By David Nagel
A magnificent century from Anurudda ‘Teddy’ Fonseka (113) has continued the thrilling momentum of Clyde (6/267) who proved too good for Devon Meadows (194) in the late-afternoon clash in CCCA Premier Division on Saturday.
The Cougars celebrated Pink Ladies Day with a 3pm start to proceedings, with the bright lights of Clyde’s sparkling new facility coming to life as the game finished in style.
With Devon Meadows well behind the run-rate, fast-bowler Ankush Rana (4/41) made a memorable day even more special with a spellbinding hat-trick.
Rana bowled Ricky Mitchell (10) with a good-length ball, before repeating his length to trap Ethan Wood (0) dead in front for a golden.
Devon Meadows President Mick Floyd (0) then became a name etched in history, becoming the third-pin of the hat-trick after being hit on the pads after playing over a yorker.
Rana’s hat-trick completed a rock-solid win for the Cougars, who are now a serious finals contender.
The Cougars batting line up looks strong and resilient at the moment, with Trevor Bauer (28), Praveen Perera (26), Michael Vandort (50) and Ben Buller (22) setting things up nicely in the early-to-mid overs.
It was then left to Fonseka to take control.
Coming in at 4/102, Fonseka made 113 of the Cougars 165 remaining runs, blasting nine fours and six sixes in a blistering 91-ball vigil.
It took him to ninth on the Premier Division list and added to previous half-centuries of 62 and 59 this season.
The Panthers were barely in contention in reply, losing skipper Lucas Ligt (0) early before Nathan Kleinig (73) and Zac Shepherd (31) put on an even-100 for the second wicket.
Chris Cleef (34) once again made runs through the middle order, but hunting down a rate of 6.68 runs per over was also going to be a big ask.
Perera (3/42) and Nick Shannon (2/31) joined Rana as the key wicket-takers, with Rana insisting the Cougars stretch of four-consecutive wins has not materialised by accident.
“The message from the coach is very clear, that we have to train well, and if we train well the results will come our way,” Rana explained.
“Our captain Trevor Bauer is good with the fielding placements, the bowling changes, and obviously this season our batting has been a strength.
“And we know we have the ability to bat longer and we have four top batters who have stood up this year.
“Trevor (Bauer), our international Michael Vandort, Anurudda (Fonseka), the top order is really clicking well.
“The message from the leadership is very clear; they believe in the players and know their strengths and abilities.”
Rana has now taken four wickets in his last four games for the Cougars to sit on 21 wickets for the season, equal with Tooradin hot-shot Tyler Evans.
“I’m happy with my performance, but I have had great support from Nick Shannon, Max Adams and our spinner Praveen Perera as well.”
Upcoming games against Upper Beaconsfield and Merinda Park provide the emerging Cougars with the ideal opportunity to cement their place in the upper-echelon of Premier.
But Rana says the Cougars are taking nothing for granted.
“We’re looking forward to this week’s game against Upper Beaconsfield,” he said.
“We think we can beat them but obviously cricket is a funny game.
“We can just play to our own ability and hope for the best that way.
“We have a winning combination going on, we have confidence, and it’s just up to us now to perform.
“Hopefully we can collect 24 points in the next two weeks and get our team in the top four.”
KOOWEERUP V CARDINIA
Kooweerup (7/173) has celebrated the new year with a perfectly-timed run-chase against arch-rival Cardinia (169) with many hands making light work at Denhams Road.
Mark Cooper (8) won the toss for the Bulls and was first to go, getting an attempted hoik over mid-wicket low on the bat and hitting head high to a returning Adam McMaster.
Cody Miller ((2/19) did the early damage for the Demons, removing Cooper, and then trapping Travis Welsh (0) in front, who forfeited his right to a benefit of the doubt by not offering a shot.
Alex Nooy (43) and Yoshan Arumadura (43) then rebuilt for the Bulls; 3/87 after 20.
Nooy soon holed out to Chris O’Hara at deep mid-wicket, providing Adam McMaster (1/21) with his first wicket back in his first game for the season.
The Bulls innings quickly lost its structure, falling to 8/130, with Jess Mathers (3/27) once again doing a bulk of the bullocking work.
Some late crisp hitting from Trishane De Silva (28) gave the Bulls something to bowl at after the dinner break.
