By David Nagel
MERINDA PARK (23) V KOOWEERUP (195)
There’s too much still on the line for Merinda Park skipper Andrew Martin to start ranting and raving…but the Cobras were left shell-shocked and embarrassed after being bowled out for just 23 by Kooweerup (195) at Donnelly Reserve on Saturday.
Not for the first time in his stellar career Martin was the top scorer of the first eight batters in the scorebook, but his miserly total of three runs gives an indication of what took place on the weekend.
Four ducks, two ones, a two and a three, they’re the numbers that conspired to see the Cobras collapse to 8/10 against an amped-up Demons’ attack.
Thank god for Sony Bhullar (9) and Josh Phillips (7) who combined for an 11-run partnership for the ninth wicket – six runs better than any other union on the day.
Demons duo Luke McMaster 6/12 off 11) and Jess Mathers (3/11 off 10.5) bowled superbly, ending the Cobras one last chance of playing finals with a clinical dissection of the highest order.
Holding hopes of playing finals less than a month ago, the Cobras are now in a dog-fight with Clyde to avoid relegation.
Since Christmas the Cobras have made 106 (Cardinia), 103 (Tooradin) and now 23 in descending order….surely this one is rock-bottom!
“We came back from Christmas with a sniff of playing finals but we’ve been taught a cricket lesson from three of the top four teams,” Martin explained.
“We’re doing the work on a Tuesday and Thursday, and I can rant a rave and carry on like a pork chop all I want, but the guys are doing the work but just not getting the rewards at the minute.
“I don’t know if it’s a mental thing that we need to get over, or we’re coming up against teams that are primed for finals cricket and we’re not there yet.
“But we’ve got no choice but to stay positive and try to bounce back as soon as possible, starting this week against Clyde.”
This was the perfect recipe for a memorable day of cricket; with the Cobras battling to find form while McMaster and Mathers, two of the best quickies in the league, were at their bustling and brilliant best.
“What we came up against on Saturday was something I haven’t seen in 10 to 15 years of playing senior cricket, probably the best opening spell from both ends that I’ve ever seen,” Martin said.
“They’ve got so many options, and it just happened that Luke had a day out and Jess provided the perfect foil.
“Some of those balls, they were incredible and it felt like everyone had one with their name on it.
“A lot of our younger boys haven’t played a lot of red-ball cricket yet, and I told them after the game that we’ll back them in as long as they keep putting the work in.”
The Cobras now sit in seventh position on the ladder, just one game clear of Clyde, who travels to Donnelly this Saturday.
The door is finally shut on finals, but the battle for relegation now begins.
“It’s probably the weirdest season I’ve been a part of because every time you think your finals ambitions are over, the door stays open for some reason,” Martin explained.
“Obviously we haven’t that taken the opportunity to make it, but even last week with Cardy not making 120, the door was open again.
“I don’t think I’ve played in a season where we don’t actually know who is going to go down yet so late in the season.
“There are probably six teams that could still figure in finals, and potentially two or three that could get relegated.
“There’s still a lot for our club to play for.”
The Cobras have a one game and small percentage gap that will dissipate if they lose to the Cougars.
“There’s a tiny little bit of a buffer, but you don’t want to leave these things to chance…if we win this week we’re safe, and that’s the bottom line,” Martin said.
“They (Clyde) have proven they’ve got the capabilities to get it done, but we can only control what we can control and our destiny is still in our hands at this stage.
“It would be nice to lock it way this week and move on and look forward to next year.”
Kooweerup host Carlisle Park in round 13, who had an emphatic victory over Pakenham.
CARLISLE PARK (6/344) V PAKENHAM (81)
This was the nightmare scenario that Pakenham (81) had avoided all season.
The Lions glittering top order finally failed against Carlisle Park (6/344) on Saturday, exposing an under-prepared mid-to-lower-order that simply needs time at the crease if the Lions are to be any chance of winning their first premiership in four years.
Only fighting knocks from Jason Williams (28) and Rob Elston (23), who shared a 42-run-stand for the fourth wicket, stopped this one from getting ugly.
Jack Anning (0), Dale Tormey (1) and Chris Smith (4) were back in the sheds in an instant as the Lions caved in against the opening pair of Senal De Silva and Ben Perry.
De Silva claimed four wickets on the day, with Perry taking two and Kasun Balasuriya three, as the Lions managed to survive just 33 overs at the crease.
It’s hardly the ideal preparation for this week’s blockbuster one-versus-two clash against Tooradin at Toomuc Reserve.
While the Lions struggled on Saturday in clearly their worst performance of the season, the Vikings are building momentum that could lead them to the biggest stage in March.
The Vikings face a huge essay against Kooweerup at Denhams Road in round 13, but win that and they will enter a final-round shootout with fourth-placed Cardinia with a wagon-full of confidence.
And, in the mood they’re in, they could prove a dangerous foe to confront in the first week of finals.
Names like Karunanayake, Perry and Fonseka are proving talking points around the league with the Vikings sitting second only to Tooradin in the runs-scored column this season.
Kooweerup look set for a third-placed finish, so it would be great to see the Vikings prevail over the next fortnight and set up that mouth-watering last-round clash.
CLYDE (219) V OFFICER (238)
It is not 100-percent safe but Officer (238) took a giant step towards survival in the CCCA Premier Division on Saturday with a hard-fought victory over Clyde (219).
Promoted from District Division last year, the Bullants made no secret of their number-one mission this season…that was simply to survive.
They’re now two games clear of bottom place with two games remaining in the season, and still harbouring hopes of playing finals cricket.
Skipper Ash Smith would have jumped at that opportunity at the start of the season!
The Cougars were always in the run-chase on the weekend with Michael Vandort (63), Daniel Lever (21) and skipper Brett Reid (57) building a solid platform for success.
But the Bullants refused to buckle, with Jonty Bennie (4/59 off 17.4) and Daniel Irvine (2/48 off 17) putting their hands up when fight was needed most.
Bennie and Irvine combined for the last five wickets to fall, with the Cougars seemingly on their way to victory at 5/174.
Bennie claimed two crucial breakthroughs, then handed over to Irvine, before bagging the last two wickets to fall to start some joyous celebrations.
Cooper Pursell (2/55 off 18) battled bravely for the Bullants up front, with his regular partner in crime Aidan Pipicelli, missing the game through injury.
The Bullants host Cardinia this week in a game they must win to keep their finals hopes alive.
Clyde heads to Merinda Park for an equally important contest at Donnelly Reserve.
CARDINIA (83) V TOORADIN (121)
The game between Cardinia and Tooradin was played over the Australia Day weekend with Tooradin defending its modest day-one total thanks to a special performance for Russell Lehman.
Lehman took a hat-trick on his way to figures of 8/34 from 18 overs.
