Island secure pole position

By Sam Watson

• A Grade, Division 1

A GRADE Division 1 flag favourites Phillip Island have barely put a foot wrong this season, and they clinched the minor premiership with a dominant win over Inverloch on Saturday.

Lachie Cleeland 33 and Brodie Johnston 25 looked in good touch early, but it was Adam Miller 53 and Shiran Rathnayake 57 who really got the scoreboard ticking.

After 40 overs, Miller and Rathnayake’s 107-run partnership got them to 6/215, putting Inverloch in a tough position at Cowes Recreation Reserve.

It was more bad news for Inverloch, as Phillip Island’s bowlers had them in deep trouble early.
Simon Kirton took 4/17 off 5.4 overs and Rathnayake’s 3/8 off 5 overs had them all out for just 47 in the 21st over, getting a 168-run win.

Another century for Sahan

SAHAN Perera has continued his stellar 2021/22 season with another unbeaten century, helping Leongatha Town chase OMK’s decent total at Scorpion Park.

OMK batted first on Town’s home deck, and captain Ryan Williams 34 and Ethan Lamers 37 had them off to a flyer.

But once those two were gone, only Jaxon Hayes 23 could add another score and they finished at 9/167.

Perera was punishing OMK’s bowlers early, and his opening partner Pandukabhaya Jayasinghe was also in great form.

Jayasinghe ended up on 53* off 68 balls and

Perera reached his century off 75 balls, just before they passed OMK to get the win by 10 wickets in the 24th over.

Imps to feature in finals

THE Leongatha Imperials will feature in the top four in A1 once again, after beating Koonwarra L/RSL at Leongatha Recreation Reserve on Saturday.

Koonwarra won the toss and sent the Imps in on the Leongatha turf, which proved to be a big mistake.

Dimithri Perera put on 26 to open the innings, and then captain Jack Ginnane 62 along with Sumudu Sameera 46 and Tim Sauvarin 49* had the runs coming thick and fast.

After those three knocks in the middle order, the Imps reached 5/221 to complete their 40-over innings.

They’re form with the bat translated to their form with the ball, dismissing the top five for not 69 runs.

But Isuru Wickramasinghe 31 turned the momentum, and then a strong partnership from Harry Hoekstra and Jason Kennedy got them back in the game.

Hoekstra made his way to 55 not out and Kennedy 24 not out, but they couldn’t score quickly enough, falling 52 runs short at 7/169.

Lucas Anderson led Leongatha’s attack, taking 3/17 off six overs.

Club clinch top four spot

WONTHAGGI Club are back where they belong, securing a finals spot after a big win over Nerrena on Saturday.

Club batted first on Butch West Oval after they were sent in by Nerrena, and after a slow start, coach Ryan Thomas saved the day with a 63.

And once he was gone, Koby Brann 34 and captain James Sheerin 34 scored some very valuable runs to get the team to 6/196 after 40 overs.

Club’s bowlers had Nerrena batters bamboozled early with only Tim Wightman 22 and Jarrod Hoy 21 reaching modest totals.

They continued to take wickets, led by Alex Geyer who finished with 3/17 off seven overs and Nerrena were soon all out for 121 in the 39th over.