Tooradin has one hand on the minor premiership as the Seagulls professionally took care of business against Clyde in round 13 of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) Premier Division.
In what was a likely one versus four semi-finals preview, Tooradin looked composed and comfortable in its pursuit of the Cougars’ total at Rutter Park on Saturday.
Another beautiful day of perfect batting conditions set the stage for the Seagulls, with Josh Lownds a good chance to leapfrog opponent Trevor Bauer at the pinnacle of the league runscoring.
And Lownds did just that, taking majority of the charge against the new ball while Cal O’Hare stood tall and defended.
He pulled off some textbook flicks and cuts to send pacer Ryan Adams to the fence multiple times as he commanded the early part of the day’s play.
He quickly surpassed Bauer in the tally and carried on to 46 before he was caught by Kane Avard off the bowling of Ankush Rana.
It’s the third time this season Lownds has finished an innings in the 40s.
But Tooradin was in complete cruise control, being 1/70 in the 23rd over.
The Seagulls were in an authoritative position as Lahiru Jayakody walked to the middle, the league’s third highest runscorer, as another weapon in this deep Tooradin armoury.
Jayakody whacked three boundaries and looked promising as another blossoming partnership formed between him and O’Hare.
The stand exceeded 50 and the visitors searched for answers, opting for a spin approach.
Luke Kerford and Nuwan Kariyawasam were brought into the attack and it was Kariyawasam that finally provided the breakthrough.
First, Jayakody (25) was gone after a poor shot was plucked out of the air by Avard, before Russell Lehman (0) edged one that floated up and into the gloves of keeper Yashan Gunasinghage four balls later.
The hosts went from 1/127 to 3/127 and some life was breathed back into Clyde.
But again the classy Seagulls had the response, with O’Hare continuing to display his batting repertoire and power hitting by clearing the fence on three occasions.
He built another resistance, highlighted by raising his bat for his fourth half century of the season, alongside former Cougar Praveen Perera and it seemed the finish line was in sight.
However, the Adams boys wanted their say, with Max and Ryan being brought back on from either end to throw one last-ditch punch at the hosts.
And it was a shot that landed, sparked by Ryan when he secured the valuable wicket of O’Hare (73) as he mistimed one and slashed it straight to Nick Shannon at gully.
Perera (18) then played a poor shot, not getting enough on it and skying it right into the waiting hands of Rana down the ground as Max picked up a pole.
Then two became three, with Ryan rattling the stumps of the dangerous Tyler Evans (2) to suddenly apply some serious pressure to Tooradin at 6/173, still needing 43 runs.
Jack Mannix and Brad Butler were the two new names at the crease, and like they have over recent years, the Seagulls just found a way to win.
Mannix and Butler soon alleviated all the pressure and guided their side to within a boundary of the required amount.
Rana then bowled Mannix (14) and the hosts tied the score, before losing Ben Parrott (2) to be 8/215.
Butler took Tooradin into the green in emphatic style by smashing a boundary on his way to notching a match-winning 43.
Rana recorded a three-wicket haul to mark seven poles in his last two games while Ryan Adams, Avard and Kariyawasam each took two scalps.
The Seagulls’ class and ability to stand up in the bigger moments got them across the line, a recurring theme of their season.
The result was their second straight mature and clutch win against high quality opposition to sit at the top of the Premier ladder with 11 wins and just one loss.
For Clyde, a loss goes in the books but confidence will be growing in the Cougars’ playing group.
A hotly-contested game against the team they’ll most likely be seeing in a fortnight’s time at the same ground will fill them with belief of a potential finals upset.
Clyde will conclude its home-and-away season with another massive test, returning home to host Kooweerup.
The Cougars are not technically locked into fourth spot, so bagging a win is still crucial.
A Tooradin win in round 14 will bring the minor premiership to Rutter Park, but the Seagulls can expect to face a desperate Pakenham side.
The Lions would need an outright triumph and Clyde to lose to scrape into the postseason, but stranger things have happened.
The league ‘runs’ title is also still up for grabs, with Lownds just 24 clear of Bauer at the top heading into the final round’s play.
