By David Nagel
It would be hard to find a more respected figure in the WGCA Premier Division than Tooradin (7/200) captain Cal O’Hare – who added a seventh century to an already glittering career against Merinda Park (166) on Saturday.
The six-time club champion – and premiership player – held the Seagulls’ innings together with a masterfully-crafted 111, which included nine fours…and only came to an end in the last of the home side’s allotted 40 overs.
The Seagulls needed an innings of substance, taking on a dangerous Cobras’ line up that has belted more runs than any other team this season.
And O’Hare delivered when it mattered most…being at the crease for 198 of his teams’ 200 runs before tea.
O’Hare, one of the most popular figures in the WGCA since making his debut in 2007/08, has thoroughly earned his reputation as one of the great all-rounders of the competition.
He has made over 6000 runs, and taken almost 300 wickets…a rare double that would have been achieved by now if not for some serious injuries in recent years that have dulled his bowling prowess.
Quite remarkably, given his stunning career figures, the likeable big-man may be heading for the best batting season of his career.
After an early-season failure the Gulls’ leader has now scored 398 runs in the Premier Division, averaging 56.86 from the top-of-the-order….with three games still to play.
His consistency has been admirable, with scores of 22, 77, 31, 30, 80, 46 and 111 from his last seven visits to the crease.
Tooradin coughed and spluttered around their inspirational skipper on the weekend – not a good idea during Covid – with Tom Hussey (9), Russ Lehman (6) and Brad Butler (1) all pulling off the pads with the score at 3/58.
Aaron Avery (12), Josh Lownds (12) and Dylan Sutton (21) all came and went, before youngster Tyler Evans (17 not out) finally outlasted his captain.
With red-ink in sight, O’Hare showed his team-first mentality by being stumped in the final over before the tea break.
Jaskaran Singh (3/37) and Thuduwage Kumara (2/36) were best of the bowlers for the Cobras.
Merinda Park is a very fast scoring side, making three scores of over 200 this season, with a 6/198 and 4/199 also quite impressive.
Although posting 200…Tooradin would need to bowl the Cobras out to be assured of getting the points.
That looked an unlikely task early with Dan McCalman (32), Kumara (36) and Manu Goraya (42) leading the Cobras to a powerful position at 2/98.
But from there the wheels well and truly fell off, with the Cobras failing to handle their biggest pressure test of their season.
The main examination came from speedster Brad Butler (5/37) – the quickest bowler in the WGCA – who tore through the Cobras mid-to-lower-order with ease.
Butler was expensive from his six overs…but most bowlers against the Cobras usually are!
Butler’s wicket-taking skills were important, with the Cobras sticking to a gettable run-rate all the way through to Josh Phillips (9) edging one through to Ben Parrott off the bowling of Kallan Braid-Ball (1/16) to end the game.
The Cobras are dangerous…but the Seagulls had O’Hare – one of the most respected figures in the WGCA.
The now top-of-the-ladder Seagulls face a massive trip to Pakenham this week, while the fifth-placed Cobras can keep their finals hopes alive with a bounce-back home victory against reigning-champs Cardinia.
