By Justin Schwarze
As the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) season shifted to two-day matches, the competition’s second day’s play saw results across the grades.
A-GRADE
Kooweerup successfully chased Merinda Park’s score of 279 with just one wicket in hand thanks to a brave 68 from Hunter Cairns off 114 balls.
A five-wicket haul from Jack Melbourne and three from Jack Scott bowled out Clyde for 118, meaning Pakenham walked away as 36-run victors.
Devon Meadows were sent into bat again and bowled out for 132, failing to reach 229 after a low-scoring first innings as Tooradin was crowned outright winners.
Cardinia’s first innings total of 209 was enough to guide the Bulls to victory, as Cranbourne Meadows finished on 157 on day two.
B-GRADE
A steady 65 from Robert Newell helped Pakenham fend off five scalps from Upper Beaconsfield bowler AJ Claxton, as the Lions were one wicket winners.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc took home a five wicket triumph over Clyde at Harry Blackman Oval, where Niran Warnakula posted 47 runs for the hosts.
Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll was steered to victory by Kuwarjeet Singh with 61 and Sumit Sharma with 43 against Emerald.
Officer dominated Tooradin, as the Bullants’ declared score of 130 in the first innings saw them home, with Tooradin only reaching 63 in their second time at the crease.
C-GRADE
Liam Pirotta fell one short of a half-ton but Kooweerup still managed to get over the line against Officer, as Michael Monckton hit the winning runs with just one wicket to spare.
Solid batting from Carlisle Park including 57 from Christian Elliott, 63 not out from Dean Lyddy and 43 not out from Brendan McCarthy saw the Vikings comfortably cruise to a five-wicket win against Kerala Strikers.
Adam Newstead took 3/47 and Russell Alison and Paxon Smith added two wickets each helping Merinda Park hold Devon Meadows to 129, leaving the Panthers 76 runs short.
Yasuntha Gamalath posted a half-century before retiring as Melbourne Sixers coasted past Cardinia’s score of 124, then ultimately deciding to continue to bat and finishing with a scoreline of 6/234.
D-GRADE
Pakenham couldn’t reach the target of 351 posted by Kerala Strikers due to five wickets from Davis Joseph.
Kooweerup’s batting line-up of Nasib Sunny with 44 and Mahbub Sarkar with 35 was too strong for Emerald, as the Demons claimed the two-wicket win.
An unbelievable batting display from Allan Collins saw him bring up 143 not out with 26 fours, leading Pakenham Upper Toomuc in its run chase over Merinda Park.
Ryon Tocknell’s 3/10 and seven maidens paired with Seamus Hill’s 3/26 helped Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll defend their total of 177 in the first innings against Officer.
E-GRADE
Despite 67 runs from Johnee Cuthbertson, Merinda Park fell just three runs short of the target, with Steve Finch taking 3/11 in Officer’s successful defence.
Shane Jack lifted Clyde over Pakenham Upper Toomuc in front of the home crowd by batting beautifully and posting 137 runs.
After each team batted twice in a low-scoring affair, it was Pakenham who ended up on top against Carlisle Park by seven wickets.
Cardinia’s first innings was enough to get the job done against Melbourne Sixers at Livingston Recreation Reserve.
