By David Nagel
Carlisle Park (7/207) V Kooweerup (6/226)
Kooweerup’s (6/226) perfect start to the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) Premier Division season has continued in fine style after the Demons overcame a brave challenge from Carlisle Park (7/207) on Saturday.
The Demons, minus bludgeoning opening batter Chris Bright – who is recovering from a left ankle injury – posted an intimidating score, before staving off a surge from the Vikings through the middle stages of their reply.
Back-to-back victories, over Officer and the Vikings, have the Demons in a confident mood heading into this week’s double-header against Merinda Park and Tooradin.
In Bright’s absence, regular opener Luke McMaster (60) welcomed a new partner in Mitch Davey (29) to the top of the order, and the pair set about building a perfect platform.
McMaster has elevated himself to being one of the most damaging players in the CCCA in recent times and he continued that ascent on the weekend.
Confident off either front or back foot, McMaster is going to provide a huge challenge to all opposition this season, with the Bullants and Vikings already getting a taste of his medicine.
The punishing right-hander had the Bullants in big trouble in round one, but threw things away trying for back-to-back maximums.
He smoothly sailed to a half-century this time around, with his 60 runs coming from just 54 balls, with six despatched to the boundary…and one over the ropes.
Davey was first to go, caught in front by former teammate Mahie Bodahandi (1/17 off 5) who stuck to his guns well amongst the Demons’ onslaught.
Davey, a tall and elegant left hander, has shown some great signs in the opening two rounds of the season with skipper Michael Giles expecting some big things as the rest of the year unfolds.
Davey and McMaster went in quick succession, leaving gun recruit Gamini Kumara (63 not out) to guide his new club to a winning score.
Kumara was at the crease for the Demons final 141 runs, sharing telling partnerships of 47 and 39 with Cody Miller (26) and Jess Mathers (26) respectively, before rounding out the 40 overs with an unbroken 30-run stand with Stevie Dillon (13 not out).
The only lowlight for Kumara was his involvement in the run-out of Ayden Mills (4) – Kumara’s second involvement in two weeks.
But the former Yarragon champion has already showed that his extreme talent will be a major talking point as the Demons’ campaign evolves.
His 63 runs, from just 64 balls, included just two boundaries, showing our busy he is at the crease.
Senal De Silva (2/49) was the only multiple wicket-taker for the Vikings, who faced their second big run-chase in two weeks.
They made a respectable 187 against Cardinia (9/214) last week, but were looking to go one better against the Demons.
Opener Bodahandi (40) played an enterprising knock against his former club, whacking six fours along the journey, but received little support at the top of the order.
When Bodahandi gave debutant-keeper Hunter Cairns his first catch behind the stumps, courtesy of Matt Bright (1/33 off 8), and Shalika Karunanayake (17) fell a short time later, the Vikings looked in all sorts of trouble.
But skipper Anurudda ‘Teddy’ Fonseka (86) and another former Demon in Videsh Dassanayake (35) rallied the cause together, putting on an 89-run partnership for the fifth wicket that had the Demons not reeling…but certainly on the back foot.
Kumara (2/46) then capped off an outstanding day at the office, removing both danger-men, to see the Demons home in a hard-fought affair.
Mathers (2/42 off 8) claimed joint bowling honours with Kumara, while McMaster (1/29 off 8) was the most frugal.
The Demons host Merinda Park (Saturday) and then travel to Tooradin for a blockbuster Sunday clash, while the Vikings will look to post their first win for the season against either Pakenham (Saturday – Away) or Clyde (Sunday – Home).
The Vikings have made the second most runs in the competition after two rounds (394)…but need to transport that impressive batting form onto the winner’s list.
