By Jonty Ralphsmith and Marcus Uhe
Clyde proved the giant-killer of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) lower grades on Saturday with upset wins in A, B and D Grade.
A GRADE
Ben Knowles’ 96-ball 105 proved decisive in Clyde’s upset four-run defeat of Cardinia in CCCA A Grade, in what became a substantial day for the club.
Opening the batting, Knowles batted the majority of the innings as the Cougars posted 6-254 batting first at Ramlegh Recreation Reserve.
Bradley Reiner and Matt Welsh combined for half of Cardinia’s runs in reply, but too much fell to them in the chase, as seven batters failed to reach double figures, posting 250 from their 40 overs.
It was a case of déjà vu for Merinda Park’s Sony Bhullar who took a second consecutive five-wicket haul in a losing side.
His 5-31 last week against Cardinia was repeated with 5-17 against Tooradin, as he threw everything at the defence of 97.
His efforts were in vain, however, as Bailey Lownds’ 41 guided Tooradin to a three-wicket win.
Carlisle Park were thrashed by Officer to the tune of 10 wickets, who are still chasing Tooradin for top spot, and Kooweerup was too strong for Pakenham.
B GRADE
Shane Jack and Steven Russell put on 139 runs for the opening wicket to set up Clyde’s upset of Devon Meadows.
Russell top-scored with 78, their steady start enabling Clyde to reach 5/229.
Nicholas Sleep’s run-a-ball 68 guided Devon Meadows close to victory, but when he was the fifth wicket dismissed with the team still 41 runs in arrears by Craig Dodsworth, Clyde took the upper hand, eventually winning by 19 runs.
Four wickets to Anthony Flint, and Sam Booth’s two wickets and unbeaten 62, set Emerald up for a four-wicket win over Cranbourne Meadows.
Meanwhile, Upper Beaconsfield successfully defended 115 against Tooradin, led by a four-fa to Thesara Hirimuthugoda.
C GRADE
C Grade saw Pakenham push ladder leaders NNG/Maryknoll to the brink at James Bathe Reserve.
A remarkable spell of 3-5 off five overs from Ryon Tocknell helped restrict Pakenham to 129 all out.
Michael McLaren top-scored for Pakenham with 47, but aside from Troy Wilson’s 41 it was somewhat of a lone hand.
A regular fall of wickets from the Marygoons meant they reached the total, but nine down.
Had they lost and Officer won, Officer could have stolen top spot.
But not only did NNG/Maryknoll prevail, the Bullants couldn’t get over the line against Devon Meadows.
After they were dismissed for 156 batting first, it took 36 overs for Devon Meadows to rack up 157, five wickets down.
Cardinia’s 51-run win over Lang Lang has them tied with Pakenham now in fourth place, as openers Jye Remy (61) and Tyson Browne (59) set about an imposing target of 170.
Lang Lang recovered from 4-7 to reach 119 all out, with Craig Boswell’s 4-10 off eight overs doing the major damage.
D GRADE
D Grade saw Clyde pull off yet another stunning upset, the bottom-placed team beating ladder-leaders Officer.
At 8/83, Clyde looked in trouble, before some late-order hitting from Salman Faiz (40 not out off 49) helped his team to a respectable 140 which put some scoreboard pressure on Officer.
Officer never looked likely in response, losing consistent wickets to fall over for 82, Jiten Patel and Ben Ferrari-Mela leading the way with three wickets each.
Emerald was also upset on the weekend, by Cardinia which moves into equal fourth spot on the table.
Cardinia skipper Darren Oates threw the ball around with 10 players rolling the arm over and it was Connor Eades, the second change bowler, who did the heavy lifting with 4/10 off eight.
Cardinia was set 8/153, which was chased down on the last ball of the match by Ash Jones who finished unbeaten on 13.
Lucas Eades’ 46 off 69 led the way with the bat.
Pakenham’s victory over Kooweerup also saw a last-ball finish as Pakenham, chasing 133 for victory, finished it with number nine Tristan Sharp (13 off 15) and 10 Cooper Newnham (two off four) at the crease.
E GRADE
Officer’s upset win over NNG/Maryknoll was the major result from E Grade, chasing 144 four wickets down in the 36th over.
A hefty 29 extras hurt the Marygoons, who conceded top spot on the ladder to Pakenham.
The Lions thumped Pakenham Upper Toomuc by five wickets on the back of Russell Little’s 87, cruising to the required 129 in just 26 overs.
Josh Wise’s late cameo with the ball helped his Tooradin side to a win over Lang Lang.
Tooradin lost opener Darryl Jago on the opening ball of the game, but recovered to set 165 for victory.
A Lang Lang win was looking on the cards at 5-105, but Wise’s figures of 4-5 from 1.3 overs snuffed-out any chance of a Tigers victory.
It capped a significant day for the youngster, who was making his senior cricket debut, having been called-up from Tooradin’s Under 14s.
F GRADE
Devon Meadows was 111 runs too strong for Kooweerup after scoring 4/177, and half centuries to Rob Blackwell and Gary Sewell led Pakenham to a four-wicket win over Merinda Park.
