Imperials down Cobras

• B Grade, Division 1

KORUMBURRA headed to East Campus Oval and the hosts, the Imperials won the toss and chose to bat first. 

Half centuries from Gary Sauvarin (77 from 114) at the top and Clint Honeysett (71 from 53) at number six set up the hosts first innings total of 6/205. 

Shane Dole (2/28 from 8) was the pick of the bowlers for the Cobras, who ultimately never really got going in the chase despite a nice half century from skipper Trevor Allen (51 from 59). 

Jordan Nagel (3/5 from 2.3) and Dallas McLennan (3/22 from 8) did the damage to dismiss the visitors for 139, seeing them fall by 66-runs. 

Korumburra will now head to Thompson Reserve to face Inverloch, while the Imps will head to Nerrena for the last round of the home and away season. 

Cougars end Diggers season with win

OMK hosted Koonwarra L/RSL at the Outtrim Recreation Oval and the Diggers won the toss and chose to bat first. 

After a poor start that had them 2/8, the home side never really recovered as Nathan Trotto (3/21 from 8) led the visiting attack to bowl out their hosts for 124. 

Some late order hitting from Sam Matthews (31 from 56) ended up the top score for the Diggers who were able to make a great fightback in the second innings. 

The hosts were able to dig in with the ball and cause a decent amount of stress to the Cougars who eventually weathered the storm and passed the required total inside 25 overs with just three wickets remaining. 

The chase was highlighted by James Rushton (31 from 35) who top scored at number five setting up the three wicket win, Mitch Sawyers (2/11 from 4) tried his best for OMK with the ball. 

Koony will now head to Meeniyan this Saturday for a huge top four clash, a win could see them lock away second spot on the table. 

As for OMK, their season is over as they have the bye and find themselves outside the top four.  

Nerrena knock off Invy 

INVERLOCH welcomed ladder leaders Nerrena down to the Inverloch Recreation Reserve for a huge top four clash and the hosts won the toss and chose to bat first. 

Unfortunately though, it wasn’t business as usual for the Stingrays as they lost Brett Debono (6) for an uncharacteristically low score and despite a gallant fightback from Chris Terlich (32) and his skipper Warren Williams (30), they never got going, falling 10/145. 

In reply, the top dogs Nerrena came out firing after Tyson Harris (2/18 from 8) led their attack in the first innings, finding their way to the 146 run target with just over seven overs to spare, losing just three wickets. 

Damien Symmons (49*) top scored in the chase after the other of the season’s prolific run scorers David Baldi (5) too fell for an uncommonly low score. 

Dean Cashin (1/34 from 8) fought hard with the ball for Invy, they’ll now look to bounce back from the seven wicket loss this weekend when they host Korumburra and hope to regain second spot. 

As for Nerrena, they’ve locked in the minor premiership and will use this Saturday’s home matchup with MDU as finals preparation. 

• B Grade, Division 2

Ethan Smith excels in Leongatha Town win
LEONGATHA Town won a terrific contest against the backdrop of its badly damaged clubrooms, which appear deceptively fine from outside, with young leg spinner Ethan Smith weaving a web around the Kilcunda-Bass batsmen.

Fifteen-year-old Smith’s lack of pace made his deliveries look an inviting prospect, but his mix of flight and spin proved testing and he took 3/19 from eight overs.

That included breaking the crucial partnership of Stephen Leman and Clinton Armour, having the latter caught by Josh Schelling.

While Armour made just seven, he and Leman added 38, taking Kilcunda-Bass to 3/100, needing just 63 more runs for victory.

Armour’s removal made that 4/100 and sparked a collapse that saw the Sharks bowled out with the addition of just 30 more runs, giving Leongatha Town a 32-run win and a finals berth.

By the time Leman fell for 49, bowled by the medium pace of Luke Ashton, Kilcunda-Bass was 6/112, still needing 51 and with its hopes fading.

Ashton finished with 1/24 from his full allotment of overs.

Noah Fixter made crucial top order breakthroughs, helping set up Leongatha Town’s winning opportunity, including bowling Kilcunda Bass opener Scott Williams, who looked threatening before succumbing for 26.

Fixter captured 2/31 from his eight overs, effectively bowling an extra over with four wides and a couple of no balls.

Lachie Gill managed impressive figures of 1/12 despite conceding five wides.

Smith held his nerve regardless of some attacking strokes from the Kilcunda-Bass batsmen.

He commanded plenty of respect, having the Sharks in defensive mode on many occasions.

Smith has been learning the challenging art of leg spin for about five years, saying his lack of pace prompted his decision to focus on guile.

Leongatha Town skipper Mark Hardy praised the efforts of his side after the game, telling them they have made the finals and urging them to tidy up in the extras department, noting a couple of the bowlers bounced back strongly after wayward starts.

Lachie May defied what for many proved challenging batting conditions, with his rapid 48 not out, batting at number 7, proving crucial in enabling Leongatha Town to set a competitive target of 163.

Opener Matt Davies and number three batsman Ashton were the Scorpions’ next biggest contributors with the willow, making 27 apiece.

Leman preceded his impressive innings for Kilcunda-Bass with excellent bowling, taking 3/11, with half his eight overs being maidens.

Nicholas McCallum also took three wickets for the Sharks, conceding 39 runs from his maximum over allotment.

Both those bowlers inflicted damage on Leongatha Town’s top and middle order.

Like the other clubs in the Leongatha & District Cricket Association, those at Kilcunda-Bass swiftly offered help to Leongatha Town after Friday’s fire destroyed the inside of the Scorpions’ clubrooms.

Leongatha Town will have a bye in the final regular season round before commencing its finals campaign.

Phillip Island  outmuscles Glen Alvie

GLEN Alvie chose to bat at home, but the visiting Phillip Island bowlers made that a tough assignment.

While Glen Alvie showed fight to bat out its 40 overs, it was able to set a target of just 103, something Phillip Island achieved for the loss of just one wicket.

Clint Gooch, batting at number 9, may be in for a move up the order after top scoring for Glen Alvie with 27 not out at almost a run a ball.

Pieter Loos (20) and Joe Burke (17) were a couple of other decent contributors with the bat for the beaten team.

Matthew Parsons was a destructive force with the ball for the Sharks, taking 4/8 from six overs, helping ensure Phillip Island’s batsmen didn’t have too much work to do.

Tarryn Allan was the winning side’s other multiple wicket taker, with 2/13 off eight overs.

Phillip Island skipper Connor Epifano led his team’s successful chase with an undefeated 54, with fellow opener Kurt Lane blasting a rapid 33 that included five fours and a six.

Lachlan McRae was Glen Alvie’s wicket taker, finishing with 1/18 off four overs.