By Marcus Uhe
Pakenham Upper Toomuc has all but secured a place in the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association’s District Division final four following an outright win over Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll on Saturday.
Taking a 98-run lead after the first innings, a declaration from the Marygoons opened the door for the Yabbies to pinch an important victory and return them to finals action.
The Marygoons raced to 9/225 in 37 overs before declaring the innings closed, setting Pakenham Upper Toomuc 128 for victory.
Jess Grima and Russell Perry led the charge with 73 and 58 respectively for the Marygoons, who struggled to form partnerships in the middle order in pursuit of quick runs.
The challenge was ahead of the Yabbies with limited overs remaining in the day, but Mitchell Mibus and Brian Kulasena were up to the challenge.
Mibus was critical in steadying the ship after an early stumble from the top order, steering the chase with an unbeaten 54, supported by his captain who scored an attacking 35.
Jess Grima took 5/52 in the second innings for the Marygoons to make it eight wickets and 73 runs for the match, rebounding from a duck in the first innings.
The door isn’t completely closed on the Marygoons’ finals chances, but they will need to secure an outright win over ladder-leading Officer if they are to qualify.
Officer thrashed Lang Lang by 121 runs thanks to a six-wicket haul to Devon Gabriel-Brown.
Gabriel-Brown is one of the competition’s form players as finals near; having taken 11 wickets in his last two outings.
Beginning the day with skipper Dale Cranston already in the sheds, Officer ran through the Tigers with ease, dismissing them for 114.
Jeshun Pius offered the most resistance with a 120-ball 35, but his teammates lacked his defiance.
He was one of Gabriel-Brown’s six victims, along with middle order pillars Alex Giacco and Damien Quinlan, before the seamer cleaned up the tail to complete his haul.
The win locks the Bullants into top spot, given Cranbourne Meadows, the only side with a chance to catch them, have the bye next week.
Cranbourne Meadows was given a fight by a spirited Emerald outfit thanks to a sensational hundred from Sembakuttige Lakshan.
Lakshan did the bulk of the scoring with 154, nearly outscoring all of his teammates’ combined scores, as the Bombers fell 26 runs short, dismissed for 320 in the 76th over.
Only Trent Rolfs (51) contributed with another score of note, with no one else going beyond the 20s.
Heading into the final week, the top four sides are likely set, with seedings likely to be the only thing with a chance of changing.
Upper Beaconsfield can jump Cranbourne Meadows and finish second if they can secure an outright over bottom-placed Lang Lang, while as previously mentioned, it would take something extraordinary from the Marygoons to knock Pakenham Upper Toomuc out.
Emerald face the Yabbies at home in the remaining contest of round 14.
