Club creep closer to Nerrena

By Sam Watson

• C Grade, Division 1

WONTHAGGI Club has moved within six points of Nerrena, who sit atop the C1 ladder, after beating the Red Caps at Nerrena Recreation Reserve.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Nerrena’s Brian Gannon 46 started the innings nicely.

Ben Martin 35 also had a good stint in the middle, but after that Club’s bowlers got on top, keeping them to 7/142 after 35 overs.

Kevin McLean got Wonthaggi’s chase off to a brilliant start, blasting 57 off 32 balls, while Liam Sawyer worked his way to 39.

Paul Cornelis’ patient innings saw him churn out 26 runs and Wonthaggi passed Nerrena, six wickets down in the 29th over.

With just three rounds left, only six points separates Nerrena and Club on top of the C1 ladder.

MDU upset Stingrays

MDU has kept their hopes of avoiding relegation alive, after beating Inverloch by five wickets on Saturday.

The Stingrays batted first at Dumbalk Recreation Reserve, and it was David Harris who began nicely.

Jack Rowe 35 also had a good crack with the bat but MDU’s bowlers had all the answers, bowling them out for 133 with an over to spare.

After an early wicket fell, Wayne Cocksedge 44 settled the chase beautifully and with a 28 each from Gary Webster and captain Dale Thomas, the game was over.

MDU passed them five wickets down in the 34th over, bringing them level with OMK, but still on the bottom of the C1 ladder.

Cougars cruise past Cobras

KOONWARRA L/RSL has earned another crucial victory in C1, this time defeating Korumburra by eight wickets in a potentially finals deciding contest.

Korumburra were instantly in trouble in the first innings with both openers failing to get off the mark, but Iain Riddell 32 somewhat saved the innings.

Koonwarra kept taking wickets, but Jacob Wrigley 38 and Vibhu Gupta 21 fought back, getting their total to 111 before being bowled out.

Brodie Cary led the way with the ball for Koonwarra taking 4/24 off seven overs.

In Koonwarra’s innings, openers Anthony Hunt 28* and Joel Leeden 40 put on a 61-run partnership, then first drop batter Kayden Scrimshaw added a classy 24 and the match was finished in the 28th over, with the Cougars winning by eight wickets.

• C Grade, Division 2

PI Blue knocks off friendly foes

PHILLIP Island Blue has held their spot on top of the C2 ladder, this time beating their club counterparts, Phillip Island Yellow.
Blue batted first at Rhyll, and strong showings from John Manning 24, Carl Muscat 42, Chris Fall 38, Peter Francis 24, and captain Michael Cleary 23 saw them make 9/188.

And if it wasn’t for the 4/33 from Jai Kleverkamp it could’ve been a lot more.

Yellow’s top order struggled in their run chase, but a captain’s knock from Daniel McCausland 31 and then another strong innings from Brady Ross 47 got them back in the game.

However, it was too little, too late and they ultimately fell 29 runs short at 9/159.

Town terrorise Koony Gold

LEONGATHA Town has put on a huge total against Koonwarra L/RSL Gold at The Gump, paving the way for a 116-run win.

John Pouw and Tim Cashin 33 had a 78-run opening partnership to get their day off to a flyer, but then Pouw and Michael Warren teamed up for a 99-run partnership, putting Koonwarra well behind.

Pouw would eventually be caught on 87, but Warren kept going and he was joined by Beauden Grabham Andrews 25 who found the boundary quickly.

Warren was there until the end of the innings, finishing on 67 not out and getting the side to 5/248 after 35 overs.

Koonwarra struggled early in their mammoth chase, but Glenn Matthies’ 37 saved a bit of face at first drop.

After he was gone, Town continued to take wickets and they got them all out for 132 in the 34th over.