By Justin Schwarze
With just three rounds remaining before finals the lower grades of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association are starting to heat up.
Merinda Park stunned finals hopeful Clyde in their own backyard by five wickets in A Grade.
After a tidy 71 not out from John Simpson helped the hosts reach 6/179, Merinda Park took to the crease, where opener Pawan Thind smashed his way to an unbeaten 96 off 93 deliveries to help his side to victory.
The win marked Merinda Park’s first for the season, and leaves Clyde in fifth spot, on the outside looking in for finals.
Elsewhere, Pakenham visited Kooweerup in a B Grade thriller.
Pakenham were 9/213, needing two runs off the final ball to claim victory, but Bailey Beet was bowled by John Bright to give the Demons the win by just one run.
Jackson Myers posted 73 not out in the unsuccessful chase for Pakenham.
Cardinia kept Tooradin to fewer than 100 thanks to a four-wicket haul from Ryan Little; the Bulls cruising to the target in 25 overs.
Mick Floyd grabbed four scalps which were followed by 75 from Jordan Jansz in Devon Meadows’ win over Cranbourne Meadows.
A half century from Robert Newell wasn’t enough for Pakenham as Pakenham Upper Toomuc got home by six wickets.
Qasim Ali’s figures of 3/19 bolstered Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll’s successful defence against Upper Beaconsfield.
A knock of 51 not out from Luke Townsend comfortably lifted Tooradin over Emerald.
At Rob Porter Reserve, it took 18 overs for Officer to march to an eight-wicket triumph versus Clyde.
C Grade saw Kerala Strikers guided by 81 from Jayaram Jayaraj and a half century from Jimmy Augustine to a win over against Officer.
Brendan McCarthy couldn’t be stopped for Carlisle Park, notching a half ton with the bat before taking three wickets with the ball in his side’s win over Merinda Park.
Kooweerup massacred Cardinia, bowling out the Bulls for just 59 with Paul West grabbing four poles and Lochlan Loveday claiming three.
Third place Melbourne Sixers narrowly got past fifth-placed Devon Meadows by seven runs.
D Grade was highlighted with a game of big numbers between Kerala Strikers and Merinda Park.
For Kerala, Giss Thomas posted 58 with the bat before Jismon Joseph took five wickets.
Merinda Park was led by four wickets from Dion Olszewski and 61 from Lochie Gillespie.
Kerala Strikers walked away as 51-run victors.
At Worrell Oval, Mark Allott’s half century partnered with Ebadullah Rafat’s 4/26 for Pakenham Upper Toomuc proved too strong for Emerald.
Pakenham showed why they sit top of the table, downing Officer by four wickets.
A marvellous unbeaten knock of 88 from Bryan Woodley steered Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll past Kooweerup.
Pakenham’s win over Carlisle Park in E Grade was highlighted by five poles from Liam Kezik and 89 runs from Brett Oldfield.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc held Officer to 7/117, and were able to comfortably coast to their target.
Unbelievable scenes at Clyde Recreation Reserve saw the Cougars and Melbourne Sixers tie, with both sides posting 176.
Ayesh Peiris scored 64 and Romesh Abeyrathna added 55 for the visitors, while Shane Jack fell one short of a half century for Clyde.
A standout individual performance from Ray Perkins was the motivation Cardinia needed to snatch victory over Devon Meadows.
Perkins claimed four scalps with the ball before bringing up 77 not out at the crease.
CCCA LOWER GRADES – 50S AND THREE FA’S
BATTING
Pawan Thind Merinda Park A 96*
Brett Oldfield Pakenham E 89
Bryan Woodley NNG/Maryknoll D 88*
Jayaram Velakkattjayaraj Kerala Strikers C 81*
Jackson Myers Pakenham A 78*
Ray Perkins Cardinia E 77*
Jordan Jansz Devon Meadows A 75*
John Simpson Clyde A 71*
Ayesh Peiris Melbourne Sixers E 64*
Lochlan Gillespie Merinda Park D 61
Giss Thomas Kerala Strikers D 58
Dan Evans Pakenham A 57
Mark Allott PUT D 57
Romesh Abeyrathna Melbourne Sixers E 55
Luke Townsend Tooradin B 51*
Rob Newell Pakenham B 51
Jimmy Augustine Kerala Strikers C 51
Brendan McCarthy Carlisle Park C 50*
Leigh Smith Merinda Park C 50
BOWLING
Liam Kezik Pakenham E 5/34
Jismon Joseph Kerala Strikers D 5/38
Paul West Kooweerup C 4/9
Ryan Little Cardinia A 4/11
Malith Kanahara Melbourne Sixers C 4/26
Ebadullah Rafat PUT D 4/26
Ray Perkins Cardinia E 4/31
Mick Floyd Devon Meadows A 4/32
Dion Olszewski Merinda Park D 4/33
Lochlan Loveday Kooweerup C 3/6
David Rea Officer Green E 3/15
Qasim Ali NNG/Maryknoll B 3/19
Musashi Guruswamy Officer D 3/19
Noah Parraga Officer B 3/23
Brendan McCarthy Carlisle Park C 3/24
Joel Anderson Kooweerup A 3/28
Sahin Ayres Cardinia A 3/29
Dilith Aluthwatta Officer C 3/31
Parampreet Singh Cranbourne Meadows A 3/36
Krishmin Roshen Melbourne Sixers E 3/36
