Lamers finds three figures in another Diggers win

• A Grade, Division 1

AFTER setting a competitive total on day one, Nerrena welcomed back OMK to the Leongatha Recreation Reserve. 

However, the ladder leading Diggers made light work of the 206-run target as star opener Ethan Lamers (126* from 160) finally notched that elusive century that he fell five runs short of last time out. 

The young opener’s unbeaten innings was the difference in the chase, as he combined beautifully with his captain Koby Brann (67 from 123) to put together a 157-run stand after being 1/0. 

Jarrod Hoy (1/34 from 11) tried his best with the ball. 

The visitors huge eight wicket win sent a big message to the rest of the A grade division one competition as they have now locked in the minor premiership and will use the final game of the regular season against Phillip Island as a sighter for finals. 

As for Nerrena, they’ll host Koonwarra L/RSL and look to win to guarantee themselves a finals berth. 

Club upset Town to keep dream alive 

WONTHAGGI welcomed Leongatha back to the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve Turf and looked to complete the upset by finding a further 160 runs. 

In the end, the home side were able to make the 160 runs and reach the required total inside 50 overs to complete the upset, losing just three wickets along the way. 

Club captain Ryan Thomas (62* from 106) combined well with young opener Stewart Beaumont (79 from 132) who’s half centuries and 90-run partnership laid the perfect foundation for the successful chase, seeing the Wonny’ boys win by seven wickets. 

Amila Ratnaike (1/30 from 8) tried bravely with the ball for Town. 

The win keeps Wonthaggi’s finals hopes alive, but they’ll need to defeat the Imperials on the road this week and hope some other results fall their way to sneak in. 

As for the Scorpions, they’ll now host Inverloch and look to win and hold them out of the top four. 

Imps stun Stingrays 

INVERLOCH welcomed the Imperials back to Thompson Reserve and looked to complete the run chase and grab a spot in the top four. 

However, just as the chase looked as though it was well on its way to being a successful one at 2/84, disaster struck for the finals hopeful Stingrays. 

With gun top order bats in captain-keeper duo David Newman (35 from 93) and Jack Butcher (28 from 137) at the crease, the hosts lost 8/31 as Sumudu Sameera (4/14 from 17) and his captain Jack Ginnane (4/34 from 15.2) combined to tear them apart. 

The brutal collapse saw the hosts dismissed for 115, falling 12-runs shy of the win. 

The Invy’ squad will have to lick their wounds quickly and compose themselves ahead of a massive clash this weekend at Scorpion Park, where they take on Town for a spot in the finals. 

As for the Imps, they’re out of the finals race themselves, but will look break some more hearts with a win over Wonthaggi this Saturday. 

Walsh and the Cougars complete the upset

IT MAY have been an uneven matchup on paper going in, with last season’s premiers hosting this season’s wooden spooners, but that didn’t bother Koonwarra L/RSL when they travelled back to the

Newhaven Recreation Reserve to face Phillip Island. 

Needing just 65 more runs to complete one of the almighty upsets after bowling the reigning premiers out for just 88 on day one, the Cougars returned with a fierce determination. 

This was led by their fearless captain Ben Walsh (21 from 182) who’s incredible captain’s knock, that lasted almost 200 minutes set the tone for the chase, and ultimately saw Koony out of trouble. 

Although despite Walsh and Kasun Weeranga’s (28 from 70) defiant digs, the Cougars side was still unable to hold off some resistance from the Sharks, who should be commended for not giving in. 

Led by star spinner Charith Keerthsinghe (2/25 from 30) the hosts showed great fight, dismissing Walsh and Weeranga and making the game interesting with 20-runs to go. 

However, the visitors showed some amazing heart and persevered to get the job done, winning by three wickets. 

A massive upset loss for Phillip Island who were looking to lock in a finals spot, they’ll need to continue that search for perfection this week and take down the minor premiers OMK if they want to remain in second position. 

As for Koony, they’ll look to cause a bit of late season chaos with a win over Nerrena.

