By Jonty Ralphsmith and Marcus Uhe
A GRADE
A Kooweerup bowling masterclass has seen Tooradin dismissed for just 60 in a top-four battle in A Grade.
Each of the five bowlers used got a wicket as everything the Demons did seemed to work on a cloudy Saturday.
It took until the 10th over for the first wicket to fall, Cooper Shipp, but the opening partnership was worth just nine, with just six scoring shots putting the pressure at fever-pitch.
Two more wickets quickly followed allowing the Demons to capitalise on the momentum, with regular Premier player Cody Miller the best of the bowlers, finishing with 3/5.
In its 26.1 overs in pursuit on day one, Kooweerup put 3/42 on the board to sit 19 runs away from victory.
The other A Grade game to see action saw Harwinder Singh play a fearless 50 off 46 in the lower-order to give Merinda Park momentum before it declared at 7/168 against Clyde, which is 2/26 in response.
Pakenham’s clash with Cranbourne Meadows and Cardinia’s bout with Devon Meadows will be one-day matches next weekend following weekend rain.
B GRADE
It was a bowler-dominant weekend in B Grade with three teams bowled out for under 180.
Officer was the best of the lot, keeping Clyde to just 132 thanks to strong spells to Lachlan James and Abhi Sharma.
At Tooradin, the hosts were bowled out for 172 by Pakenham despite a lone hand knock of 78 to David Freeman.
Opening bowler Zac Downes led the way with 4/40 and was well supported by Cooper Newnham and Luke Wilson.
Melbourne Sixers went through Carlisle Park for 167 in the other game, while Upper Beaconsfield’s first day against Emerald was washed out.
C GRADE
In C Grade, Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll played positive cricket to reach 9/258 off a full complement of 70 overs.
No individual scores are available due to an ongoing and frustrating ‘synching’ issue with the new competition management system PlayHQ.
Officer, meanwhile, bowled Devon Meadows out for 104 and is 2/21 overnight.
Just 32 overs were possible at Kooweerup, with Cardinia struggling at 5/58.
No play was possible on day one of Lang Lang’s clash with Merinda Park.
D GRADE
Merinda Park batter Chris Smith bucked a trend of bowling prowess in D Grade with 114 against Clyde.
Smith’s hundred was by far the highest individual score of the round as the Cobras posted 9/270 with an eye to closing the gap on Melbourne Sixers at the top of the table.
Elsewhere, it was a good day to bowl on Saturday with three of the four sides that batted first not seeing out the entire first day’s play.
Only Tooradin elected to bowl first, however, sharing wickets around to dismiss Pakenham Upper Toomuc for 140.
Natalie Holmes, Jeremy Bodley and Jesse Dean each grabbed two wickets and skipper Robert Simpson took three for the Seagulls, while Dale French top scored for the Yabbies with 22.
Pakenham, meanwhile, did what very few teams have achieved so far in putting the reins on the high-flying Melbourne Sixers at James Bathe Reserve.
The Sixers lasted only 46 overs, rolled by the Lions for 111.
Malith Kanahara’s 57 was one of only two scores in double figures for the Sixers, with Bryce Nay and John Hutchinson both taking three wickers for Pakenham.
At Officer, four wickets each to Josh Beddows and Shaun White helped the Bullants keep Emerald to 147.
It was a trying day for the Bomber batters, with Nicholas Closter’s 30.1 the highest strike rate in the top six.
Closter also top-scored with 28 for Emerald.
E GRADE
Kerala Strikers need just 14 further runs to defeat Devon Meadows after a brutal batting display.
Devon Meadows posted 8/130 before the Strikers blasted 117 in just 15 overs at a run rate of 7.8.
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll scored at four runs per over against Officer Green to set 255, the Bullants one wicket down at the close of play.
Seamus Hill his six sixes and four fours in his innings-leading 71.
Cardinia need 220 to defeat Kooweerup after a well-rounded performance from the Demons’ batting card.
Numbers two-six all made starts, while Ryley Watts and Mark Adcock each took three wickets for Cardinia.
Times are tough for Officer Gold, bowled out for just 39 against Pakenham.
Gary Sewell took 5/15 for Pakenham and last week’s hero Brett Oldfield 3/19.
Merinda Park forfeited its clash with Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
