By David Nagel
Let’s hope we finally get a complete visual of the strengths and weaknesses of Kooweerup and Tooradin when the two undefeated teams in Casey Cardinia Premier Division go toe-to-toe at Denhams Road on Saturday.
We couldn’t ask for a better start to the new year with the Demons and Seagulls set to lock horns in one-day action at Kooweerup.
It was only back in round seven – on 25 November – when we got half a look at what a grand final match-up might look like between these two sides.
Kooweerup skipper Luke McMaster won the toss that day and elected to bowl first; a common tactic for the Demons who have the best bowling attack in the business.
And what a battle it was, with Peter Sweeney (77), Dylan Sutton (52 not out) and Tom Hussey (39) repelling the best that speedster Adam McMaster (5/65) and off-spinner Matt Bright (2/51) had to offer.
But the plug got pulled; half way through watching the best reality TV show of the year…with play washed out on December 2.
We were denied the chance to see these two great sides in the ultimate heat of battle!
This week, in the one-day format, we won’t quite to see what a two-day grand final might look like; but at least we will get to see how both teams respond when the game is legitimately on the line.
The grounds at Kooweerup and Tooradin are almost the complete opposite in dimension, with Denhams Road very short square of the wicket…but long straight.
These dimensions suit players like Chris Bright and Luke McMaster who are both powerful punishers of the short ball and don’t mind swatting across the line against spinners or speedsters.
Seagulls’ quick Brad Butler will need to bowl tight lines or risk being dispatched to all quarters.
It will be interesting to see if Seagulls’ captain Mick Sweeney opts for the medium-pace accuracy of Russell Lehman and Kallan Braid-Ball early…or if Butler will be released off the chain!
Either way, it will be ‘not-to-be-missed’ action when Bright and McMaster chalk up centre on Saturday.
This one could go either way; with players like the McMasters, Butler and Sutton capable of taking it away from the opposition in an instant.
We’ll go for the Demons to take top-spot after a thrilling last-over victory.
Devon Meadows can take a giant step towards securing a place in the 2023/24 finals series when the Panthers make the short trip to Cardinia on Saturday.
The fourth-placed Panthers sit one game clear of the Bulls after winning their last three completed games against Clyde, Pakenham and Merinda Park.
But it was the game that didn’t get completed that could tell the story for these two teams at the end of the season.
The Bulls dominated the Panthers at Glover Reserve in round seven, with skipper Dean Henwood making all the running.
He declared Cardinia’s innings closed at 5/331 on day one, and then had the Panthers at 9/136 on day two before a rain-shortened contest ended in a draw.
If they take that last wicket and the Bulls are currently fourth…with Devon Meadows looking in from the outside!
But the current lay of the land provides the Panthers with the opportunity to kick two games clear with just five rounds remaining in the season.
Lucas Ligt has been magnificent for the Panthers this season, while Nathan Worsteling is averaging 73 from his last two outings.
Will Halton is second on the run-scoring list for the Panthers with 215 runs, but scores of 4 and 3 in his last two innings will have him hungry for runs.
This one should be a beauty, with Morteza Ali and Travis Wheller sure to provide the Panthers with some headaches.
The winner of this should play finals…so the prize on offer is huge.
We’ll go for the Bulls to prevail in a tight one.
Pakenham should begin the calendar year in winning style when the Lions host Carlisle Park at Toomuc Reserve.
The Lions were unconvincing against the Vikings in round seven, being bowled out for 207 before the home side was 0/27 in reply.
Day two was washed out, before the Lions bounced back with an emphatic display against Clyde.
The regulars have been consistent for the Lions this season, with Dale Tormey (338), Chris Smith (234), Rob Elston (191) and Jack Anning (157) leading the way with runs, while Jason Williams (13), Tormey (11) and Tom Tyrrell (8) have been most dangerous with the ball.
But, despite sitting third, Tormey knows his team has some serious ground to make up on both Kooweerup and Tooradin this season.
The Lions will climb one game closer to one of those two teams this Saturday after a comprehensive victory.
And Merinda Park could sneak to within one game of the top four if successful on a road-trip to bottom-placed Clyde.
The Cobras haven’t won since round five, but will fancy their chances against a Cougars team that collapsed in their recent contest in round seven after a super-impressive start.
Trevor Bauer made a century for Clyde that day, but the remainder of the innings fell apart.
The Cobras will have too many weapons…and win comfortably.
CCCA PREMIER DIVISION
ROUND 9
Saturday 13 January, 2024
PAKENHAM (3) v Carlisle Park (7)
KOOWEERUP (2) v Tooradin (1)
Clyde (8) v MERINDA PARK (6)
CARDINIA (5) v Devon Meadows (4)
