By Jonty Ralphsmith and Marcus Uhe
Emerging Pakenham Upper/Toomuc batter Mitch Mibus has given his team the stronghold at stumps on day one in Casey Cardinia Cricket Association’s C Grade competition.
Mibus made a magnificent 184 off 178, scoring freely forward of square to guide the Yabbies to 323 against Kooweerup at Harry Blackman Oval.
Entering in the first over, after an early wicket, he batted like he was facing a different bowling attack, looking comfortable from the get-go and passing 100 without offering the fielding side a chance.
The Demons briefly tried to unsettle him with some short pitched bowling, but he rode that out and looked in control, unfazed by the wickets falling at the other end.
Contextualising the importance of his fearlessness, just two other batters in the lineup passed 12.
Soon after reaching triple figures, the Demons grassed two opportunities, but he promptly reset, effectively batting Kooweerup out of the game by the time he was dismissed in the 59th over.
The knock came in his second match back from a serious leg injury suffered on the footy field for Officer last year, with his Mum and sister witnessing the knock.
Mibus, who has essentially crashed the door down for District selection with the classy knock, is a Yabbies junior and loved club-person.
Elsewhere, half-centuries to Aidan Nooy and Kim Bentick guided Cardinia to 261, with Devon Meadows 0/12 in response at Selandra Reserve; while Maninder Singh’s unbeaten 66 helped Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll to 7/195; and Officer is 1/29 in pursuit of Merinda Park’s 113.
The highlight of A Grade was a 38-over partnership between Pakenham veterans Sean Gramc and Sam Webster.
Both made centuries to guide the Lions to a colossal 384 against Devon Meadows
Webster opened the batting and accumulated the runs en route to his second century of the season, while Gramc batted at five, the loss of three reasonably early wickets not curtailing his natural instincts.
The opener had to navigate the wily Mick Floyd who was lethal in his first spell, finishing with five wickets.
Thereafter he found the gaps, watching the ball closely onto the bat, saying he felt like he was hitting them nearly as well as that record-breaking 211 in 2014.
“If I’m hitting the cover drive well and get a couple away early, then that’s when I feel like I’m in and going well,” Webster said.
The popular clubman was also able to capitalise on a few balls on his hip early, before playing second fiddle after tea as Gramc started firing on all fronts.
Gramc raced away to his century, finishing with 141 off 117, while Webster made 136 off 197.
“He just hits the ball so clean and hard, but he hits the gaps too,” Webster said of Gramc.
Webster came off the field with messages lighting up his phone, those close to him getting wind that the game was live-streamed, while his kids Flynn and Miles were able to witness it live – Flynn also running out drinks.
Elsewhere in A Grade, Nick Shannon’s 6/44 helped Clyde bowl Cardinia out for 203 and the Cougars are 0/4 at stumps.
At Lawson Poole Reserve, Nick Booth did the damage for Kooweerup, the opening bowler taking 5/49 to reduce Cranbourne Meadows to 150, with Kooweerup 2/48 in reply.
Tooradin, meanwhile, was never able to get going against a strong team bowling performance from Merinda Park.
In B Grade, Officer is 0/20 in pursuit of Carlisle Park’s 170; a series of middle-order cameos has helped Upper Beaconsfield to 9/217; Luke Wilson took 4/8 to bowl Melbourne Sixers out for 115 with Pakenham 2/30 in response; and eight Emerald bowlers took wickets with Tooradin bowled out for 190.
Melbourne Sixers continue to set the D Grade competition alight, whacking 350 in just 61 overs against Officer at Barton Reserve.
Theekshana Gayasha led the charge for the Sixers with a brutal 111 off just 73 deliveries, hitting six sixes and 15 fours – that’s 90 runs in boundaries alone.
The Sixers declared nine down and made the most of the brief bowling opportunity they had at the close of play, reducing the Bullants to 2/22 in the six available overs.
Merinda Park was also potent, hitting 9/257 against Pakenham.
Leigh Smith played a lone hand for the Cobras with 130, as only he and Brodie Cox (56) passed 20.
David Auld took 4/62 for the Lions.
Tooradin will chase 223 for victory next week after a much-improved performance with the bat from Clyde at Rutter Park.
Five batters passed 20 but the Seagulls still managed to dismiss them for 223.
Jeremy Bodley and Shaun Tongue took three wickets apiece.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc, meanwhile, is 12 runs in to its chase of 190 against Emerald.
In E Grade, 100 from Ken McLeod played a major role in Pakenham Upper Toomuc setting 251 to win for Kerala Strikers.
It would be a major upset for the Yabbies to snatch victory, with Kerala five places ahead of them on the table.
Jino Jacob took 4/29 in nine overs for Kerala.
A tough batting day at Toomuc Reserve saw 16 wickets fall for just 138 runs in Pakenham’s tussle with Merinda Park.
Merinda Park skittled the Lions for 117 but find themselves at 6/21 at stumps after Brett Oldfield and Karanveer Singh made a mess of the Cobras’ top order.
Likewise, Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll need a further 89 runs for victory over Cardinia but resume day two three wickets down in the chase.
Christopher Remy hit 64 of Cardinia’s 124 – his teammates could only muster 41 between them – with Matthew Keoylian and Bryan Woodley taking four wickets each.
Officer Green has set Kooweerup 241 to win at Kooweerup High School thanks to an even spread of contributors throughout the innings.
While Devon Meadows is 1/37 in its chase of 158 against Officer Gold.
