By RUSSELL BENNETT
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
REVIEW – ROUND 13 (DAY 1)
THOUGH Cardinia has already sewn up top spot on the Premier ladder, the race is well and truly on for the all-important second spot and the right to host a final and an insurance policy against bad weather.
Kooweerup is in the box seat, eight competition points clear of both Merinda Park and Tooradin, but the Cobras are in a commanding position after day one against the Seagulls and could yet vault over the Demons.
Their game was the only one in town in Premier on Sunday and the strong crowd that turned out to Donnelly Reserve saw the home side’s bowling attack weave its magic against one of the competition’s most imposing batting line-ups.
Dylan Cuthbertson continued from where he left off in Country Week, snaring 4/58 from a massive 27 overs.
Jess Mathers (2/41) and Jamie Smith (2/23), meanwhile, were also crucial with two wickets apiece.
Tooradin’s top four – skipper Tom Hussey (33), Brenton Adams (22), Michael Ralph (21) and Cal O’Hare (30) – all got starts but couldn’t convert them into that one, big decisive score.
The Cobras haven’t defeated Tooradin in years but they’re on the right track to changing that this week.
The home side faced the final 10 overs of the day and are sitting on 1/15 at stumps.
It’s got the full 80 overs to bat this week but the team knows it has got plenty of work ahead.
After losing opener Peter Jessop early – run out for just two – Smith strode to the cross in a kind of nightwatchman’s role.
“We spoke about that situation the game after Christmas and Twig (Smith) put his hand up,” Cobras skipper Danny Diwell said.
“But he can definitely hold a bat in his own right – he’s no mug.
“He’s made plenty of runs in the MPCA and he really deserves some runs this week.”
Smith has already made his influence felt in the match with a huge first over of his spell – knocking over Ralph and Aaron Avery (0) in a double-wicket maiden.
Avery copped an absolute peach – a ball that seemed to be heading down middle and leg, before collecting the top of off.
O’Hare, meanwhile, was the victim of a calamitous run out, which the umpires carefully deliberated over before he was finally sent on his way.
His dismissal for a hard-earned 30 seemed to be the straw that broke the Seagulls’ back for the innings.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t make a bigger score,” O’Hare said after the first day’s play.
“We were 0/50 and kept losing wickets in the middle order. I thought we’d improved lately with our batting but 160 is not a great score.
“Having said that, we believe we can win.
“They haven’t beaten us in quite a while.”
Elsewhere across the WGCA Devon Meadows (2/42) is in a strong position in its District clash with Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (155), an impressive batting performance by Cranbourne Meadows (8/311) – anchored by skipper Brent Murdoch (75) – has the side on top against Lyndhurst, and Clyde (136) has made life difficult for Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (7/39) with a staggering 17 wickets falling on day one alone.
