By Jonty Ralphsmith
The two-day portion of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) season kicked off on Saturday, with plenty of captivating action around the grounds.
A-GRADE
Luke Dinger made a statement for Merinda Park at Tony Way Recreation Reserve, responding to his First XI axing with a century against Kooweerup.
Dinger put on a century stand with fellow First XI aspirant Hayden Cleland, before anchoring his team to 279 with 119 off 211 balls.
At Cardinia, three late wickets put the Bulls firmly on top against Cranbourne Meadows, with the visitors 3/7 at stumps chasing a Jordan Healey-led 209.
Tooradin has already recorded a first innings victory against Devon Meadows, bowling the Panthers out for 93, which the Seagulls passed midway through the day, sitting at 5/229 at stumps.
A five wicket-haul to Nick Miles restricted Pakenham to just 155 at Toomuc Reserve.
B-GRADE
Four wickets to Ash Bailey has given Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll the slight edge in its match against Emerald, with the Bombers bowled out for 77.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc is well placed against Clyde, bowling the Cougars out for 122 and surviving three overs before stumps.
Four wicket hauls to Brent Pullen and Stefan De Silva skittled Tooradin for 73, with Officer 2/33 in response and Upper Beaconsfield got two late wickets to drag itself back into the contest after managing only 153 against Pakenham.
C-GRADE
A four-wicket haul to Shamendra Kannangara has Melbourne Sixers well-placed to defeat Cardinia.
The Sixers rolled through the Bulls for just 124 and are 1/68 overnight.
Elsewhere, Kerala Strikers put on 229 against Carlisle Park, Kooweerup captain Gerrard Gilomour helped the Dees bowl Officer out for just 189 and Devon Meadows is 1/29 chasing Merinda Park’s 205.
D-GRADE
Half-centuries to Santosh Thomas and Riju Rajendran have lifted Kerala Strikers to an imposing 8/351 overnight against Pakenham.
Thomas opened the batting with a sturdy 75 before Rajendran took apart the middle overs with a quick-fire 66.
Nar Nar Goon opening bowler Ryon Tocknell was all over Officer, claiming 6/20 including a hat-trick off his unchanged 12 overs to bowl the Bullants out for 48, with the Marygoons 4/177 and on the hunt for an outright.
Emerald batted first against Kooweerup and has the Demons 2/25 chasing 156, while Merinda Park’s Chris Smith scored a century to help the Cobras post 215.
E-GRADE
Pakenham crawled past Carlisle Park with a second innings victory either way likely at Toomuc Reserve.
After bowling Carlisle Park out for 80, it was left to lower-order batter and leader of the bowling attack David Auld to score the winning runs, after which the Lions immediately declared.
Five overs into their second innings, the Vikings sit at 1/4.
Elsewhere, Pakenham Upper Toomuc put 269 on Clyde, and Merinda Park is 1/77 in response to Officer’s 141.
