By RUSSELL BENNETT and JARROD POTTER
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCATION
A STUNNING hat-trick from Pakenham rising star all-rounder Zac Chaplin (4/23) was the undisputed highlight of the Lions’ away Premier win over Beaconsfield.
The Tigers won the toss and elected to bat and opened with their two best run-scorers – last season’s District division superbat Brendan Johnson (16) and skipper Don Kerslake (74).
The decision loomed as a masterstroke as the pair put on 59 for the first wicket before Chris Smith (2/15) struck.
Kerslake seemed undeterred despite wickets falling around him and dragged his side to 3/123 before being bowled by Lehman (2/15).
But from there – and what looked like being a promising total – the Tigers (137) collapsed – losing their last seven wickets for just 17 runs.
Chaplin was simply devastating through the Beaconsfield middle-order.
Chasing 138 for victory, there were more promising signs for a Lions side skippered by Jack Anning in the absence of usual skipper Jason Williams.
Lehman (44) and Smith (41) put on their first sizeable opening stand of the season and it could yet prove one that propels them to big things over the coming weeks.
The Lions ultimately reached the Tigers’ total in just 33 overs and for the loss of just three wickets.
In the other results of the Premier round, Cardinia (8/184 cc) turned the tables on Kooweerup (130) in its grand final rematch, Tooradin (9/196 cc) defeated Emerald (150) at Berwick’s Haileybury campus, and Merinda Park (9/112) crawled over the line against Upper Beaconsfield (111).
Meanwhile in District division Clyde (6/168 cc) left the heavy lifting to John Simpson (104 not out) in its win over Officer (7/131 cc).
Simpson strolled to the crease and was unfazed by the Bullants’ attack, setting about his work while the rest of the Cougars decided a day off from batting was on their cards.
Helping out Simpson most of all were extras (17) and beyond the charity of Officer, Clyde wicketkeeper James Abou-Jaber (16) and Gav Adams (12).
Shane White (2/39) toiled for the Bullants alongside the economic Toyosi Solanke (1/10) but neither could steal the match-changing wicket of Simpson as he strolled towards his fourth WGCA century.
White (42 not out) would be the number-one man again in Officer’s chase as he stood tall while the Bullants around him scurried back to the sheds.
Miles (3/28) showed a little more aptitude with the ball than with the bat earlier in the day and Noel O’Brien (2/31) also added a couple of wickets to the Clyde initiative.
Elsewhere, making fools of all who doubted them, the Rebels yelled their way to their third victory as Cranbourne Meadows (152) held off Devon Meadows (9/139).
Showing their top-billing in District isn’t just an early season fluke, the ladder-leading Rebels had to fight back after a top-order collapse created by Matt Hutchinson (2/16) and Mick Floyd (2/29).
The Panthers’ opening duo proved difficult to get off the square as their 15.4 overs only went for 45 runs.
A middle-order revival from Brent Murdoch (30) and Tom Smith (41 not out) kept Cranbourne Meadows in the middle with Smith carrying on stabilising the tail-end effort. Ben Hussey (2/42) aided the openers with a pair of scalps.
In reply Devon Meadows leaned on Darren O’Brien (66) to battle through the Rebels’ attack. O’Brien was left marooned at the middle without any tangible support outside of captain Nathan Worsteling’s 13.
Any Rebel that stepped up to the stumps earned a wicket with John Emery (2/25) and Geoff Bradshaw (1/25) proving as effective as their opposite openers.
O’Brien’s wicket would fall to Bradshaw at 8/129 and spelled the end for the Panthers’ chasing chances.
