By RUSSELL BENNETT
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
REVIEW – ROUND 14 (DAY 1)
CARDINIA player-coach Simon Parrott admitted both the Bulls and Seagulls were particularly quiet out in the middle on day one of their clash on Saturday.
It was like the calm before the storm.
The Bulls finished the day well on top, having dismissed Tooradin for just 127, and sitting on 0/16 at stumps.
Their bowling attack, from top to bottom, was outstanding – as it has been for much of the season.
It’s probably the biggest reason they remain undefeated at this late stage.
Brayden Browne (3/26), Travis Welsh (2/13), Travis Wheller (2/20) and Dean Henwood (2/27) were the multiple wicket-takers, while the attack as a group only conceded three wides.
The Bulls know how to pile on the pressure on their home deck – they know exactly where to bowl and to what fields.
The key for them now is remembering this when they face the Seagulls again at the same venue in two weeks – finals time.
Ben Darose (7 not out) will resume this week at the top of the Bulls’ order with Daniel Strahan (9 not out) – a deliberate move to get the former some more time at the crease ahead of the finals.
“Look, we respect Tooradin extremely highly but we’re very focussed on ourselves,” Parrott said.
“It was pretty quiet out there on Saturday but I think both sides know that the verbal between us doesn’t work.”
While he said “it would be nice” if his side went through the home-and-away season undefeated, Parrott added “no one will remember you did it if you go out in a semi-final”.
With just 112 runs left for victory this week, and a full day to get them in, the Bulls are almost un-backable favourites to finish undefeated heading into next week’s game.
But they’re not taking anything for granted.
“They’ve got some clear match-winners who know what it takes to win premierships,” Parrott said of the Gulls.
Meanwhile at Emerald’s Chandler Reserve base, Bombers skipper AJ Walker was again one of the only shining lights for his side in its 210 against Merinda Park.
He drew high praise from Cobras player-coach Jamie Smith for his hard-hitting 94 but things could have been oh so different if a straightforward chance didn’t go begging in the field when he was yet to get off the mark.
Still, the Cobras are taking some strong form into the business end of the season, having just defeated Tooradin at the Snake Pit and they’ll resume on Saturday on 0/41 after just nine overs.
Smith praised his side’s whole attack – particularly Premier skipper and co-coach Danny Diwell (1/14), Craig Boswell (2/28) and the unlucky Jess Mathers (0/62 from 22 overs).
But, testament to the Cobras’ depth with the ball, Smith, Fairlam, Caleb Boswell and Daniel McCalman also picked up wickets.
Smith said this round was the first all season that the Cobras had their ideal side all playing together and now it was a matter of hitting their straps right at the business end.
In the other local Premier clash of Round 14, the Maroons are well on top in the last Beaconsfield derby for the foreseeable future.
Frustratingly typifying their season, Chris Savage’s men saved their best for last with the willow – turning in a stellar performance from the top of their batting line-up to the bottom.
Savage won the toss and elected to bat, with his side eventually dismissed for 298 in 77 overs.
All but one of the side’s batsmen reached double figures with Savage (66), Robert North (45) and young gun Jack McHale (40) leading the way.
McHale, an under-17s player, was particularly impressive with a career-best innings.
In District division, meanwhile, Devon Meadows (180) is in the box seat after day one against Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll (3/42) thanks to a valuable 40 in the lower order from Mick Floyd, the Lyndhurst Vikings (137) are locked in a tight battle with Clyde (2/39), and Cranbourne Meadows (8/204) are well on top against St Francis Xavier (3/57).
