By RUSSELL BENNETT
WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 5 (DAY 2)
JUST in case anyone needed reminding just how crucial Chris O’Hara is to the Kooweerup Premier side, he delivered a trademark innings against the old enemy Tooradin on Saturday.
Chasing 189 for victory, the Demons opened with teenager Cody Miller alongside skipper Michael Giles, with one eye set towards the future.
O’Hara (62), after batting at number five in his only other Premier innings so far this season, came in at an uncustomary number three on Saturday.
He and long-time opening partner and Giles put on a 50-run stand after Miller was removed by Ash Adams for 11. The Demons captain made a quickfire 36 with plenty of fours before he was dismissed by Brenton Adams.
From 2/59, O’Hara and Paul Bright (22) combined for a 50-run stand, but Ash Adams claimed Bright and wicket-keeper brother Chris both with the score on 109. From 1/58 to 4/109, the Demons were suddenly looking vulnerable.
But as they’d done so many times before, O’Hara and Matt Davey (43) put on a strong showing for the fifth wicket – for the most part both decisive and confident.
But just as they were set to steer their side to victory, former Lang Lang duo Ross Douglas and Bodie Brown combined for a particularly tight bowling partnership – bogging the Kooweerup pair down. Douglas, specifically, was very full and gave Davey nothing to free his arms and unleash with.
Gulls all-rounder Aaron Avery finally caught O’Hara hitting out off Thompson for 62 and not long after Davey was out stumped by Tom Hussey off the round-arm off-spin of Thompson for 43. From 4/109, the Demons had slipped again to 5/171, and then 6/179.
Tooradin’s chances of what would have been a remarkable comeback were well and truly alive with the visitors in all sorts of trouble at 8/184, but the Demons went on to reach 210 before they were finally dismissed. The win-loss column won’t show just how close the reigning champions’ season came to being in real jeopardy but a win is a win. Jarred Thompson finished with 4/45 from his 12 overs while Ash Adams claimed 3/39 from 16 overs.
MERINDA PARK v PAKENHAM
DESPITE resuming on day two on 1/16 and sliding to 2/31, the Cobras did it easy against the struggling Lions on Saturday.
At 1/2 when Andrew Martin was caught by Matt Welsh off Jack Ryan without scoring, and 2/31 when Craddock was bowled by Ryan for 15, the Cobras seemed in desperate trouble.
But Glen Ward (80) and Daniel McCalman (84) were seemed comfortable right from the start of their innings. Ward was loving the short stuff, while McCalman was strong with anything too straight or trailing down leg.
As Ward continued to gain confidence, it’s clear he was in fine touch – pouncing on anything over-pitched.
McCalman was almost run out just shy of his 50, but the throw in from point hit the edge of the pitch en route to the stumps – typifying Pakenham’s luckless day.
From 2/152 at tea – and with the Lions particularly quiet in the field – the Cobras piled on another 60 in the final session – winning by six wickets (4/212).
In WGCA District results, Officer (230) defeated Devon Meadows (149), Cranbourne Meadows (9/249) defeated Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (213), Lyndhurst Vikings (238) defeated Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (125, 8/192) and Clyde (8/300) knocked over St Francis Xavier (174).
In other news, Tooradin quintet Cal O’Hare, Dylan Sutton, Andrew Proctor, Hussey and Avery all made the WGCA’s preliminary Country Week squad alongside Jess Mathers and Danny Diwell from Merinda Park, Matt Hutchinson from Devon Meadows, Clyde duo Kyle Brooke and Bradley Birkhead, and Jason Hameeteman from the Lyndhurst Vikings.
