance of an outright win, they then sent Beaconsfield back in and had Don Kerslake’s side at 5/153 at stumps with Hellriegel taking another three scalps. Jarrod Williams stood tall with the bat, finishing undefeated on 72.
After taking 14 wickets in an afternoon, and with Scott and Litterbach’s form with the willow, the Bombers are primed to take on Pakenham this week. They’ll need it before their back-to-back games with the ladder-leading Bulls. Beaconsfield faces a brutally tough task against Kooweerup at Lakeside, before taking on Merinda Park twice before the break.
Tooradin and Beaconsfield are at opposite ends of the Premier ladder, currently sitting third and eighth respectively.
