By David Nagel
Upper Beaconsfield (155) skipper Ben Amos (57 not out and 6/10) has capped off a magnificent two-day performance to lead his B Grade team to its first win of the season against Tooradin (80).
Amos saved the day on week one, adding 80 for the ninth wicket with Ravi Khatri (29) after the Maroons had slumped to 8/67 after some great bowling from Seagulls’ opener Luke Townsend (6/14).
The Maroons had the Gulls 1/3 overnight but looked destined for failure after Rob Simpson (29) and Tim Huguenin (22) had the visitors in control at 1/54.
But two quick wickets to Tyler Astle (3/15) ruffled the Seagulls’ feathers, before Amos decided it was time for a one-man rampage.
The Maroons’ skipper took the next six wickets to fall, turning a 3/57 scoreline into 9/80 in one hell of a hurry.
Liam Preece (1/0) completed the rout for the Maroons, who now climb from the bottom of the ladder.
Pakenham’s Steve Insall was also a star in B Grade, making 75 to lead the Lions (5/230) to a solid run-chase victory over Clyde (9/226).
Anthony Ponweera (47), Mitchell Kezik (25), Joshua Bloor (26) and up-and-coming star Jake Webster (29 not out) all played key hands in the Lions big win.
Clyde (8/226) is finally on the board in A Grade despite meeting strong resistance from Devon Meadows (156 and 1/118) on day two at Clyde.
Resuming at 1/114, the Cougars passed the Panthers and built their lead to 70 before declaring, with class performer Joel Avard (93) the clear pick of the crop.
But any chance of rolling the Panthers for a second time was soon put on hold, with Panther’s mainstay Bill Loudon (66 not out) putting a stop to that.
In other A Grade games, Mustafa Nader (5/38) helped Kooweerup (6/447) defend its massive day-one score against Cardinia (198), although a flying start from Brad Remy (65 off 38 balls) had the Bulls on target early.
Half centuries to Sulakshan Mendisque (63) and Pawan Thind (56) were not enough for Merinda Park (200) who fell 67 runs short of Pakenham (9/267) at Tony Way Reserve.
Marcus Martini (3/26), Stuart Johnson (3/40) and Jack Melbourne (3/55) bowled the Lions to victory.
And Tooradin (7/258dec and 1/38) has extended its lead at the top of the table after an outright win over Cranbourne Meadows (130 and 165).
Declaring overnight with a 128-run advantage, Luke Adams (3/27) and Bailey Lownds (2/37) bowled the Gulls into a winning position before Adams (25 not out) finished off the job.
The best game in lower grades on Saturday took place at Merinda Park (192) where the Cobras defended their modest total against Cardinia (189) in C Grade.
The game ebbed and flowed all day, with Darren Jameson (51), Dwayne Doig (45) and Lucas Eades (25) fighting hard for the Bulls with the bat, while Paxon Smith (4/26) and Kirti Sharma (4/32 off 22.3) gave nothing away with the ball.
The Bulls looked home at 8/188, but late wickets to Smith and Sharma saw the Cobras home by three runs.
The Cobras are now second, while the Bulls are still searching for their first C Grade victory.
In other games, David Fisher (5/58) bowled Devon Meadows (236) to victory over a Jimmy Augustine (63) inspired Kerala Strikers (172), while a great knock from veteran Steve Pursell (59) wasn’t enough for Officer (223) against Melbourne Sixers (257).
And a stylish half century from Kye Prior (52 not out) propelled Carlisle Park (5/155) to a winning run-chase against Kooweerup (137).
In D Grade, Andrew Ferrier (5/49) completed a sparkling game for Emerald (6/353), bowling the Bombers to first-innings points against Kerala Strikers (259).
Ferrier, who made 93 on day one and shared a 201-run partnership with Mitchell Thomas (147), was the key trundler for the Bombers, while Thomas (2/15 off 9) didn’t fare too bad himself.
In other games, David Auld (4/19) bowled Pakenham (2/159dec and 0/8) to outright points against Merinda Park (70 and 93), while Alfie Howat (4/22) and Mark McDonald (3/52) were the main contributors as Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (9/211) defended well against NNG/Maryknoll (158).
And Officer 9149) was never in the hunt against Kooweerup (360) with Adnan Moshi (3/19) and Ashikul Haque (3/24) bowling the demons to a thumping victory.
