By Marcus Uhe
A superb 90 from opener Chathura Imbulagoda led Officer’s rebound from a disappointing fortnight in Casey Cardinia Cricket Association District cricket on Saturday.
The Bullants finished day one of their high-stakes two-day clash against Upper Beaconsfield with the upper hand, having hit 9/281 in their 80 overs at Upper Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve, embracing the return to the longer form of the game.
It was a welcome return to form for Imbulagoda, who’d experienced a lean patch of runs after beginning the season with a bang; two fifties in his first five innings were followed by four consecutive single-figure scores.
His innings set the foundations for the Bullants to go big, with a handful of other notable scores in a boom-or-bust day for the batting side.
Jaswinder Gill hit 49, Kade Perkins 47 and Cooper Pursell 51, the second half-century of the season for the captain and season highs for the other two.
Star leggie Scott Pitcher yielded 3/59 from his 25 overs for the Maroons, joined by left-armer Kyle Gibbs with 3/26 from his seven overs as the standout bowlers.
Following upsetting the ladder leaders in its most recent performance, Pakenham Upper District came crashing back down to earth against bottom-placed Lang Lang.
The Tigers are already halfway to the Yabbies’ total of 137, reaching 4/71 at stumps.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc’s top four batters combined for just five runs, with the dismissal of Mitch Mibus in the 12th over leaving them reeling at 4/17.
Captain Brian Kulasena and Nicholas Kyval added 28 for the second wicket to restore some order, but another collapse of 4/14 left them in trouble at 8/59.
John Langley proved the hero at number 10, top scoring with 47.
Alexander Giacco turned in brilliant figures of 4/28 from his 10 overs, as did openers Prabath Kobbekaduwa (2/9) and Nathan McLean (2/12), the chief destroyers in the collapse.
Elsewhere in District, Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll’s clash with Cranbourne Meadows is evenly poised after the opening day after a near-century to Greg Interlandi.
The Marygoons’ number five finished unbeaten on 93 as his side hit 8/227.
Following consecutive ducks in his last two innings, it was an important knock for Interlandi, who has three single-figure scores outside of his century against Lang Lang in round six.
