Diggers dominate Korumburra

• B Grade, Division 1

ONE day cricket continued in the LDCA’s B grade divisions as OMK welcomed Korumburra down to Outtrim for their B1 match up and the visitors won the toss and chose to bat first. 

Unfortunately for the Cobras though, they never really got going with the bat as Thomas Eustace (4/23 from 8) and the Diggers attack took over bowling out the Cobras XI for just 66. 

Roy Checkley (12 from 52) did his best to resurrect things and top-scored for this side. 

In reply, OMK openers Adam Busana (44 from 22) and Joel Cuman (21* from 31) guided their side almost all the way to the required total, before Busana fell at 1/65, the Diggers ended up winning by 9-wickets in just under nine overs!

Matthew Olden (1/22) was the only Cobra to get a wicket, his side will face Koonwarra L/RSL at home in Round 7, while the Diggers will be in action against Inverloch on the road. 

Nerrena thrash MDU behind Baldi’s 99

NERRENA travelled down to Meeniyan to face MDU and the visitors won the toss and chose to bat first.

Their innings got off to a brilliant start as openers Ashley Harrison (35 from 39) and David Baldi (99* from 113) put on a 69-run partnership, before the fall of Harrison’s wicket. 

Baldi continued and found support from several partners who all got starts but were unable to convert them, regardless of this, Nerrena were able to post an outstanding total of 5/226. 

This was hugely thanks to Baldi’s half century, he fell just one run short of a big three figure score, finishing the 40 overs unbeaten. 

In the second innings, with 227 needed to win, the Demons couldn’t quite find the same flow, losing wickets regularly throughout their innings on their way to being dismissed 10/84. 

A terrific all-round game from the visitors, they ran out winners by 142-runs, Tyson Harris (3/21 from 8) was the best with the ball in the second innings, while Dale Thomas (19 from 51) did his best for MDU. 

The Demons will face the Imperials on the road in their next match, while Nerrena will have the bye. 

Cougars easily down Imps

KOONWARRA L/RSL welcomed the Imperials down the road to Koonwarra Recreation Reserve and the visitors were sent into bat after losing the toss. 

It was a great call from the Cougars skipper James Rushton, as his side showed great skill with the ball to have the Imps skittled for 72 inside 30 overs. 

Josh Thomas (4/9 from 7.4) led the attack with an excellent spell of economic bowling while Paris Buckley (2/7 from 4) followed suit. 

Jim Jeffrey (14 from 36) top-scored for the visitors in a tough innings. 

In reply, the hosts cruised to the 73-run target without losing a wicket as Isuru Darshana (48 from 25) and Brad Anderson (22 from 44) combined beautifully to seal the 10-wicket win for their side. 

The Cougars will face Korumburra in Round 7, while the Imps will face off with MDU. 

Inverloch had the bye

• B Grade, Division 2

OMK’s Jeffries and Maguire destroy  Leongatha Town

HOST Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak (OMK) batted first, registering a competitive 154 at Digger Park, with its bowlers then taking charge to ensure the total was beyond visitor Leongatha Town.

Luke Jones, in his first knock of the season and coming to the crease early in the match at number three, made 69 to give OMK’s bowlers something to defend, and helped steady the ship after both his side’s openers went cheaply.

Brock Furness (23 runs) and Danny Elford (20 runs) were the only other OMK batsmen to reach double figures, with 14 extras the next biggest contributor for the Diggers.

While Leongatha Town laid a solid foundation in its chase, runs weren’t easy for Scorpion openers Mark Hardy (27 runs off 71 balls) and Noah Fixter (15 runs from 46 balls) who toiled patiently during their partnership of 42 runs.

After the fall of the Leongatha openers, Colin Bruce with 18 runs was the only other Scorpion to show any real resistance.

Although the beaten side faced a little over 37 overs, it fell 55 runs short of OMK’s tally, managing just 99 all out.

Club too strong for Kilcunda-Bass

ROHAN Todd and Paul Cornelis were the mainstays for Wonthaggi, helping justify Club’s decision to bat first, with scores of 56 and 48 respectively, and enabling it to set Kilcunda Bass a tough assignment.

That was largely attributable to the bowling of Brad Waldron and Chris Peckett who captured seven wickets between them, with four of those belonging to Waldron.

Openers Peter Miller and Alister McBride laid solid foundations but both were dismissed in the 20s.

That set a trend, with a couple of other Kilcunda players, 

Stephen Leman and keeper Ray Gardiner also making it into the twenties but nobody able to press on to a substantial score.

Chris Fraser and Luke McGuirk caused most of the damage, snavelling four wickets apiece to spearhead Club’s victory, conceding just 37 runs between them in a total of 15 and a half overs.

Todd backed up his earlier exploits with the bat with a tidy display with the ball, and although he didn’t take a wicket, he kept the pressure on Kilcunda Bass with his eight overs costing just 20 runs.

Nerrena’s bowlers take charge at home

VISITOR Phillip Island showed confidence to bat first but may have regretted that decision when both its openers failed to reach double figures, with the pressure applied by Nerrena’s attack not relenting thereafter.

Number three Tom Blackwell topped the Sharks scoring with 27, with skipper Andy O’Brien next best with 20.

Daniel Grigg accounted for O’Brien, finishing with 3/18 off six overs, with Raph Jefferis Nerrena’s other multiple wicket taker with 2/18 off the same number of overs.

Phillip Island’s batsmen weren’t able to get on top of any of the opposition bowlers and although the Sharks batted out their overs, they needed to produce something special to defend a meagre tally of 115 runs.

Nerrena’s opening pair ensured that wouldn’t happen, with Brian Gannon and Mitch Croatto putting on 89 for the first wicket.

Nerrena needed just 23 overs to complete an eight wicket win.

Archie Williams and Tarryn Allan were the wicket takers for Phillip Island, with Max Arceo, the only member of the attack to complete his eight overs, conceding only 31 runs.

No luck for Glen Alvie

After a season so far destroyed by persistent wet weather, Glen Alvie players had what was undoubtedly an unwanted round 6 bye, with the side having played just one game.