By Jonty Ralphsmith
A GRADE
Kooweerup went big against Devon Meadows on a taxing day for bowlers on Saturday.
The visitors shared the riches in the score of 331, three batters passing 50 led by skipper Brannon Harrison in the middle-order.
Entering at 4/75, Harrison played a fearless knock, scoring 60 of his 77 runs in boundaries as he changed the momentum of the game, allowing the middle-order to pounce on the tiring bowling attack, which was stoically led by Jordan Jansz.
At Tooradin, Luke Adams led the way with 62 as the hosts set 216, the Gulls bright start stalled by Thanuja Senarathna and Thanigaivasan Ratnalingam whose five wickets kept Tooradin to 216, with Clyde 1/8 at stumps.
Elsewhere, Pakenham is on track to account for Merinda Park, Kaleb Van Beek’s four wickets helping his side bowl out the visitors for 127, with Pakenham 0/61 in response, while Cranbourne Meadows is 0/17 in pursuit of Cardinia’s 240.
B GRADE
Emerald played a decisive innings against Melbourne Sixers to take the clear ascendancy at the halfway point in a game which will go a long way to determining which of the two sides makes finals.
Choosing to bat first, three Emerald players passed 50, with a steady second-wicket partnership between Ian Crosher and Owen Thorne setting a sturdy foundation.
Thorne finished with a steady 88 to his name, which allowed Sembakuttige Lakshan to come in and punish the Sixers bowlers.
Ten of his 35 balls went to fence as he finished with 63 off 35 before getting stumped, with Nicholas Pascoe (44 off 38), Sam Booth (62 off 55) and Jack Raukola (35 off 31) all carrying on with the same level of endeavour.
Scores were much more contained at Officer, with Pakenham bowled out for 127, highlighting the importance of middle-order batter Ben Maroney’s 58.
Two wickets to opening bowler Ashwani Kumar, and one to Mitchell Varty has the game in the balance at 3/33 at stumps.
Elsewhere, Upper Beaconsfield was bowled out for 118 by a James Thompson (5/14 off 11.5) led Tooradin attack and Clyde is 1/27 in response to Carlisle Park’s 186.
C GRADE
Ball dominated bat in Cardinia’s clash with Kooweerup at Gunton Reserve on Saturday.
Sent in to bat first, Kooweerup was bowled out for just 97 in 32.5 overs as Brandon Mackie and Curtis Watts established control for the home side, with Brad Drews and Aidan Nooy keeping the foot on the accelerator by taking five of the last six wickets.
Cardinia looked to be cruising in response, until the loss of its first wicket, Nooy, on 27.
That started a collapse of 5/20, led by Gerrad Gilmour, who finished with figures of 5/38, putting the match firmly in the balance.
Cardi was, however, able to steady, getting within two runs of victory with three wickets in hand before losing 2/0, forcing Mackie to hit the winning runs from number 10.
Cardinia is 9/98 overnight.
Leigh Smith was the hero at Tony Way Recreation Reserve, his 115 underpinning Merinda Park’s total of 236 against Lang Lang.
He was able to play his own game and keep the rate ticking over, initially in a strong partnership with Brendan Fairlam, and then as wickets fell around him.
Smith did, however, play a lone hand, with none of his teammates passing 30.
Meanwhile, Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll set Pakenham Upper Toomuc 204 for victory and Devon Meadows limped to 156 against Officer.
D GRADE
Clyde is on the precipice of a breakthrough win after an impressive batting display against Officer, having not tasted victory since early November.
A 98 to Gavin Adams and 82 for Craig Dodsworth did the bulk of the scoring as the Cougars scored 7/335 in just 70 overs at Heatherbrae Recreation Reserve.
Emerald spread the runs around against Tooradin following a platform-laying opening partnership between Steven Kapahnke (33) and John Hughes (53) at Worrell Oval.
The Bombers reached 218, with Dale Street and Andrew Ferrier both playing important cameos through the middle.
The match is in the balance at Toomuc between Pakenham and Pakenham Upper Toomuc, with the hosts scrounging to 163, and having the visitors 3/58 at stumps.
Multiple wickets to Brenton Huyskens, Russell Alison, Glen Hoskin and Brodie Cox have Merinda Park on track for victory against Melbourne Sixers, trailing their 142 by 88 runs with nine in the shed at stumps.
E GRADE
Centuries to Jarratt Eastburn and Geoffrey Ball for Nar Nar Goon Maryknoll helped their team put a monster 7/419 on the board against Kerala Strikers.
Alan Downes did the early work opening the batting, with Eastburn coming in after the loss of an early wicket and he made a statement in just his third hit of the season, top-scoring with 116.
Ball batted at five and struck a quick 105, while Liam Hill (45), Russell Jackson (34*) and Jordan Downes (20*) all got in on the action.
Seasoned century maker Johnee Cuthbertson also tonned up, clattering 22 fours in Merinda Park’s clash with Officer.
Sent in to open the batting, Cuthbertson made Officer quickly regret its decision with his crisp ball-striking opening the batting.
Despite all 11 bowlers being used for multiple overs throughout the day, Merinda Park skipped away to 8/302.
In other games, Kooweerup put 195 runs on the board against Officer, Pakenham Upper Toomuc set 9/228 at home against Cardinia and Devon Meadows is 0/14 in pursuit of Pakenham’s 244.
