A hattrick from Jaan Balasuriya and a massive knock from Aaron Avery ensured there was no shortage of highlights on day one of round four of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) A Grade competition.
Avery and Tooradin took full advantage of the switch to two day cricket as a controlled performance with the bat has the Seagulls on the front foot against Kooweerup.
On the road, Tooradin was sent to the crease and soon found itself 2/46 in the 17th over after Cooper Shipp (12) and Cody Mannix (19) were dismissed.
But Avery had already started to build himself an innings batting at number three, patiently forming a fantastic partnership with Thomas Rudeforth.
The pair stood tall for a 72-run stand before Rudeforth (34) was caught off the bowling of Thomas Cairns.
Shane Somers (9) then came and went to leave the visitors at 4/153, allowing Tom Rodgers to head to the middle and create another major partnership with Avery.
During that period, Avery raised the bat twice, once for his century and again when he reached 150.
By the time he was caught in the 67th over, he had pushed his way to a remarkable knock of 163 off 170 deliveries, an innings that saw him smash 18 fours and four sixes.
The wicket also ended the massive stand he shared with Rodgers after the duo had piled on 119 runs.
Rodgers (65) became a half centurion from a hard-fought 105 balls, while Luke Townsend (19) and Daniel Quinn (11) were the other double-figure scorers for the Seagulls.
Tooradin batted out the full 80 overs, seeing out a 9/352 effort on day one.
Kooweerup struggled to break partnerships with captain Cairns trying anything, including giving all 11 members of his side a bowl.
John Bright did the most damage with the ball for the Demons, claiming three wickets in his 13 overs bowled.
Cardinia seemed to be cruising away at Carlisle Park with the Bulls at 4/106 midway through their innings.
Then, enter Balasuriya.
After the middle order collapsed for Cardinia, Balasuriya stepped up and bowled Bradley Reiner who had led the Bulls with a patient 51.
He then ripped out Vihaan Mohite’s stump on the next delivery, setting up a hattrick ball.
On the hattrick ball, Balasuriya clean bowled Jeevan Jijo and the celebrations began as the Vikings had suddenly rolled the visitors for 129 after just 40 overs.
Carlisle Park had ample time to bat, settling in at the crease and nearly winning on day one as Jarrod Armitage (75 not out) raised the bat and Ryan Hughes (35 not out) guided the hosts to 1/127 overnight.
A late-order resistance boosted Nar Nar Goon to post a competitive score of 205 against Pakenham Upper/Toomuc at Harry Blackman Oval.
Yabbies skipper John Langley and star pace bowler Ben McLeod tore through the top order, holding the Marygoons to 5/73 after Langley bowled Troy Ferguson (4).
A near 50-run stand between Ketan Bakshi (17) and Russell Perry (52) frustrated the hosts but once Bakshi and then Kamar Singh (2) fell, it seemed Pakenham Upper/Toomuc was going to run over the visitors.
At that stage, Nar Nar Goon was 7/120.
But a brilliant tail-end performance from Jay Riley (38) put pressure back on the Yabbies as Riley and Perry forged a 58-run partnership.
Riley then departed and Qasim Ali added 10 at the very end to push the Marygoons over the team double-ton.
McLeod was the standout with the ball for the hosts, as his figures of 4/33 off 20 overs were impressive while Langley posted 4/56 bowling 16 overs.
Pakenham Upper/Toomuc was on top early but concentration lapses cost the Yabbies as they also gave away 28 extras.
Merinda Park will defend 262 at Chandler Reserve versus Emerald after the Cobras saw a deep batting performance.
Jordan King (39) and Cambell Bryan (30) led the early overs, paving the way for Ashley Slater (18) and Bevin Corneille (26) to further add to the score.
Leigh Paterson was the next man up and he performed wonderfully, bringing up a half century with 56.
Late order contributions from Sasindu Perera (16) and Daniel Diwell (28) got Merinda park to a comfortable total.
James Sheerin bagged three poles for the hosts while Ethan Crosher snagged three.
There were still eight overs left in the day, and Paxon Smith struck to dismiss Michael Nell (8), leaving the Bombers 1/20 at stumps.
A marvellous Marcus Martini knock lifted Pakenham to 9/239 on the first day away against Clyde.
Martini’s 105 off 118 balls was outstanding as he hit it to all parts of the ground with 15 fours.
Kane Avard was the best with the ball for the Cougars as he claimed four wickets in his 23 overs bowled.
