By Jonty Ralphsmith and Marcus Uhe
ONE-DAY GRAND FINAL
The first premiership trophy has been won in CCCA senior cricket with Clyde (8/233) scoring a runaway victory over previously-unbeaten Emerald (87) in the One-Day competition grand final at Worrell Reserve.
After winning the toss and batting first, the Cougars were in great touch with Jeremy Valentine and Brett Whittingham both retiring on 70 not out before Blake Sully (22) guided the middle order to safe ground.
Sean Hewitt (4/28) and Likhesh Mahajan (3/36) were best with the ball for Emerald, who struggled badly in their reply.
Number-eight Andrew Harford (37) and top-order bat Likhesh Mahajan (11) were the only players into double figures as Johanne Siritunga (3/16) and Aaron Woolley (2/19) bowled their team to premiership glory.
A GRADE
Devon Meadows’ clash with Cranbourne Meadows is set to go down to the wire, with the Panthers setting 146.
Cranbourne Meadows is currently 7/129 in response, skipper Rajeev Dhankar and Amreek Mann both unbeaten on 34, rebuilding nicely after Jamie Cape (5/43 off 11) went on a tear late in the day.
Devon Meadows itself was in early trouble at 6/54 before Peter Deighton’s 38 helped bail them out of trouble.
Meanwhile, Tooradin looks to be cruising, Daniel Quinn, Luke Adams and Bailey Lownds all taking three wickets to bowl Pakenham out for 150, with the Gulls 2/62 in response.
In other games, Kooweerup bowled Clyde out for 94 and sit at 2/80 in reply and Cardinia is chasing an outright win over Merinda Park, bowling it out for 88 and having it 0/23 overnight.
B GRADE
Clyde number-three John Simpson has continued his dominant form with a fifth consecutive score of at least 49, this time clattering an unbeaten 79 at Barton Reserve against Melbourne Sixers.
Simpson has three Premier Division centuries among his 2295 runs for Upper Beaconsfield and Clyde in the top flight, with his 455 runs this season comfortably ahead of second-placed Ben Maroney.
That score guided Clyde to 5/252, with Shane Webster (52) and Daniel Walton (47) also cashing in.
At Toomuc, Emerald’s scorecard was interesting as each member of the top 10 reached double digits but only top scorer Tony Flint (36) passed 25 as the visitors reached 212.
Elsewhere, Officer’s Brent Pullen helped bowl Tooradin out for 131, with the Ants 1/22 in response, and Upper Beaconsfield is 2/87 chasing 93.
C GRADE
Four Adam Newstead wickets have Merinda Park with the slight edge over Devon Meadows at the halfway mark of their clash.
First and third-wicket partnerships worth more than 50 saw the Panthers on the front foot early, but Newstead broke both partnerships and was in the driver’s seat from the fall of the third wicket as Devon Meadows was bowled out for 180.
Elsewhere, Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll was skittled for 117 and has Lang Lang 1/21 in response, Officer is 3/61 chasing 103 and Pakenham Upper Toomuc’s James Stevenage is on the precipice of a half-century as his side is 1/70 chasing 122.
D GRADE
Officer’s Tahla Tahla has fallen agonisingly short of a century from number eight in the Bullants’ final-round clash with Merinda Park.
Tahla finished the day on 98 not out in an unbeaten 138-run stand with Cody Lucas, as the visitors posted 6/317.
Shannon Marum also added 84 at the top of the order.
Pakenham begins its chase of Emerald’s 168 next week at 2/23, needing a further 146 for victory and to secure top spot.
Melbourne Sixers are six runs into its chase of 127 against Tooradin, while Clyde begins day two at 1/46 against Pakenham Upper Toomuc, chasing 160.
The top four teams look unlikely to change given Officer’s strong position after day one, while the order of where each team falls is subject to change, based on results.
E GRADE
Four wickets to Ryon Tocknell has Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll in a strong position against Kooweerup.
The Demons made just 79, bowled out in the 50th over, with the Marygoons at 3/36 at stumps in reply.
Tocknell took 4/25 while opening partner Jarratt Eastburn took 3/24.
The Marygoons are tied for points with Devon Meadows in second and third, respectively.
Devon Meadows needs to defend 169 against Pakenham if it wants to leapfrog the Marygoons.
Panthers opener David Carson made 71 while Pakenham’s Gary Sewell took 4/56.
Kerala Strikers look likely to hold-on to top spot, chasing just 98 against Merinda Park, and 1/21 at stumps.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc is defending 192 against Cardinia, thanks to 82 from Karthik Thakur.
While in the Officer derby, Officer Gold posted 181 on day one against Officer Green.
