By David Nagel
Some of the biggest names in the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) wasted little time in making their mark on the new season on Saturday – setting the benchmark for a great season ahead.
Kooweerup star Matt Bright claimed six wickets, while Tooradin gun Dylan Sutton delivered an impressive all-round performance that led the Seagulls to victory over Clyde.
Tooradin skipper Cal O’Hare, Cardinia pair Jake Prosser and Morteza Ali, and Pakenham skipper Dale Tormey were others to set the standard high in round-one one-day action.
Here’s our look at the opening day of the season.
Kooweerup (4/92) v Officer (91)
A mesmerising bowling display from Matt Bright has propelled Kooweerup (4/92) to an impressive six-wicket victory over Premier Division newcomers Officer (91) at Denhams Road on Saturday.
Bright, who won the competitions leading wicket-taker and best-average awards last season, began his new campaign with an imperious display of slow bowling, capturing 6/10 off 6.3 overs.
Bright did damage at both ends of the Bullants innings, taking the first three wickets to fall and the last three wickets as well.
The Bullants struggled to gain any impetus against a high-quality Demons attack, with Bright supported beautifully by Luke McMaster (1/20 off 7), Jess Mathers (0/11 off 5), John Bright (1/13 off 5), Gamini Kumara (1/20 off 8) and Stevie Dillon (1/13 off 6) …who all had the radar dialled in.
But it was Matt Bright who set the scene for a tough initiation to the top flight for the Bullants.
The off-spinner had Jaswinder Gill (8), Chathura Imbulagoda (6) and Jack James (9) all back in the sheds early, before his comrades played a patient waiting game with the Bullants’ middle-order.
Only a rebuilding 35-run stand between Peter Symons (22) and Aiden Pipicelli (14) stopped this one from getting ugly.
Bright then had the ball on a string late, receiving a return catch from Cooper Pursell (9) before deceiving Nick Whitelaw (3) and Leigh Boyle (2) – who were both stumped by the quick hands of Chris Bright.
The Bullants modest total was never going to be enough…and the Demons exploded early.
Chris Bright (19) hit Pursell’s first ball of the run-chase over mid-on for two, beginning a rollicking first three overs of play.
Bright fell in the third over, hitting a wide one from Pursell straight to cover point.
The Demons’ big-name recruit then strode to the crease with Kumara (2) looking solid during his 13-ball stay in the middle.
The former Yarragon champion never got to show his full array of strokes, being run out at the strikers end after a mix-up with McMaster.
Kumara looked to turn the strike over early, looking for quick singles, and there was almost an air on inevitability about how either he or McMaster would be dismissed.
Great batters look to tick the strike over in the early stages of their innings and the Demons’ non-strikers will need to adjust to Kumara’s instincts as he settles into his new line-up.
McMaster (29) played a beautiful hand, crunching three fours and one six with a delightful array of stroke play.
McMaster’s second last ball landed just over the mid-on boundary, while his very next ball was heading in the same direction but was snaffled on the boundary by Jack James.
Mitch Davey (19) then smashed one into his pads, but was given out LBW, before Ayden Mills (16 not out) and returning skipper Michael Giles (2 not out) put the Bullants out of their misery.
Jonty Bennie (2/26 off 5) took bowling honours for the Bullants, while left-hand quick Pursell showed some promising signs after surviving the early onslaught from Chris Bright.
Bullants’ skipper Ash Smith said the heavy loss was all part of the learning process.
“I told the boys (after the game) that was the benchmark, they’ve been the best side over the last 10 years, and that even though they gave us a touch up we didn’t embarrass ourselves and there are some positive signs moving forward,” Smith said.
“With our batting, we gave it away a little bit, and if we can improve on that I think we can take it up to a lot of the sides in Premier.
“I felt like our bowling held up well, we just need to work on what we’re trying to achieve with our batting.”
Things don’t get any easier for the Bullants, with a trip to Cardinia this week, while the Demons will look to make it two from two when they make the trip to Carlisle Park.
Carlisle Park (187) v Cardinia (9/214)
Cardinia (9/214) captain Jake Prosser has made no secret of his desire to have a fully functioning top order dictating terms from the outset this season.
