By Marcus Uhe
Bowlers ruled the roost in CCCA District cricket on Saturday with all three batting sides losing their 10 wickets on day one of the first week of two day contests for the season.
Leading the way with the best bowling figures of the afternoon was Emerald tweaker Sembakuttige Lakshan, who finished with 6/47 from his 33 overs against Officer at Chandler Recreation Reserve.
Lakshan went right through the high-flying Bullants’ middle order on his way to the six-wicket haul to help dismiss Officer for 234.
Jaswinder Gill and Chathura Imbulagoda could not maintain the rage they had mustered to date at the top of the order with Gill removed by Clinton Marsh early in the innings.
Imbulagoda made a quick 43 in a 51-run partnership with Taj Beddows in what was one of few partnerships of note for the Bullants.
Vice-captain Ash Smith made 50 and provided some stability in the middle order as wickets fell around him; Taj Beddows and Kade Perkins both departing with the score on 101.
Lakshan claimed the wickets of Beddows, Smith and Perkins at number three, four and five respectively and completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing William Carlyle and Cooper Pursell.
Pursell’s dismissal brought the Bullants to 9/193 but a valuable final-wicket partnership of 41 from Dan Irvine and Noah Parraga could prove decisive when the Bullants take to the bowling crease.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll’s poor stretch of form continued, rolled for 123 inside 60 overs against Upper Beaconsfield.
The run out of James Markland for 32 ended a promising yet patient start for the Marygoons as they settled back into the rhythms of two-day cricket.
Greg Interlandi’s dismissal triggered a woeful collapse of 7/12 in 10 overs as Nathan Phillips (zero), Jess Grima (three), Qasim Ali (one), Daniel Rodger (one) and Brett Jackson (seven) all fell for single figures.
A great spell off 4/19 from leg-spinning stalwart Scott Pitcher did much of the damage for the Maroons as the hosts found themselves at 9/90.
Tail-ender Wil Taylor hit a much-needed 26 in a 33-run partnership for the final wicket with Aaren Corrin.
With time remaining in the day, Upper Beaconsfield reached 3/74 at stumps, needing only a further 50 runs to secure a second victory of the season.
Daniel Brennan and Nicholas Pastras Jr both fell for single figures as Nick McLennan made early inroads, but the Maroons will expect to pick up the points easily next week.
The Marygoons have battled with the bat in recent weeks, having been dismissed for just 56 in round three and 112 in round four before Saturday’s performance.
Cranbourne Meadows need 217 to defeat Pakenham Upper District at home, having rolled the Yabbies on day one.
Eight bowlers rolled their arm over for Cranbourne Meadows and the variety had reaped rewards for the Rebels as the batters struggled to settle.
Tail-enders Raja Sadiq and Tharindu Bandara both added 31 to equal top-score for the Yabbies, as the top order failed to build on their starts.
Pargat Singh was the standout bowler for the Rebels, taking 3/24 from his 14 overs.
Openers Amreek Mann and Mandhiraj Singh were forced to negotiate one over from Sadiq before stumps and will resume the chase at 0/0 next week.