In E Grade, a match-winning knock from Keegan Bloomfield (75 not out) had guided Cardinia (9/173) to a thrilling win over Pakenham (171).
Hirenkumar Joshi (5/60) took five wickets for the Lions, who shot themselves in the foot by dropping an incredible 11 catches.
Kiran Waghmare (4/7) and Ben Knowles (3/28) were the main destroyers as Clyde (5/307) bowled well against Melbourne Sixers (151), while Carlisle Park (8/135dec) had a strong win over Officer Green (71 and 0/51).
Andrew Myers (77) stole the show for the Vikings, while Sean Chamberlain (44/26) gave everything he could for the Bullants.
Merinda Park forfeited its game against Devon Meadows, while Pakenham Upper/Toomuc had the bye.
Nine players performed well in the one-day competition this week, with seven half centuries and two four-wicket hauls the highlight.
Darren Gentile (Emerald – 72*), Jess Grima (Lang Lang – 71), Paul Connolly (Upper Beaconsfield – 70), John Gerrard-Kett (Upper Beaconsfield – 69*), Michael Coull (Merinda Park – 62), Mridul Joy (Carlisle Park – 63*) and Dilpreet Singh (Pak. Upper/Toomuc – 50) were the heroes with the bat, while Ranjith Vadakkumthanni (Avengers – 4/16) and Thomas Wolfe (Carlisle Park – 4/26) were the number-one dart throwers with the ball.
Avengers lead the way at the top of the ladder from Carlisle Park, Melbourne Sixers and Clyde.
LOWER GRADES STARS
BATTING
Mitchell Thomas Emerald D (Week 1) 147
Joel Avard Clyde A 93
Andrew Ferrier Emerald D (Week 1) 93
Andrew Myers Carlisle Park E 77
Steve Insall Pakenham B 75
Keegan Bloomfield Cardinia E 75*
Daniel Gentile Emerald One-Day 72*
Jess Grima Lang Lang One-Day 71
Paul Connolly Upper Beaconsfield One-Day 70
John Gerrard-Kett Upper Beaconsfield One-Day 69*
Bill Loudon Devon Meadows A 66*
Brad Remy Cardinia A 65
Sulakshan Mendisque Merinda Park A 63
Jimmy Augustine Kerala Strikers C 63
Mridul Joy Carlisle Park One-Day 63*
Michael Coull Merinda Park One-Day 62
Steve Pursell Officer C 59
Pawan Thind Merinda Park A 56
David Carson Devon Meadows One-Day 53
Kye Prior Carlisle Park C 52*
Darren Jameson Cardinia C 51
Dilpreet Singh Pak. Upper/Toomuc One-Day 50
BOWLING
Ben Amos Upper Beaconsfield B 6/10
Mustafa Nader Kooweerup A 5/38
Andrew Ferrier Emerald D 5/49
David Fisher Devon Meadows C 5/58
Hirenkumar Joshi Pakenham E 5/60
Kiran Waghmare Clyde E 4/7
Ranjith Vadakkumthanni Avengers One-Day 4/16
David Auld Pakenham D 4/19
Alfie Howat Pak. Upper/Toomuc D 4/22
Paxon Smith Merinda Park C 4/26
Sean Chamberlain Officer Green E 4/26
Thomas Wolfe Carlisle Park One-Day 4/26
Kirti Sharma Merinda Park C 4/32
Tyler Astle Upper Beaconsfield B 3/15
Adnan Moshi Kooweerup D 3/19
Santhuka De Silva Melbourne Sixers One-Day 3/22
Jonathon Rewell Pak. Upper/Toomuc B 3/24
Ashikul Haque Kooweerup D 3/24
Marcus Martini Pakenham A 3/26
Luke Adams Tooradin A 3/27
Niran Warnakula Pak. Upper/Toomuc B 3/27
Ben Knowles Clyde E 3/28
Sukhbir Dhaliwal NNG/Maryknoll B 3/32
Hiren Patel Pak. Upper/Toomuc One-Day 3/32
Stuart Johnson Pakenham A 3/40
Jason Brzezowski Devon Meadows One-Day 3/42
Shamendra Kannangara Melbourne Sixers C 3/44
Mark McDonald Pak. Upper/Toomuc D 3/52
Stefan Jarosz-Setiawan Upper Beaconsfield One-Day 3/54
Jack Melbourne Pakenham A 3/55
Blake Russell Clyde B 3/57
