By David Nagel
THREE magnificent centuries, a five-wicket haul and two massive team totals were the highlights for the Cranbourne based teams in West Gippsland cricket on Saturday.
Devon Meadows number four Darren O’Brien (165 not out) produced a master-class against SFX Old Collegians in district division leading the Panther’s to a mammoth 7/346cc.
O’Brien walked to the crease with the home team at 2/41 and never returned to his mates until the last ball had been bowled, sharing in four 60-plus run partnerships along the way.
Stands of 87 with Steve Robinson (42), 60 with Billy Loudon (16), 70 with Jason Holman and an unbeaten 79-run jaunt with Mick Floyd (36 not out) were the cornerstones of the Panthers’ run-feast. The last must have broken the X-men’s hearts.
CATANI must be still shaking its head after a controversial dismissal sent the Merinda Park (388) lower order into frenzy against the Blues on Saturday.
When skipper Dave Williams successfully appealed for a handled-ball decision against Andrew Martin it meant the Cobras had slumped to 5/95, having lost 3/11. Another quick wicket and it was 6/109 … game on.
From there the game took on a remarkable transformation and it was number 10, yes number 10, Adam Newstead (108) who led the way. Newstead hit 19 balls either to or over the boundary in a rare display of power hitting. He shared a monumental 127-run ninth wicket partnership with Uma Rattan (86) who on any other day would have been dux of the class.
Captain Jamie Smith (48) had an earlier 80-run stand with Rattan that resurrected the innings. The Cobras last four wickets contributed an amazing 279 runs.
IN the last district match for the Cranbourne teams, the Lyndhurst Vikings (0/26) face an uphill battle to topple top side Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll after the home side racked up 299.
Heath Straughair (3/68 off 18) and Martin Davies (3/36 off 12) were the best for the Vikings.
@BT Sub Sport News:SUB-DISTRICT
TOORADIN (6/278cc) opener David Freeman (108) dominated the Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll bowlers at home on Saturday to put the Seagulls in a seemingly impenetrable position.
Freeman shared an innings-defining 133-run union with Michael Ralph (48) to set things up for the middle order. Andrew Sparks (48) and regular senior player Steve Hamill (26 not out) were happy to take advantage of the great start. Hamill will be keen to claim scalps next week and force his way back into the Seagulls’ senior XI.
CRANBOURNE Meadows (187) might be on the verge of an upset when it resumes battle this week with second placed Lang Lang (5/56).
The Rebels were in all sorts at 5/60 before Mathew Smith (44) and Brett Richards (49) put on 79 for the sixth wicket. Dave Waller (22) helped things along but 187 seemed a bit off the speed against the Swamp Tigers.
Jason Poole (2/21), Lee Murdoch (2/16) and Brent Murdoch (1/3) had other ideas however and at stumps the match looks evenly poised.
CLYDE (5/40) will have its hands full this week trying to hunt down Upper Beaconsfield’s (148) total after a late afternoon batting collapse.
Regular destroyers Adrian Buller (5/35) and Nic Miles (2/24) had the Cougars in pole position for a comfortable chase but it all turned pear shaped in a hurry. A catastrophic 5/22 has improved to a disastrous 5/40 at stumps.
Brad Goodman (15 not out) and Joel Avard (12 not out) will continue the fight this week.
@BT Sub Sport News:PREMIER
TOORADIN (7/151) has kept its momentum rolling along nicely by already claiming first innings points against Beaconsfield (111).
The season’s highest scoring team was no match for a bowling blitzkrieg from Lukas Hoogenboom (4/46 off 13) and Callum O’Hare (3/28 off 12).
The “Cal and Hoogy show” looks like being a box-office hit in March and the two put in the perfect rehearsal by feeding keeper Tom Hussey with five catches as the Tigers succumbed in less than 40 overs.
In reply the Seagulls hovered at four runs an over with Hussey (41) doing his normal top-order bonding job before Brad Sauer (46 not out) and Jay Wilson (25 not out) capped off a winning day.
