MDU eyes the win even as the Sharks circle

B Grade, Division  1

WITH a decent innings under its belt, MDU will be looking to dig deep next weekend to secure a win against Phillip Island. 

Phillip Island ventured out to the Meeniyan Recreation Reserve, where the home team won the toss and chose to bat.

Heath Womersley claimed Tyrone Zukovskis’ wicket for 15 runs, but the partnership of Troy Sinclair and Mike Olden combined well to put 54 and 47 runs on the board respectively.

Callum McCaughan and Kurt Sinclair later added 32 and 27 runs.

The bowling honours were shared between Jobe Williams and Justin Tran.

Williams took 3/33, putting pressure on the top and middle order, and Tran claimed 3/34, taking out the tailenders.

Tony Hornsby also performed well, claiming two wickets.

After playing 58 overs, MDU was bowled out 10/216.

Phillip Island opened its account, with Hornsby making 12 runs before he was dismissed by Jake Palmer.

Womersley and Thomas Blackwell had made five and three runs respectively and will continue Phillip Island’s campaign on Saturday.

Phillip Island is currently sitting on 1/30.

OMK sets a target

OMK and Inverloch went head-to-head at Inverloch’s Thompson Reserve.

Inverloch won the toss and asked OMK to bat first.

Captain Kris Kerr got the ball rolling for OMK with 25 runs, but Inverloch bowlers Callan O’Flynn and Dean Cashin were in decent form and swiftly wiped out the top order.

Middle order batsmen Dylan McMeekin and David Jeffries steered OMK back in the right direction with 31 and 28 runs respectively, but both were dismissed by Isaac Seuren.

Tailenders Nick Wylie and Luke Walker gave an exciting last-ditch effort, putting 31 and 27 runs on the board. 

Walker was caught by John Richardson off the bowling of Will Rankin and Wylie was not out.

The resulting score was 10/190. 

Inverloch’s top bowlers for the day were Seuren and O’Flynn, claiming 3/54 and 3/31.

Inverloch will be given its opportunity to respond this Saturday.

Hit by the weather

The game between Nerrena and Korumburra was washed out after 31 overs.

Taking place at the Korumburra Recreation Reserve, the Red Caps won the toss and chose to bat first.

Captain Damien Symmons opened the innings and was unmovable, making 75 not out.

Kade Berryman was caught by Philip Richards off the bowling of Liam Dole for five runs.

Dole also picked off James Kelly for 16 runs.

Joel Renden made 24 not out before the inclement weather set in.

Nerrena will finish its remaining 39 overs on Saturday before pulling out all the stops to bowl out Korumburra to avoid a draw. 

Wonthaggi Club had the round 12 bye. 

B Grade, Division 2

Town put the pressure on the Imperials 

THE Imperials are feeling the challenge to hold back ladder leader Leongatha Town.

Playing at Scorpion Park, Town decided to bowl first after winning the toss.

Batting third in the order, Imperials captain Sam Vagg put 20 runs on the scoreboard before he was bowled by Trent McRae.

Unfortunately, the run rate continued to be slow with only Damon Ginnane managing to salvage the innings with the top score of 22 runs.

McRae was in decent form, claiming four Imperial wickets.

Two more wickets were taken by captain Pandukabhaya Jayasinghe.

By the 38th over, the Imperials were bowled out 10/132.

Town faced 32 overs of its innings. 

McRae continued to dominate with 36 runs to open the account. 

He was caught out by Andrew Meyer off the bowling of Lucas Anderson.

Colin Bruce later added 27 runs, but the Imperials bowlers were determined to defend their score.

Anderson claimed 3/34, and two wickets were taken by James Jeffery.

Town will continue its innings on Saturday, currently sitting on 6/98.

Nyora tighten the screws

Kilcunda-Bass also has its work cut out for it against Nyora.

A slow start for the embattled Kilcunda-Bass side turned around when Daniel Ferguson and Joel Dickson stepped up to the crease.

Ferguson accumulated 30 runs and Dickson top scored with 50 runs, before both batsmen had their wickets claimed by Daniel Blackney.

For Kilcunda-Bass, Ferguson and Dickson’s reign was the highlight, with a slew of ducks and quick dismissals to follow.

Michael Lynch was the standout bowler for Nyora, taking 4/31.

Tully Bernaldo claimed two wickets, along with Blackney.

Kilcunda-Bass was bowled out 10/134.

Nyora launched its innings with Colin Knox making 19 not out.

Jordan Knox made four runs before a catch from Ray Gardiner saw his wicket claimed by Ben Rookes.

Colin Knox will be joined by Daniel Esler at the crease when Nyora continues its run on Saturday.

Nyora had made 1/23 at stumps.

Foster fight back late

After losing top spot on the ladder following round 11’s defeat, Koonwarra/LRSL came in hot on Saturday.

Bowlers Campbell Riseley and Spencer Chadwick worked hard to keep Foster’s run rate to a minimum, taking three wickets each.

Foster’s opening batsman Jake Pilkington made a strong start with 35 runs before he was dismissed by Chadwick and the top score came from Donald Caldwell with 39 not out.

Foster ended its innings bowled out 10/143.

However, Foster was far from down and out.

Foster bowler Chris Ford responded to Koonwarra/LRSL’s challenge by taking 4/13.

Ford ran through Koonwarra/LRSL’s top order, including the dismissal of vice-captain Adam Drury for a golden duck.

Glenn Boxall opened the innings with nine runs and Nigel Grimes had made 10 not out at stumps.

Grimes and Nick Arnup will be at the crease when play resumes on Saturday, with Koonwarra/LRSL set to work hard from its score of 4/39.

Glen Alvie had the bye.