By Jonty Ralphsmith
A GRADE
Cardinia’s 292 proved far too strong for Pakenham, which has weakened its grip on a top-four spot heading into the final round of the season.
Former champion footballer Justin Berry proved too good for the Pakenham batting lineup, with the first change bowler taking 6/18 off 9.5.
Jackson Luka (46) was the only batter to stick around for the Lions, who now need to defeat pacesetters Tooradin or rely on Cranbourne Meadows to lose to the struggling Devon Meadows if it is to make finals.
Manu Goraya’s positivity opening the batting guided Cranbourne Meadows to a comfortable victory in what could have turned into a tricky chase of 253 against Clyde.
Goraya put on 124 runs in a big opening partnership with Sanjeev Dhankhar who passed 50 for the third time this season.
Meanwhile, Tooradin was far too strong for Devon Meadows, easily tracking down the target of 109, but a Nathan Kleinig century thwarted the Gulls’ attempts of an outright, and a Cullen Anderson century saw Kooweerup over the line against Merinda Park.
B GRADE
Emerald survived a huge scare from bottom-placed Carlisle Park to maintain its six-point buffer inside the top four.
The evergreen Ian Crosher set the one-day game up for Emerald with a half-century, after choosing to bat first, while Sam Booth’s 60 off 49 capitalised on the foundation despite wickets falling around him.
Defending 192, no one let up with the ball for Emerald as six of the seven bowlers used picked up wickets with Christian Elliott’s 72 a relative lone hand as Carlisle Park clawed its way to 8/169 off the 40.
Melbourne Sixers, meanwhile, upset Tooradin, putting a currency on the Gulls’ last match if it wants to maintain second spot on the ladder.
After being bowled out for 94, Tooradin did well to give itself a chance, courtesy of bowlers Connor O’Riordan, Wayne Mannix and Tye Whitnell.
But a nerveless unbeaten 45 to Isuru Umesh, batting at nine, guided the Sixers to victory.
The Sixers then briefly chased an outright and looked good when it dismissed both Gulls openers before a run was registered, but the skippers ultimately shook hands after 26 overs as Tooradin lost just one more wicket for the innings.
A series of cameos steered Pakenham to victory after Clyde had reached 4/228 at home at Ramlegh Reserve.
Sam Webster (37), Jake Webster (40*), Steven Varty (36) and Russell Little (60) all contributed to the victory as Pakenham recovered from 4/79 to chase the imposing target.
At Heatherbrae, Officer fell 60 runs short of Upper Beaconsfield’s 233 as Blake Westra tore through the top order, with Peter Quinn (64) and Matthew Payne (52) the only batters to show resistance.
C GRADE
Pakenham Upper Toomuc has usurped Merinda Park on the C Grade table after a stirring 25-run win on Saturday.
Defending 239, Jonathon Rewell put in a herculean effort, sending down 24 overs and taking six wickets, helping to instigate a mid-innings collapse to change the course of the match.
After getting both openers early, Cobras middle-order batters Brett Irvine and Paul Wiles both passed 50 to put their team on the front foot.
But Rewell’s toil was eventually rewarded with the wicket of Irvine, by which time the Yabbies lead was only 79.
But that wicket triggered a collapse of 7/38 as Rewell got his tail up in a relentless spell, well supported by Bailey Smith in an important win in the context of the season.
Meanwhile, Officer made light work of Cardinia; Brayden Browne (76 not out) playing a lone hand as the Bulls slumped to 142 all out in pursuit of 368.
Nine wickets for the match to Nathan Phillips helped Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll secured an outright victory over Kooweerup, the Marygoons chasing just 33 in the second dig.
Riley McLeod led Lang Lang to a comfortable 95-run victory over Devon Meadows, which lost wickets at crucial time, stymieing the Panthers’ attempts to track down 251.
D GRADE
Officer secured an innings-outright victory over Tooradin after chasing just 51 in its second innings.
Declaring with a 93-run lead, the Bullants then dismissed Tooradin for 137, leaving just a 45-run chase for the fourth innings.
Officer completed the job in just 6.1 overs.
71 from Joshua Bloor helped Pakenham cruise to Clyde’s target of 178 in just 43.3 overs.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc’s tail failed to build on solid foundations against Merinda Park, the final four wickets falling on 112 in pursuit of 189.
Jamie Smith took 4/30 from his 17 overs for the Cobras.
Melbourne Sixers’ day-one declaration proved costly for the newcomers, as Emerald chased their total of 270, eight wickets down.
Andrew Ferrier led the chase with 73 for the Bombers, who hit 290 in their 70 overs.
E GRADE
Officer Gold’s chances of an upset over Kerala Strikers were dashed by a typically aggressive batting performance from the Strikers.
Ayan Biswas’ unbeaten 76 helped the Strikers to chase the total within 55 overs, for the loss of six wickets.
A century to Peter O’Brien saw Devon Meadows cruise to victory over Merinda Park, the Panthers reaching the 185-run total four wickets down.
Kooweerup’s Harpreet Gandhi joined the century-makers club, with an unbeaten 108 in a successful chase of Pakenham Upper Toomuc’s 198.
The Demons reached the total six wickets down, after the top order slumped to 5/70.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll eased its way to Pakenham’s 160-run target for the loss of three wickets.
Elsewhere, Cardinia defeated Officer Green in a one-day contest.
Cardinia bowled Officer out for 104 in 49 overs, defending its total of 109.
The seasoned Chris Remy took 4/6 and made 37 not out for Cardinia.
