By David Nagel
The spotlight of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) will fully focus on Glover Reserve on Friday when Devon Meadows host Pakenham in a bumper ‘Australia Day’ clash with so much riding on the line.
A great crowd is expected to celebrate CCCA cricket with Devon Meadows also hosting its Past Players and Sponsors Day.
The Panthers and Lions will also honour one of the greats of both clubs, with the ‘Vivian Shield’ a much sought-after prize.
Steve Vivian and the Vivan family were fantastic servants of Devon Meadows, Pakenham and the WGCA…now CCCA.
The clubs play for the Vivian Shield regularly, but this rendition is extra special with the shield going up for grabs in a Premier Division contest after the Panthers won promotion last season.
The Panthers will stay in Premier Division next season, courtesy of a consistent run of form – a wonderful achievement in itself – but this game is all about staying in finals contention in their first season back in the top flight.
The Panthers let slip a golden opportunity last week, losing to a rejuvenated Clyde by one run, to see them stay in fifth position, when just one more scoring shot would have seen them settled in the top four.
That’s two losses on the trot now for Lucas Ligt and his side, who face a very tough run home.
The third-placed Lions will be up and about this week for the 11am start after a clinical victory over the previously undefeated Kooweerup; who will play Devon Meadows in round 12, before Tooradin awaits the Panthers in round 13.
That’s Pakenham, Kooweerup and Tooradin in quick succession; the Panthers will need to win at least two of those games to be a chance of playing finals heading into their round 14 clash against Carlisle Park.
If they make it…they’ll thoroughly deserve it.
Ligt and his opening partner Will Halton have stolen the spotlight this season but the Panthers are certainly no two-trick ponies.
The season of coach Chris Cleef has been decimated by injury, but in his only two games he has certainly made an impact.
In round six, against Pakenham, he took his only five wickets for the season, while his 62 off just 45 balls got the Panthers off to a flyer in their ill-fated run-chase against Clyde last week.
Cleef whacked five boundaries and four maximums in a timely reminder of his dangerous all-round abilities.
Steve Robinson and Jakeb McVicar are others to have made half-centuries this season, while Lucas Carroll and Riley Worsteling have been consistent wicket-takers with the ball.
Pakenham was superb against Kooweerup last week, playing their best cricket for the season.
Nick Sadler (4/22), Chris Smith (3/12) and James Close (1/23) stood up in the absence of regular opener Tom Tyrrell, while Jack Anning (33) and Smith (56) calmed the nerves with a 96-run opening stand in reply.
Skipper Dale Tormey (39 not out off 36) then looked in supreme touch…hitting 28 of his runs in boundaries.
This one should be a cracker, with the BBQs not the only things sizzling with some of the best players in the CCCA set to strut their stuff!
We’ll go for Cleef for to claim four…and the Panthers to get home in a close one.
The three Saturday contests in round 11 all seem one-sided on paper, but the clash between Cardinia and Clyde is the one most likely to be the cause of an upset.
Momentum plays such a huge role in sport, and the recent fortnight of Clyde should give the Cougars the confidence to seriously challenge the Bulls.
Zac Davis and his team won their first game for the season against Merinda Park in round nine, and then backed that up with a thrilling victory over Devon Meadows last week.
Ankush Rana was the hero, trapping Jamie Cape LBW to secure a fabulous victory, in a terrific team effort.
Seven players made scores between 22 and 34, while four wickets to Max Adams, three to Rana, and some great death bowling from leftie Kane Avard got the Cougars across the line.
Cardinia has been steady and consistent this season; defeating the teams they should and having no success against any top-three opponent.
The class of players like Morteza Ali, Travis Wheller, Jacobus Hynes and Josh Brown should ensure that record stays intact.
It’s the Bulls to win a tight one.
Carlisle Park can’t take a trick this season and that horror run looks set to continue when the Vikings become the first team in 2023/24 to face Kooweerup on the rebound.
The Vikings were so close to victory against Merinda Park last week, but a magnificent innings from Liam Bertrand (60 not out off 34 balls) popped the party balloons.
Duke Miller, Mark Henry, Ben Perry and the impressive Kasun Balasuriya were terrific for the Vikings, while Senal De Silva (2/27 off 8) could simply do no more with the ball.
This week they take on a Kooweerup side that had a rare ‘bad day’ against a fired-up Pakenham last week.
Skipper Luke McMaster played a poor shot off just his second ball of his innings and the Demons never fully regained a foothold.
Expect the class of McMaster, and the terrific all-round form of Steve Dillon to get the Demons back on track.
And two last-start winners collide when Tooradin hosts Merinda Park on the banks of the Westernport.
The Seagulls rebounded strongly from their first loss of the season with a comfortable victory over Cardinia last week, with Cal O’Hare, Mick Sweeney and Dylan Sutton overcoming some early setbacks to guide their team to victory.
Brad Butler and Russell Lehman were back to their best with the ball, while Peter Sweeney and Josh Lownds conceded just 32 runs from a combined 16 overs.
They know where to land the ball; and Mick Sweeney knows where to set his fields.
The Cobras used their ‘get out of jail card’ last week, and used it at precisely the right time, with their one-wicket win over Carlisle Park almost assuring themselves of a place in Premier Division next season.
Last week’s hero Liam Betrand has some serious match-winning talent; but Tooradin has about seven or eight in that category that can take the game away in an instant.
It’s the Seagulls to win comfortably.
PREMIER – ROUND 11 (ONE-DAY) TIPS
Friday 26 January, 2024
DEVON MEADOWS (5) v Pakenham (3) (11am)
Saturday 27 January, 2024
TOORADIN (1) v Merinda Park (6)
CARDINIA (4) v Clyde (7)
Carlisle Park (8) v KOOWEERUP (2)