• A Grade, Division 2

MDU overhauls Glen Alvie’s modest total

MEENIYAN Dumbalk United overcame the loss of a couple of early wickets the previous week to claim a first innings win over visitor Glen Alvie.

MDU entered day two of the match at 2/25, still needing 90 runs to edge ahead, having lost both openers.

The Glen Alvie bowlers gave their all, reducing MDU to 6/71, a deficit of 43, but the Demons went ahead on the scoreboard before losing any further wickets.

A speedy 58 not out from Jai Bright was a highlight for the triumphant MDU, which finished with a first innings lead of seventy runs when stumps were drawn.

His aggressive efforts were well complemented by the steady knock of Mitchell Hoober, with his 31 runs from 63 balls steadying the ship for the home side after he entered the fray at number 7.

Nathan Findlay impressed with the ball for Glen Alvie, giving his side a chance as he captured four of his side’s first five wickets.

He finished with figures of 4/57 from 24 overs.

While Matthew Dakin was Glen Alvie’s other multiple wicket taker with 2/29 off nine overs, teammate Stephen Kennedy went wicketless but made the MDU batsmen toil for their runs, conceding just 21 from 16 overs.

Kilcunda Bass can’t hold off Korumburra for draw

WITH Korumburra setting a mountainous total of just over 300 runs in its first innings, Kilcunda Bass dug in on day 2 fighting for a draw, but the Cobras’ bowlers did enough to prevent that.

Sri Lankan spin pair Inshaka Siriwardena and Harshika Fernando applied fierce pressure, with fielders crowding the Kilcunda Bass batsmen.

Siriwardena bowled what Kilcunda Bass skipper Ash Larcombe aptly described as “a ton of overs”, sending down 24 of them and taking 4/23.

“We batted most of the day praying for rain,” Larcombe said of the tense battle for a draw.

While drizzle arrived, it was never enough to force players from the field.

Larcombe commended the fighting spirit shown by his side, exemplified by Todd Smith’s determined 27 from 88 balls and an undefeated 20 from 51 balls by James Mahood.

With one player unable to make it to the ground, it was a case of nine down all out for Kilcunda Bass.

Fernando finished with 2/32 from 11 overs for the victorious Korumburra, with teammate Harry McNeill ending the innings of the defiant Smith and capping that with the game’s final wicket, taking 2/11 off just over five overs.

Foster forces  Phillip Island follow-on

PHILLIP Island never threatened to make the 266 runs required for a first innings win over Foster.

The Tigers took charge from early in the Sharks’ innings, reducing the visitors to 6/22.

While Clint Wilson (43) and Jobe Williams (32 not out) dug in to provide much-needed fight for Phillip Island, the side was only able to muster 128 first innings runs, prompting Foster to ask the Sharks to bat again.

Jack Gay (5/29) and Jack Weston (4/23) devastated Phillip Island through the top and middle order, with Weston also accounting for the stubborn Wilson and taking the final wicket.

In the second innings, Phillip Island skipper Steve McIntyre took responsibility on his shoulders, pushing himself up the order to open the batting.

He set the standard for his side with an unbeaten 58 at better than a run-a-ball.

No other Shark made more than seven in the second innings before stumps were called.

Club has a go, but Nyora gets the points

A BRISK 87-run opening stand gave Wonthaggi Club a solid start to its epic quest to surpass Nyora’s 306 run total.

However, Nyora’s bowlers took charge thereafter, sending Club’s number three batsman Kyle McGregor on his way for a duck, then reducing Wonthaggi to 4/102.

While Club had a number of solid contributors, none were able to press on to a really big score, with Jason O’Reilly and Luke McGuirk both making 56.

Openers David Britt (49) and Emmet Dempsey (44) also did well for the beaten team.

Mitchell Rowe toiled hard and reaped healthy rewards for Nyora, snavelling 5/60 from his 15 overs, removing five of Wonthaggi’s top six batsmen.

Teammate Michael Lynch needed less than eight overs to claim 3/23.

Nyora finished the winner by 35 runs, with skipper Henry Dolphin’s century on the game’s opening day proving crucial.