Buller’s nine-wicket haul

By David Nagel
CLYDE’s (4/162dec) Adrian Buller etched his name into the West Gippsland Cricket Association record books on Saturday by taking an astonishing 9/32 off 13.3 overs against Gembrook (65 and 4/43) in Sub-District division.
Buller’s mountainous effort was the best return for a bowler in any WGCA grade this season and took his season tally to 34 and the number one ranking in the division. A 10-wicket haul was never on the cards after spoilsport Dean Williams (1/13 off 10) took out one of the openers.
After rolling the home-side inside 28 overs, Buller’s top-of-the-table Cougars then set about building a sizeable lead. Brad Goodman (82) and Kane Avard (32) did that with no fuss with the Cougars declaring with a 97-run lead and 16 overs left in the day.
Buller (1/3) made it 10 for the day as the Cougars put four Brookers back in the sheds. The only talking points now are how many for Buller and a finishing time. We’ll go for 14 and 2.08pm.
FOURTH placed Tooradin (7/90) played host to fifth-placed Cardinia (86) in a virtual battle for a finals place on Saturday, and what eventuated was a bowl off between the two attacks.
The visiting Bulls won the toss and batted, but the impressive Seagulls attack was on top of its game. Steve Hamill (4/39), Mathew Finch (3/19) and Rick “Dutchy” Holland (3/26) made constant inroads and eventually dismissed the Bulls in 39 overs.
In reply, the Seagulls never looked like failing in its chase, but made hard work of it all the same. Kane Latham (22), Mathew Walker (18) and Adam Galea (14) set the foundation in another wise flimsy performance. The Seagulls now look safe in fourth position.
CRANBOURNE Meadows have nothing but pride to play for and find itself in an evenly balanced game with Upper Beaconsfield (187) after day one.
At 6/106 the Rebels looked to have the home side in trouble but a seventh-wicket stand of 66 swung the game back the Maroons way. Jason Poole (3/24) then took the last three wickets cheaply to keep the Rebels in the match. Mark Zoldak (2/21), Adrian Savage (2/36) and Lee Murdoch (2/47) joined Poole on the multiple wicket takers list.
PREMIER
Tooradin’s (5/262dec) Tom Hussey laid further claims to the title of the best batsman in West Gippsland, with a majestic 124 against Officer (2/31) in Premier Division on Saturday.
After being asked to bat, the high-flying Seagulls got off to the perfect start with Brenton Adams (52) sharing a 180-run stand with Hussey, who dominated the partnership.
Hussey’s century was his second for the year, topped off by three half centuries, and when he was the second man dismissed with the score on 186 it left his season total on a phenomenal 601-runs at an average a tick over 50.
Apart from Hussey’s brilliant knock, the best thing to come out of the Seagulls’ innings was the return to form of Adams. The experienced top-order bat will be crucial in partnership with Hussey, come finals time and tops off a perfect preparation for the in-form Gulls.
Callum O’Hare (36 not out) performed well as usual and Jay Wilson (24) topped off an innings that was declared by Aaron Avery in the 64th over. The Seagulls declaration was obviously motivated by the sniff of outright points and O’Hare (1/13) and Ash Adams (1/2) have made early inroads.
DISTRICT
THIRD-placed Devon Meadows (4/206) continued to apply pressure to Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll and Merinda Park with an emphatic day-one routing of Lyndhurst Vikings (119) on Saturday.
The Vikings elected to bat on its home deck, but struggled against an evenly balanced Panther’s attack. There were no big bags for regular destroyers Peter Zauner (2/31) and Mick Floyd (1/33), but Matt Clayton (2/13) and the reliable Bill Louden (3/15) picked up the slack. David Spencer (26) was the only Viking to show anything with the bat.
The Panther’s reply was swift and brutal, with Jason Holman (84 not out) and Steve Robinson (67) treating the Vikings like toy soldiers. Their 133-run, third-wicket stand should be rubber stamped with outright points this week.
MERINDA Park (0/8) refuse to surrender a top-two grid position for the big race in March and once again look headed for victory against SFX Old Collegians (160).
After being sent into the field, the Cobras bowling trio of Shannon Mathers (3/27), Adam Newstead (3/34) and Jess Mathers (2/38) took it to the X-Men as their visit to the college turned into a beneficial affair.
Toby Odlum (50) was terrific for the X-Men, but unless they can produce a stellar bowling performance this week, their finals chances are shot.