Debono’s brilliant season continues with a ton

• B Grade, Division 1

BOTH coming off wins, Inverloch hosted Koonwarra L/RSL at Thompson Reserve and the visitors won the toss and sent the hosts in to bat first. 

However, unfortunately for the Cougars, the toss is about all they won on the day, as the hometown Stingrays put them to the sword, pouring on 254 runs, losing just three wickets on the way.

The catalyst, as he has been all season, was again the Invy’ skipper Brett Debono (126* from 119) who’s marvellous century included 21 fours and a six and proved to be a game changer. 

Adam Drury (1/29 from 6) bowled well in a tough innings for the Koony attack, while John Richardson (59*) played a great supporting role alongside his skipper. 

In reply, the visitors just couldn’t find the same flow with the stick, as they were dismissed for 132, falling 122 runs shy of the target. 

Dean Cashin (3/30 from 8) and Amad Mutjaba (3/8 from 2) bowled well in the win, they and the Stingrays will now face Nerrena, while Koony host OMK. 
 
Demons douse Cobras

MDU hosted Korumburra at the Meeniyan Recreation Reserve and the hosts won the toss and chose to bat first. 

With a team high score coming from Matt Martin (41 from 32) highlighting their innings, the Demons posted 5/150 after their 40 overs, Patrick Beadel (2/37 from 7) the pick of the bowlers for ‘Burra.

In reply, the Cobras got off to a promising start, as their top four all made starts, including a top score from Noah Christensen (47 from 55), but stumbled and collapsed to end their innings at 127.

The MDU captain Craig Hoober (3/15 from 3) bowled excellently to seal the win, his side will now have the bye, while Korumburra host the Imps.

Nerrena holds of Diggers

OMK hosted Nerrena at the Outtrim Recreation Oval and it was the visitors who won the toss and chose to bat first. 

With even contributions throughout the order, Nerrena were able to post a decent total of 5/204, with David Baldi (78 from 80) top scoring and James Kelly (50* from 69) pitching in too. 

David Jeffries (2/26 from 8) bowled well for the Diggers and in reply his side fell just 11-runs short. 

Big contributions from Mitch Sawyers (68) and David Creed (57) getting their side close, but their dismissals proved costly as the hosts finished 8/193 after 40 overs. 

They’ll now head to Koonwarra, while Nerrena will host Inverloch.

• B Grade, Division 2

Wonthaggi beats Town despite messy finish

WONTHAGGI Club was on track to comfortably reach its 132-run victory target before Leongatha Town struck four late blows, with Club getting home by three wickets.

After choosing to bat, the Scorpions did well to muster a reasonably competitive score despite four members of the batting line up falling for ducks.

Skipper Mark Hardy made a patient 22 in an hour and a half at the crease, with opening batting partner Matt Davies managing a far more rapid 31.

Number four Josh Schelling assembled an entertaining knock of 43 at better than a run a ball, but the batsmen below him were unable to make significant contributions.

Wonthaggi’s Rohan Todd snavelled 3/23 off his eight overs, including removing the stoic opposition skipper.

While teammate Nathan Cant finished with one less wicket, he accounted for a couple of top order batsmen and allowed a stingy 11 runs off his full complement of overs.

It was a strong team performance with the ball for Club.

Wonthaggi’s batsmen knocked off the runs at a good rate, finishing with a little over 10 overs to spare, but after Club lost its third wicket on 113, it plummeted to 7/129 before finding the remaining few runs needed for victory.

Todd built on his success with the ball with a speedy innings of 41, with William Speed and Sean Roche the other main contributors with the willow for the winning team, notching 29 apiece.

Luke Bowman and Wil Dawson proved they are not only handy with the Sherrin, grabbing a couple of wickets each for the beaten Town.

OMK sees off Kilcunda-Bass at Digger Park

KILCUNDA-Bass showed confidence to bat first at Digger Park but that positivity wasn’t rewarded, with OMK knocking over the top three Sharks batsmen for the combined total of 10 runs.

While Kilcunda-Bass showed fight and several of its batsmen worked hard to lay solid foundations, the OMK bowlers kept finding ways to remove them, not allowing any to score more than 20.

Brett Joseph and Clinton Armour were the two Sharks to reach that mark.

Andrew Sorensen dispatched both of them on his way to a neat 3/16 for OMK.

Justin Greenwood sent down his maximum quota of overs, yielding just 18 runs and dismissing a couple of top order Sharks.

While a target of 143 might easily have proved tricky, the OMK top order ensured that wasn’t the case.

Opener Luke Jones was unbeaten on 45, with opening partner Robert Quaife making 37 and skipper and number three batsman Russell White 31.

Kilcunda-Bass finished with four individual wicket takers as OMK marched to a six-wicket win.

Phillip Island sets too many for Glen Alvie

AFTER sending in host Phillip Island at Rhyll, Glen Alvie was able to pick up seven wickets, but the Sharks set a strong 183 run target.

Much of Phillip Island’s solid score was attributable to Kohen Beaumont (61) and captain Connor Epifano 48.

A late flurry from Tarryn Allan (25 not out) and Max Arceo (21 not out) was also important after the home side lost its seventh wicket with the score on 139.

As it turned out, 139 was all Glen Alvie mustered in pursuit, with Kevin McLean (67) and Joe Burke (31) the main contributors.

Allan added to his handy late order runs for Phillip Island with a destructive 4/12 off his eight overs, with teammate Matthew Parsons taking as many wickets but conceding 42 off his full allotment.

Nerrena had the round 11 bye.