By Justin Schwarze
Round 3 of Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) wrapped up with some interesting results across all grades of the competition.
A-GRADE
Mustafa Nader’s 84-run innings, partnered with four-wicket hauls from Matthew Bright and Thomas Cairns led Kooweerup in its successful chase against Cranbourne Meadows, finishing with 1/131 and a nine-wicket victory.
Luke Adams had an impressive innings, scoring 88 and Shane Somers contributed 41 in Tooradin’s 33 run victory over Clyde, despite a half-century from Yashan Gunasinghage.
Pakenham’s bowling attack of Jordan Seers, Sam Downes, Jack Scott and Kaleb Van Beek proved too strong for Devon Meadows, bowling the Panthers out for just 77 before comfortably chasing the total for a four-wicket victory.
Four wickets from Merinda Park’s Brendan Fairlam wasn’t enough as Cardinia posted a score of 9/181, with 41 not out from Jordan Healey and 38 from Travis Welsh, helping the Bulls cruise to a 93-run win.
B-GRADE
A half-century from Maninder Singh boosted Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll in their triumphant defence of 6/190, despite 55 from Tooradin batter Jack Jenkins and 43 from Thomas Rudeforth.
Officer posted a score of 3/125, headlined by Alexander Brennan’s half-ton, taking down a Taj Beddows-led Pakenham by seven wickets.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc coasted to an eight-wicket win over Upper Beaconsfield, with three scalps from Sankara Manivannan and two each from Ryan Yeates and Alex Prendergast.
Unbeaten half-centuries, from Adrian Buller and Joshua Spittel lifted Clyde over Emerald by 53 runs at Clyde Recreation Reserve.
C-GRADE
Scoring was easy to come by for the Kerala Strikers as Villy Vincent scored 45, Benoy Unnikrishnan tallied 49 and Ajeesh Joseph clinched a half-ton, withstanding Cardinia, which was led by a half century from Kobe Boswell by 72 runs.
Officer opener Jack Kenny provided 55 for the Bullants, and James Quinn notched three wickets to just squeeze by Nathan Francis’ 52 for Merinda Park, as Officer won by five runs.
Carlisle Park defended its total of 140 against Devon Meadows, thanks to four wickets from Adam Hollingworth and three from Brendan McCarthy.
Kooweerup won a nail-biter against Melbourne Sixers, riding on the back of 56 from Omar Afghanyar, hunting down the total of 185 with one wicket in hand.
D-GRADE
Pakenham demolished Pakenham Upper Toomuc after bowling out the Yabbies for just 56.
A batting masterclass at Worrell Oval started with 114 from Emerald’s Lakhvir Sekhon, including 13 fours and four sixes, and was enough to hold off Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll and 78 not out from Matthew Keoylian.
Chris Smith, Johnee Cuthbertson and Paul Roach tore through the Officer batters as they helped steer Merinda Park to an eight-wicket victory.
A combination of four wickets from Ashikul Haque and 51 runs from Nasib Sunny saw Kooweerup 37-run victors over Kerala Strikers.
E-Grade
After Pakenham Upper Toomuc was bowled out for 133, courtesy of four scalps from Krishmin Roshen, Melbourne Sixers reached the required tally with three wickets to spare.
Andrew Myers scored 72 not out in Carlisle Park’s dominant display with the bat, as they didn’t lose a wicket, smashing Devon Meadows.
Three wickets from Ray Perkins couldn’t get Officer over the line, as Craig Hart’s 44 not out aided Cardinia in the win.
The match between Pakenham and Clyde was abandoned.
