By Jonty Ralphsmith
With the first full round of Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) action in the books on a perfect day for cricket in South East Melbourne, here is a reflection on some of the lower grades highlights.
A-Grade
Kooweerup scored at more than six an over against Devon Meadows, with half centuries to John Bright, Matt Davey and Chris O’Hara guiding the Demons to 6/263, which won by 117 runs.
At Merinda Park, Onkar Uppal, Arun Sharma and Kanwaljit Handa bowled the hosts out for just 83 en-route to a seven-wicket victory.
Elsewhere, Tooradin proved far too strong for Pakenham, winning by five wickets and Tyson Browne’s half-century led Cardinia to a 102-run win over Clyde.
B-Grade
Robert Strang put on a clinic with the ball for Officer, guiding the Bullants to a routing of Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
Strang was brought on in the 10th over after the hosts had seen off the new ball unscathed, and ripped through the Yabbies’ top and middle-order.
From his last 20 balls, the first change bowler claimed five wickets to finish with 5/12 off 5.1 overs, giving Officer a reasonably comprehensive five-wicket win.
Meanwhile, Tooradin took apart Clyde, comfortably chasing 8-110 in a nine-wicket win, Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll defeated Pakenham by 45 runs and Emerald beat Upper Beaconsfield by three wickets.
C-Grade
An unbeaten 92 to Merinda Park’s Paul Wiles was the highlight of C-Grade as the Cobras timed their chase of Melbourne Sixers’ 9-192 to perfection, winning in the last over.
Alongside Wiles, Craig Robertson finished unbeaten on 65, the pair putting on 166 in a match-winning second-wicket partnership.
Devon Meadows was similarly dominant in chasing down Officer’s 5-114, Kooweerup defeated Kerala Strikers by 25 runs and Carlisle Park smashed Cardinia by 134 runs.
D-Grade
Dene North led Pakenham to a seven-wicket victory over Emerald.
North was explosive opening the batting, smashing 14 boundaries in his knock of 74 off 68, as the Lions chased down Emerald’s 5-183 with an over to spare.
Lakhvir Sekhon was similarly destructive for Emerald, looking on track for a century, having clattered four maximums at a strike rate better than 120 before holing out for 68.
Elsewhere, the Marygoons got up by five wickets against Merinda Park, Kerala outplayed Officer by 92 runs and Pakenham Upper Toomuc defeated Kooweerup by five wickets.
E-Grade
A half-century to Ben Monckton helped Cardinia ease past Carlisle Park by five wickets, Theekshana Gayasha’s 84 guided Melbourne Sixers to a 20-run win over Officer, while Devon Meadows and Clyde defeated Pakenham Upper Toomuc and Merinda Park respectively.
