Pakenham Upper/Toomuc made a statement by handing Tooradin its first loss of the season in round seven of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association A Grade Competition.
Due to wet weather last week, the game was converted into a one-day match at Harry Blackman Oval.
The hosts won the toss and took to the crease, piling on a 71-run opening partnership before Mitch Mibus (19) was bowled by Luke Adams.
But another strong stand formed, with Prabath Kobbekaduwa reaching a half century and Chris Ryan building an innings at the other end.
Kobbekaduwa (61) departed at 2/132 but soon after Ryan also raised the bat for a 50.
Ryan (57) became the third man to fall and Lachlan De Zilwa (15) and Raja Sohail (10) were the last two bats in double figures before the Yabbies were all out for 202.
In the chase, Sohail and McLeod got stuck in, stalling the Seagulls by removing both openers Tye Whitnell and Cody Mannix for ducks, stranding the visitors at 2/5.
Star Tooradin bat Aaron Avery was forced to the middle early and fell for 20 as Sohail claimed the prized wicket.
Handy middle order knocks from Luke Adams (31), Thomas Rudeforth (38) and Luke Townsend (28) attempted to salvage the result for the Seagulls, but the bowling firepower of Pakenham Upper/Toomuc proved too much.
Tooradin was eventually knocked over for 153, marking a 49-run win for the Yabbies and the first loss of the campaign for the Seagulls.
Sohail finished his attack with four wickets.
“It’s been a complete flip from the start of the year, the top order has been performing consistently,” Pakenham Upper/Toomuc skipper John Langley said.
“PK and Chris obviously had the scores to their names but you can’t underestimate the impact of guys like Mitch Mibus.
“Lachie as well is a really good addition to our club, especially in the top four and he’s just starting to find his feet.
“It’s good that the top order is firing because that’s where you want a bulk of your runs coming from.
“I think it was our best bowling performance of the year to be completely honest.
“In terms of how as a team how we all bowled, it was exceptional.
“When we got Aaron Avery’s wicket, we knew that was going to be a big one.
“Benny and Sohail are one of the better opening combinations in the comp and now that Sohail’s starting to find his form with the ball it’s really good to watch.”
It was Ryan Mibus’ first first XI game for the year in the absences of Brian Kulasena and Lucas Plozza, and he was effective.
Mibus took 5/27 in the win, fuelling the imposing result.
“He’s ultra-reliable,” Langley said of Mibus.
“We’ve got a pick of four or five bowlers that could easily come up into the ones and I can count on them to do the job, and he’s one of them.
“I’m not at all surprised that he’s come into the side and taken five, I’ve got full confidence in our bowlers.”
The depth of the talented bowling attack partnered with a batting lineup coming into its own has the Yabbies in good stead.
Langley noted that things are trending well but his side is far from its full potential.
“If the top order keeps setting us a platform and everything hooks up, we’re going to be a dangerous side,” he said.
“The bowling and fielding was top notch, the bowling and fielding was the best I’ve seen so we can take a lot of confidence heading into the last round of the year.
“I still don’t think we’ve necessarily hooked everything up yet which is dangerous for the rest of the comp.”
Merinda Park backed up its dominant showing with the bat by comfortably getting past Nar Nar Goon at home.
After posting 9/352, the Cobras rolled the visitors for 112 with Liam Hill (45) and Rajiv Kumar (34) providing most of the scoring.
Sasindu Perera bowled excellently with figures of 4/17 from his eight overs, while Brad Hodge and Bevin Corneille took two poles each.
In the other two-day matchup, Carlisle Park bagged the extra points with an outright victory away at Clyde.
On day one, the Vikings bowled out the Cougars for 128 before Carlisle Park turned around and made 3/243, declaring at the end of the day’s play.
Clyde couldn’t find any footing whatsoever in its second time at the crease, recording three ducks en route to being knocked over for just 49.
Jaan Balasuriya and Adam Hassan were the only Vikings bowlers used, with both taking four wickets.
A bizarre white ball game at Toomuc Reserve saw Pakenham squeeze out a triumph over Cardinia.
The visiting Bulls couldn’t get comfortable with the bat, scoring just 88 before being all out with Darren Petersen (21) top scoring.
Ken McLeod, Jack Melbourne, Jackson Myers and Steve Insall all took two wickets each for the Lions.
However, Cardinia nearly won from unlikely circumstances, taking 5/41 before a brave 26 not out from Josh Bloor in the lower order guided the hosts home.
Pakenham finished 7/91 and got back on the winners after a two game losing streak.
An impressive run pursuit at Chandler Oval had Kooweerup victorious over Emerald.
The Bombers batted first, reaching 9/197 as Ethan Crosher (48), Oscar Dempsey (32) and Michael Hoban (27) all chipped in.
Brannon Harrison claimed three scalps for the Demons.
Tasked with 198 for the win, Mathew Bright got the visitors off to a good start with 36 as an opener.
Great contributions from Hunter Cairns (32), Chris O’Hara (30) and Matt Davey (25 not out) fuelled the successful chase.
In round 8, the last before the Christmas break, the format switches back to one dayers as Carlisle Park hosts Kooweerup, Merinda Park visits Tooradin, Pakenham faces an away matchup with Nar Nar Goon, Clyde makes the trip to Emerald and Pakenham Upper/Toomuc travels to see Cardinia.