The Bulls’ skipper put the focus fairly and squarely on his misfiring leading guns after the Bulls fell one-win short of defending their 2021 Premier Division title earlier this year.
But early indications would suggest the Bulls are on the right path to success after their top-four batters led the visitors to a first-up 27-run win over a much-improved Carlisle Park (187) on Saturday.
Prosser called correctly and had no hesitation in putting the Bulls’ batting skills to the test, with Alex Nooy (34) walking to the crease with a new partner in highly-prized recruit Morteza Ali (50).
Nooy and the DDCA’s 2020 Wookey Medal winner created an instant bond, sharing the load beautifully in a 67-run stand that built the platform for victory.
When the partnership of Nooy and Ali ticked into the 40’s, the pair had eclipsed the highest opening stand (39) for the Bulls from last season, and they were already well on the way to breaking through the 259 runs – average 17.27 – that the Bulls’ openers accumulated in 2021/22.
When Nooy was the first to go, a new challenge presented itself for Prosser…but this time at the crease!
Prosser strode to the middle and played a classy and composed innings, scoring his 47 runs from just 49 balls, with four boundaries and one towering six his innings’ highlights.
With Ali more circumspect at one end, Prosser led a second-wicket partnership of 60 that was ended by Vikings recruit Ben Perry (2/34 off 6), who had Ali hitting one back to the bowler.
Prosser then fell to the same conveyance…the Bulls 3/146.
Nooy, Ali and Prosser all received a tick at the top of the order, the Bulls just need someone to guide the team through to the 200-run milestone.
Talented keeper-batter Bradey Welsh (43) was the man, batting at four and sharing 21 and 28-run stands with Leigh Paterson (11) and Travis Wheller (6) respectively.
Once past the 200-run barrier, Welsh departed and left the lower order to take some late swipes.
Perry did the key damage for the Vikings, while Kasun Balasuriya (3/34 off 7) and the returning Senal De Silva (2/41 off 6) delivered late, while Aaron Straughair (1/23 off 6) contained things admirably through the middle overs.
It was time to lay eyes on a Vikings’ batting line up missing its key weapon from last season, Ravi Kodithuwakku.
The Vikings started solidly, with Mahie Bodahandi (25) and Ethan Davies (38) producing 48 runs without loss, before Josh Grogan (2/38 off 8) made two important breakthroughs.
Bodahandi was first to go, castle disturbed, before Perry (0) snicked one through to Welsh a short time later.
Shalika Karunanayake (13) showed some promising signs in a short 14-ball vigil, before skipper Teddy Fonseka (46) and De Silva (30) forced the Bulls to work hard for their first-up win for the season.
Grogan was important for the Bulls, while the tidiness of Prosser (1/26 off 8) and wicket-taking prowess of Wheller (3/36 off 8) and Nathan Volpe (2/56 off 8) piloted the Bulls to victory.
It’s only a short sample size but the Vikings appear to have more depth and be more settled than last season, while the Bulls – with top-order firing – have their eyes on only one prize!
Clyde (133) v Tooradin (5/244)
Reigning premier Tooradin (5/244) has put an impressive first stake in the ground with a magnificent all-round performance against Clyde (133) at Ramlegh Reserve on Saturday.
The Seagulls were superb in all aspects of the game, crunching the Cougars to all parts of a lightning quick outfield before producing a typically-stubborn bowling effort.
Skipper Cal O’Hare (63) won the toss and was quickly padded up and heading to the middle with his great mate Tom Hussey (29) beside him.
The two champs were in great form from the outset, sharing a 57-run partnership.
Hussey was in terrific nick, crunching four boundaries in an effortless 31-ball innings that had ‘watch me for the rest of the season’ stamped all over it.
Hussey looked set to sparkle before a loose shot outside off stump gave a simple chance to Jason Hameeteman at point.
Hussey went out…Russ Lehman (32) comes in!
The quality of batting certainly didn’t deteriorate with Hussey’s demise, with O’Hare and Lehman sharing a brilliant 79-run stand.
The pair wasted no time in getting busy, with O’Hare crunching four boundaries in five balls in just the third over of the partnership.
