By David Nagel
Even by Russell Lehman’s extraordinarily high standards…this was a day to savour.
The Tooradin all-rounder – one of the great players of the competition over the last decade – took a hat-trick to finish off the Seagulls’ round-12 CCCA Premier Division fixture against Cardinia at Gunton Oval on Saturday.
But that magnificent highlight, well it was only one chapter of the story that the dual Terry Stephenson Medallist delivered on the day.
Lehman also took his first-ever eight-wicket haul, claiming 8/34 from 18 breathtaking overs, as the reigning champions defended their modest 121 with a crushing performance against the Bulls…who could muster just 83!
After bowling seven overs from the ‘old-nets end’ at Gunton Oval on day one, Lehman bowled a further eight overs in his opening spell on day two – ending with figures of 3/34 off 15 – before handing over to Dylan Sutton for his six-over trundle.
The wickets of Alex Nooy (13) and Nathan Volpe (0), within three balls during Lehman’s opening spell, gave fore-warning of what was to come.
He second spell, well it was simply extraordinary.
Lehman took back the rock from Sutton for the 44th over of the Bulls innings and bowled the perfect 18-ball spell.
He started with nine dot balls, building pressure with an immaculate line and length, before trapping Travis Wheller (1) in front with an in-dipper.
It started a run of five wickets in nine balls, with a maiden, double-wicket maiden, and triple-wicket maiden Lehman’s figures for his last three-over spell of the match.
Incredible!
He clean bowled Leigh Paterson (0) – two balls after Wheller – before starting his hat-trick run by repeating the dose on Lachlan Volpe (0).
He then trapped Dean Henwood (0) in front, before knocking over the castle of Cameron Stow (0) with a perfectly-executed in-swinger.
“Off the top of my head, that spell of bowling is the best I’ve seen I reckon, an incredible spell and one we’ll look back on and remember forever,” Tooradin skipper Cal O’Hare said immediately after the match.
“He was cooked at the start, he actually said to me ‘take me off’, which he never says, and I asked him for one more and that’s when he got those two wickets in his first spell.
“But that second spell…he was hooping them in a mile and there was nothing they could do about it.
“A few of those balls were unplayable, it was an unbelievable spell of bowling.
“We actually spoke about it on Friday night, that he was the man for the job, and he delivered like he has so many times before.”
At the same time that O’Hare was praising his players for their sensational performance, Cardinia skipper Jake Prosser was unleashing his fury on a Bulls’ outfit that once again failed to deliver with the bat.
But the day…well it was all about one man.
Because, even by Russell Lehman’s extraordinarily high standards…this was a day to savour!
For a full recap of all the CCCA Premier and District Division action, and highlights from the lower grades, grab a copy of Wednesday’s Berwick-Pakenham Gazette.