The Demons started in typically belligerent fashion, with openers Chris Bright (25) and Luke McMaster (15) taking 14 runs off the third over of the innings.
Josh Browne (2/29) halted that momentum somewhat, claiming the wickets of McMaster and Ayden Mills (0) in the space of four balls to make it 2/35 after seven.
The Demons then lost Bright to be 3/45 after 10, but still had the class of Shiran Rathnayake (29), Steve Dillon (22), O’Hara (31) and Mathers (26) in the sheds.
Rathnayake and Dillon kept the run-rate under control, scoring an even 40 for no loss in the second quarter of the innings.
Both players departed in the space of three overs, leaving it to the experienced O’Hara and Mathers to guide their team to victory.
The Demons needed 43 from their last 10, and paced the chase beautifully needing just nine runs from their last four overs.
The Bulls fought magnificently, but Miller completed an impactful game by tying the scores with four balls remaining in the match; and crunching a four to win two balls later.
Browne, who struck the early blows, remained the only multiple wicket-taker for the Bulls.
MERINDA PARK V PAKENHAM
An unbelievable innings from number-seven Nick Sadler (53 not out) has sparked Pakenham (6/211) into action and back onto the winners’ list against Merinda Park (8/202) at Tony Way Reserve.
After winning the toss and batting, the Lions looked under-par at 5/125 when Sadler walked to the crease for the fifth ball of the 33rd over.
And things had only slightly improved to 5/131 after 34, with valuable contributions from Rob Elston (47), Dom Paynter (43) and Jason Williams (27) looking to have at least provided the Lions with a moderate total to defend.
But what happened next…well…it was quite spectacular.
Sadler was front and centre, scoring his 53 runs from just 24 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes, as the Lions went on a rampage.
The visitors scored an incredible 80 runs from their last six overs, with 15, 10, 10, 7, 17 and 21 coming in a critical 30-minute spell.
In just half an hour, Sadler – with help from Elston and Marcus Martini (7 not out) – had turned the game on its head.
Skipper Mat Campbell (2/22) and Bevin Corneille (2/29) had bowled extremely well from their eight overs each for the Cobras; but that impact disappeared in an instant.
Sadler’s first 50 of the season took his tally to 143 runs, with his last five hits all containing two digits.
Merinda Park fell behind the required run-rate early, being 1/23 off 10 and 1/70 off 20 at the drinks break.
They lost 3/57 from overs 21 to 30, leaving 85 to get off 10, with six wickets in the sheds.
The Cobras made a charge, with overs of 18 and 10, but two crucial overs from Williams (3/31) would secure the Lions the points.
Williams took 2/8 off critical overs, 35 and 37, to swing the momentum Pakenham’s way.
The Cobras needed 14 runs to tie off the last over, but dual wickets to Marcus Martini (2/36) put the issue beyond doubt.
Corneille (55), Ash Slater (36), Cambell Bryan (32) and Tyson Bertrand (23) all fought hard for the Cobras, who once again put on a competitive display against a genuine premiership contender.
They’re getting close the Cobras, but are running out of time to secure the two wins required to maintain their Premier Division status in October.
UPPER BEACONSFIELD V TOORADIN
Reigning premier Tooradin (1/133) decided to knock-off at three-quarter-time on Saturday; needing just 60 overs out of a possible 80 to return home with the points from Upper Beaconsfield (132).
The Maroons were simply no match for the Seagulls, with a fighting knock from number-five Nick Pastras (66) the only high-point in an otherwise disastrous outing.
Pastras made exactly half of his teams score, hitting four boundaries and three sixes in 82 balls at the crease; completing a fine run of recent form.
His last three hits of 40, 25 and now 66 have seen him jump his skipper Will Haines into top spot on the Maroons run-scoring list this season…with 156.
That figure alone highlights the issues the Maroons are dealing with this season; they simply don’t have the consistency or quality to match it with the better teams in Premier.
The Gulls just did what they had to do, with Connor O’Riordan (3/29), Tyler Evans (2/21) and Bailey Lownds (2/21) continuing their strong recent form, before the batters cruised to victory.
Cal O’Hare (60 not out), Josh Lownds (39) and Liam Simpson (25 not out) put paid to the Maroons inside 24 overs.