O’Hare looked in glorious touch, playing some beautiful straight drives, and he brought up his half century with a brutal lofted drive off the bowling of Daniel Lever in the 20th over.
The Gulls were 1-117 at drinks.
O’Hare’s batting was faultless, hitting eight fours and that aforementioned six, before he was found short of his ground.
Lehman went a short time later, handing the reins over to Dylan Sutton (69 not out) and Josh Lownds (25) to finish off the top-order’s good work.
Sutton has developed into a serious star of the competition, one that probably flies under the radar with names like Hussey, Lehman and O’Hare in the mix.
But his performance on Saturday…well it further rubber-stamps his class.
Sutton smashed the Cougars to all parts, whacking seven fours and two sixes – 40 runs in boundaries – in a devastating innings of just 53 balls.
Lownds was hot on his hammer, going at a run a ball for his quarter of a century!
Sutton then backed up his impressive batting with a sensational spell of bowling, claiming 3/22 from eight overs to take home trundling honours as well.
His wickets were all of high quality, with openers Michael Vandort (29) and Kane Avard (10) followed by the key scalp of John Simpson (7).
“Dylan Sutton has had a huge pre-season, and is hitting the bat a yard quicker than last year.”
The words of O’Hare in last week’s season preview are already starting to ring true.
Vandort showed glimpses of his brilliance, and Suchin Herath (22) and Nera Wanniarachchi (20) also threatened to make runs, but the Cougars were brought down by a consistent Seagulls bowling group.
Sutton was the star, but the efforts of Jack Mannix (3/22 off 6) and Brad Butler (2/21 off 6) were also key factors in the victory.
The Gulls host Pakenham this week, in a huge match up, while the Cougars welcome Merinda Park back to Ramlegh Reserve.
Merinda Park (121) v Pakenham (2/122)
A new-look Pakenham (2/122) outfit will take huge confidence from its eight-wicket victory over Merinda Park (121) at Donnelly Reserve on Saturday.
The core of the Lions’ premiership-winning team is still there, with names like Anning, Elston, Gramc, Tormey and Williams all experienced players who know what it takes to win flags.
And new players from other clubs, such as Nick Sadler (Clyde) and Trent Scholfield (Knoxfield) have a stack of experience that skipper Dale Tormey can draw on.
And youngsters James Close, Marcus Martini, Jordan Seers and Bailey Beet add that touch of raw enthusiasm that can be infectious throughout a squad.
But it bringing it all together, at short notice, to claim victory against the Cobras, well that’s one hell of an achievement for the Lions.
Minus two of their big guns – Chris Smith and Patrick Lawson – the Lions looked vulnerable on the weekend, but found a way to get the job done.
And it was a combination of that youth and experience that came together as one.
The youngsters, Close (3/24 off 8) and Martini (2/12 off 4), did the early damage for the Lions, ripping the heart out of the Cobras top-order, leaving them 5/51.
And after a resurgence of sorts from Tyson Bertrand (43 not out) and Kim Bentick (15), it was left to the experience of Tormey (2/34 off 7.5) and Jason Williams (2/18 off 6) to finish off the youngsters’ good work.
Chasing 122 for victory…the Lions would have jumped at that opportunity at the start of play!
And experience took control in the second part of the contest…chasing runs.
Jack Anning (15) came flying out of the blocks early, putting on 17 with Rob Elston (33), before Tormey (44 not out) joined a rock-solid Elston and put on a crucial 61-run stand for the second wicket.
Tormey and Williams (19 not out) then cruised home to victory with 29 balls left in the tank.
Things will get tougher for the Lions, before they return to full strength, but Saturday’s win was a huge first step in being competitive with the likes of Cardinia, Kooweerup and Tooradin this season.
Wins like Saturday’s certainly do build confidence, and the Lions will need every ounce of that great commodity they head to the banks of the Westernport this week to take on reigning champs Tooradin.
As for Merinda Park, well a win against Clyde is a must with games against Kooweerup, Tooradin and Cardinia following closely on the horizon.
Lose this week against the Cougars and the Cobras could be off to a zip-five start to the season.
