By RUSSELL BENNETT AND DAVID NAGEL
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
PREMIER
Merinda Park (7/275cc) pair Jason Pongracic and Anthony Craddock produced a recovery of epic proportions against reigning premier Kooweerup at Lakeside Oval on Saturday.
The Cobras were in more trouble than the early explorers at 5/53 after Demon seamers Sam Cole (3/45) and Paul Bright (2/86) ran riot through the top order.
But that’s when Craddock (83) and Pongracic (106) got to work.
The young pair set about playing smart, calculated cricket that wasn’t without its share of big hits but they would come at minimal risk through measured shots.
To start with, it was clear Craddock and Pongracic were all about consolidation, but as they found their feet in the innings they also found their footwork at the crease.
Craddock and Pongracic ultimately put on 141 – the biggest sixth wicket stand in the WGCA’s top flight since the 150-run stand between Kooweerup pair Shane Dole and Jeff Walsh in 2008/09.
Craddock made a stellar 83 and Pongracic a sublime 106 before both were eventually removed by Ron Bright Jr Pongracic’s ton was his first in the WGCA and the first of this season in the Premier Grade.
“I’m rapt for Jason – he’s a brilliant fielder, he bowls and he wicket-keeps but he’s just a great bloke,” Merinda Park skipper Jamie Smith said.
“He’s a delight to have around the team and he has the best attitude of anyone I’ve seen.”
Crucially though, after Craddock’s dismissal up-and-coming youngster Caleb Boswell (26 not out) combined with Pongracic for another 69-run partnership to push their side to an impressive total from their 80 overs.
Upper Beaconsfield (184) has top spot firmly in its sights after the second-placed Maroons posted a competitive total against Emerald at Upper Beaconsfield on Saturday.
The Maroons clearly still have plenty of work to do to bank the 12 points, but if they can stop the Bombers from matching their personal best total this season, top spot beckons, with ladder-leader Cardinia (175) in all sorts of trouble against Pakenham (0/86).
New recruits Robert North (60) and Jake Serong (55) were the stars of the show for the Maroons, who lost opener Julian Bayard without scoring – leg-before to Bombers speedster Clinton Marsh.
An 87-run stand between North and Serong steadied the ship but the Maroons lost their final nine wickets for just 97 runs.
Michael Nell was the pick of the Bombers’ attack with 3/30 while Darcy Hellriegel (2/25), Marsh (2/39) and skipper A.J. Walker (2/45) were the other multiple wicket-takers.
Cardinia’s (175) unbeaten start to the season looks certain to end at the hands of Pakenham (0/86), the Lions in a great position to make it back-to-back victories at Toomuc Reserve.
The Bulls had no answer to a nagging approach from Chris Smith (3/33) and Zac Chaplin (2/29), slumping to 5/31 before a 57-run stand between young St Kilda AFL player Arryn Siposs (81) and Travis Welsh (27) slowly started to turn things around.
Welsh then became the first of four consecutive wickets to Russ Lehman (4/60), who finally claimed Siposs, the ninth wicket to fall.
Pakenham openers Russ Lehman (44) and Chris Smith (32) will resume their innings this Saturday.
Tooradin (0/72) will be hunting outright points after a dominant Saturday afternoon against Beaconsfield (107) at Perc Alison Oval.
Ash Adams (3/29), Matt Finch (2/11) and Aaron Avery (2/19) combined to rip through the Tigers’ top and middle orders to have them at one stage 5/55.
The home side was eventually rolled in the 58th over for just 107 with opener Angus Bunnell (21) top-scoring.
With more than 20 overs remaining in the day’s play, the Seagulls took to their first dig in an aggressive frame of mind with Tom Hussey racing to 47 not out at stumps.
Tooradin will resume this week at 0/72 – looking to make light work of the rest of its chase.
DISTRICT
THE West Indies were famous for playing calypso cricket … not collapso cricket as was the case for SFX Old Collegians (111) against Devon Meadows (7/130) at the college on Saturday.
The X-Men, cruising at 4/111, lost a staggering 6/0, their innings finished in just 36.3 overs as the two cellar dwellers chased their first victory for the season.
Noel Betreen (66) and Brendan Hunt (29) were the only SFX batsmen to score more than three runs as Ben Hussey (4/35), Lucas Carroll (3/2) and Mick Floyd (2/19) did the damage.
Darren O’Brien (34) and Bryce Ingram (21) then played key roles in steering the Panthers to victor
Officer (7/312), quite simply, pounded Lyndhurst Vikings at Starling Road as every batsman from top to bottom contributed to their side’s cause.
Tommy Marks top-scored with 67 and Brett Reid (52) combined with skipper Shane White (35) for a strong start at the top of the innings, while Chris Byrne (35) and David Collins (34 not out) added valuable runs from the lower order.
David Spencer (2/37) and Ammar Bajwa (2/73) were the multiple wicket-takers for the Vikings.
The match between Cranbourne Meadows (143) and Clyde (1/30) at Lawson Poole Reserve is evenly poised.
Clyde’s Kyle Brooke led his sides’ attack with 3/20 while Noel O’Brien (2/16) and Dean Williams (2/20) finished with two scalps apiece. The Cougars will resume this week at 1/30.
Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (159) claimed two late wickets to even up its contest against Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (2/30).
Luke Gunton (32) and Andy Hilder (27) steered the Yabbies from a precarious 8/88 to set up a competitive total.
