By Jonty Ralphsmith and Marcus Uhe
Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll has put forward a complete performance against the struggling Merinda Park in E Grade, winning by 194 runs thanks to a huge opening partnership and a skipper’s 6fa.
The Marygoons won the toss and batted first with the right-left hand opening combination of Liam Hill and Matthew Keoylian providing a sensational platform.
Both were assertive from the get-go against the seasoned Merinda Park lineup, with Keoylian’s patience and mature approach seeing him bring up three figures while Hill made 63 as part of a total of 2/230.
“He showed some patience and hit boundaries off the bad balls,” said skipper Ryon Tocknell.
“It was a solid effort and he didn’t give many chances away – he went pretty hard from the start.”
It set the game up and allowed his teammates to bowl without fear.
Tocknell then went on to tear the top-order of Merinda Park apart, finishing with 6/4 off eight overs as just one Cobras batter passed three.
Merinda Park was bowled out for 36, extras top-scoring with 15.
“The ball was coming out well and the conditions were good for swing,” Tocknell said.
“I put it in the right spots and it just kind of happened so it was good.
“The main thing was that I had a shortened run up because it was slippery.
“We could set a pretty attacking field, we didn’t have to worry about protecting boundaries or anything like that.”
Meanwhile, Kerala Strikers hitter Joseph Chirayath Raphael deposited 29 balls to the rope in an imposing unbeaten 183.
He went hard against pace and spin facing the top-placed Pakenham, showing no signs of nerves despite his awareness of the significance of the match-up.
The square leg boundary copped the most brutal hitting, Raphael’s ball-striking helping Kerala to a match-winning 3/261, Pakenham never threatening and ultimately falling 153 runs short.
Elsewhere in E Grade, Allan Collins led Pakenham Upper/Toomuc to a 64-run win over Kooweerup with an efficient 69, while Officer upset Cardinia to keep pace with the chasing pack.
A GRADE
Pakenham and Clyde both executed exciting run-chases in their respective wins over Cranbourne Meadows and Merinda Park on Saturday in A Grade cricket.
The Lions chased 189 in just 36.2 overs for the loss of only two wickets, thanks largely to 84 from opener Jackson Myers.
The Rebels were rolled for 188 in 37.2 overs, with Kaleb Van Beek the standout bowler taking 5/50.
Clyde, meanwhile, needed just 34 overs to reel-in Merinda Park’s 9/184; Harkamal Khokhar’s 80 off 65 for the Cobras going unrewarded.
Cardinia continues to flex its muscle at the top of A Grade, returning to the field after the Christmas break with a 60-run win over Devon Meadows.
A dashing 81 from captain Brad Reiner helped the Bulls post 9/234 batting first, before keeping the bottom-placed Panthers to just 174 in reply.
Will Loudon had an excellent all-round day for the Panthers, hitting 52 to go with his 4/48, but his efforts were ultimately overshadowed by the result.
Six individual Tooradin wicket-takers helped the Seagulls to defend 7/167 on their home pitch, Kooweerup rolled for 115 in 37 overs.
B GRADE
10-wicket wins to powerhouses Officer and Tooradin made for comfortable percentage boosters for both sides in B Grade.
The Seagulls reached Carlisle Park’s total of 9/148 in the 27th over, affording both Peter Stone and Cody Mannix some valuable time in the middle, each hitting an unbeaten 72.
Officer needed just 18 overs to chase Melbourne Sixers’ paltry total of 96, having only lasted 21.5 overs themselves.
Elsewhere, Pakenham owe plenty to Scott Webster, his 52 lifting the Lions from trouble at 5/81, to 197 at home against Upper Beaconsfield.
Only three Maroons batters reached double figures in the pursuit, however, crawling to 7/117.
Emerald’s patient start against Clyde was abandoned with the Bombers reaching 2/76 after 23 overs.
C GRADE
Fifth placed Cardinia has beaten ladder-leaders Lang Lang in a stunning upset to headline C Grade.
Sent in to bat first, Evan Webster dug in against disciplined bowling, carrying his bat to anchor the innings with a dour 48.
Others were more positive around Webster, who saw off Jackson Pawsey opening the bowling to help Cardinia to 6/128.
Lang Lang’s run-chase was rugged, five players reaching at least 15 but no-one able to pass 20 as the Bulls continued to strike at crucial junctures during an even bowling performance.
Ben Monckton’s three wickets led his side in a tight 13-run win.
Merinda Park was too strong for Nar Nar Goon in a run-fest.
An 82 off 81 to Paul Wiles helped Merinda Park set 9/248, with Nathan Francis’ 45 setting it up and Adam Newstead and Russell Jenkin also playing cameos.
In response, Nick Mueller and Noah Hall gave the Marygoons a strong platform, but they soon fell behind the required run rate.
The visitors looked out of the contest for the second half of the run chase until a 34-ball unbeaten 61 briefly breathed life back into the innings, but the run-rate had ultimately gotten away from the Marygoons who fell short by 23 runs.
Devon Meadows defeated Kooweerup by four wickets in the other game.
D GRADE
Pakenham Upper Toomuc secured an important win over Officer to open up a 12-point gap between fourth and fifth spot on the table in D Grade.
The Yabbies put forward a frugal bowling performance, before Divyang Patel scored a half-century to ease his team to the target of 107.
At Ramlegh Reserve, Melbourne Sixers opening bowler Shenal Fernandez took 4/16 to make a mess of the Clyde top order, the hosts all out for 110, which was comfortably chased down by the ladder leaders.
Lower-order grit helped Tooradin put a competitive score on the board against Pakenham, the Gulls finding their way to 8/123 despite Robert Simpson’s 28 being the top score.
Jeremy Bodley and Tye Whitnell backed up with the ball, each taking four wickets in the 41-run win.
Meanwhile, Emerald’s D Grade clash with Merinda Park was abandoned.
