By Jonty Ralphsmith and Marcus Uhe
A GRADE
Tooradin set Merinda Park a mammoth 6/303 off just 40 overs in a shootout at Tony Way Recreation Reserve.
Led by a Luke Adams (120) century, Tooradin was firing throughout its innings, with cameos from Aaron Avery (62), Liam Simpson (29) and Bailey Lownds (26) helping their team go hell for leather.
A Jordan Bertrand 114 off just 98 balls gave Merinda Park hope of chasing it down, but the required run rate well in excess of seven caught up with them quickly after the loss of early wickets; Merinda Park ultimately dismissed for 215.
Elsewhere, Kooweerup defeated Cranbourne Meadows by five wickets, Cardinia defeated Clyde by three wickets and half-centuries to Steve Insall and Ricky Johnson helped Pakenham defeat Devon Meadows by 79 runs.
B GRADE
Emerald’s Ian Crosher continued his strong summer with the blade but it wasn’t enough for his team to get over the line against Tooradin.
Crosher’s unbeaten 55 was the only score of significance in the first innings at Rutter Park with Tooradin able to keep the visitors to 112, which was chased down with 11 balls and three wickets remaining.
Ben Maroney was the star of the show at Barton Reserve, crunching a quick-fire 93, which included 12 boundaries, to help Pakenham chase down Melbourne Sixers’ target of 170 in just 21 overs.
Maroney also chipped in with one wicket, Zac Downes and Luke Wilson leading the bowling attack.
Elsewhere, Upper Beaconsfield won by 39 runs and Officer passed Carlisle Park’s all out 92 none down.
C GRADE
Merinda Park scored an important win over Officer on Saturday, defending 9/186, with Gurwinder Singh seizing his team control of the game after an even start to the Bullants’ innings.
Pakenham Upper/Toomuc maintained its excellent standing in the competition with a two-run win over Kooweerup.
James Stevanage’s half-century came amid a flurry of middle order runs for the visitors.
Brent Wilson anchored the Kooweerup chase, but his dismissal for 76 – with his team still 34 runs behind – shifted the momentum. With the hosts needing 12 runs off the last over, Addison Tucker held his nerve to get the Yabbies home.
Elsewhere, Cardinia dismantled Devon Meadows by seven wickets and Nar Nar Goon was 49 runs too strong for Lang Lang.
D GRADE
Tooradin D Grade captain Rob Simpson put in a stunning all-round performance in a seven-wicket thrashing of Clyde on Saturday.
Simpson took 4/26 before hitting an unbeaten 108 at the top of the order to steer his side home in the 31st over in pursuit of 187.
His innings included 17 fours and was part of a 146-run opening partnership with Jackson Alder.
Earlier, two of his early wickets helped reduce the Cougars to 3/9, who recovered thanks to 85 from Craig Dodsworth.
Christopher Jones grabbed two Tooradin wickets but conceded 32 runs from his three overs, the most expensive of the Cougars’ bowling group.
Pakenham meanwhile leapfrogged Merinda Park into second having downed the Cobras by six wickets.
The Kezik family dominated, with brothers Liam (5/32) and Mitchell (3/33) running through the Merinda Park batting line-up, while dad Paul anchored the chase of 168 with 77 not out.
Merinda Park captain Leigh Smith hit 81 in a standout performance with the blade.
Elsewhere in D Grade, Melbourne Sixers returned to the winner’s list after a 38-run win over Officer.
Shenal Fernandez’s 5/12 from 7.3 overs helped keep Officer to just 100, chasing the Sixers’ 138 at Starling Road.
83 not out from Pakenham Upper Toomuc opener Divyang Patel was critical in the Yabbies’ chase of Emerald’s 132, reaching the target nine wickets down at Harry Blackman Oval.
E GRADE
David Carson’s unbeaten century for Devon Meadows was the highlight of a high-scoring day for the Panthers at home in a 101-run win over Officer Gold.
Opening the batting, Carson hit 101 not out, as the Panthers posted 5/245.
Officer was no match for the target, reaching 9/144 when the innings was closed.
The Kerala Strikers continued their winning ways, getting the better of Pakenham Upper Toomuc at home.
Felson Joseph was the star for the Strikers, hitting 88 from just 58 deliveries, with five sixes and six fours, setting the Yabbies 248 to win.
The Yabbies were well-contained in reply, kept to 6/199 despite 73 from Karthik Thakur.
Kooweerup pulled off an upset over Pakenham at home, rolling the Lions for 139 in pursuit of 198.
5/67 from Seamus Hill was critical in keeping Cardinia to 121, a chase Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll completed in the 25th over, three wickets down.
Merinda Park was thrashed by Officer Green by six wickets, having been dismissed for 105 in 38 overs.
