MDU claims thriller over Koonwarra L/RSL

B Grade, Division 1

AFTER promising a gripping second day, the contest between Meeniyan Dumbalk United and Koonwarra Leongatha RSL delivered just that, the Demons scraping home by a couple of wickets after being set 231 for victory.

Matt Olden’s patient 82 at the top of the innings and Clayton Fisher’s unbeaten 68 off 73 balls, batting at number eight, proved decisive in MDU’s success, along with a crucial 16 not out from Dylan Zuidema.

The Demons still required 49 runs when their eighth wicket fell, the Cougars looking a good bet at the time.

Paris Buckley had the pick of the figures for the narrowly beaten Cougars, taking a couple of top-order scalps that included MDU skipper Craig Hoober for a duck.

Buckley’s teammate William Cashin (2/45 off nine overs) was responsible for the eighth wicket when he knocked over Daniel Field for just two, and earlier had top scorer Olden caught by Blake Smith.

Smith also grabbed a couple of wickets, conceding 35 runs off his eight overs in what was a solid team bowling performance by the Cougars despite honours ultimately lying with MDU.

Korumburra’s batting aggression sets too many for Inverloch
AGGRESSIVE batting on a shortened day one gave Korumburra a great platform on which to build and the Cobras did so, progressing from 173 to 6/297, then skittling the Stingrays for just 140.

Korumburra’s Shane Dole went from 67 not out at the conclusion of the opening day to a game-high 121, with Matthew Allen making 86.

John Bowring toiled productively with the ball for Inverloch, grabbing 4/66 off 17 overs.

While Inverloch captain Brett Debono made 43 opening the batting, Bowring’s 30 was the Stingrays’ only other notable score.

Korumburra shared bowling responsibilities between seven players and all made batting challenging for Inverloch.

Scott Head took 3/37 from 11 overs, including starting the rot for the Stingrays when he caught and bowled opener Riley Harris for seven.

Mathew Olden took 2/33 off his 11 overs, while Bryce Riddell dismissed Inverloch top scorer Debono and finished with a stingy 2/7 from five overs.

OMK crushes Imperials
OUTTRIM Moyarra Kongwak’s day one batting exploits left Imperials with a mountain to climb and the Diggers’ bowlers ensured that wouldn’t happen, engineering a 175-run win, chiefly due to

Hayden James’ stunning 9/40 haul off 26.1 overs.

James was denied the opportunity of taking all 10 Imperials wickets by the run out of James Forrester.

Gary Sauvarin made an unbeaten 58 from 151 balls but a lack of support from teammates dashed any hopes of holding OMK to a draw.

Rohan McLennan’s 21 batting at number three was next best.

Shane Taylor and Ben Maguire were serviceable for the triumphant OMK, conceding just 70 runs from their combined 24 overs.

Town hangs on against rampant Island
LEONGATHA Town ground its way to 8/115, seeing off the 59 remaining overs after Phillip Island declared with a 142-run first innings lead set up by a dashing unbeaten 105 from Andrew Finlayson, who was well supported by Jobe Williams’ 30 not out batting at number 10.

Scorpions captain Luke Ashton was the standout with the ball for his side with 3/52 off 14 overs. He helped Town cling on in its second dig with a defiant 38 not out off 116 balls, with Travis Strybosch’s 15 next best.

Phillip Island skipper Kurt Lane starred for his team, seizing 4/20 off 19 overs, including a staggering 13 maidens, while Timothy Niven captured 3/29 from 13 overs.

B Grade, Division 2

WHILE Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak was never going to match Wonthaggi Club’s extraordinary day one tally of 377, the OMK top order showed character to get the Diggers off to a solid start when action resumed.

Robert Quaife top scored with 57 at the healthy strike rate of 75 before being run out.

His opening partner Thomas Walker was dismissed earlier for 22, bringing in Russ White who went on to make 43.

George Lomagno with 21 was the only other Digger to show any real defiance, OMK finishing nine down and still 200 runs adrift of Club.

Club gave seven players a go with the ball, Sam Liddle proving damaging and economical with 3/31 from 21 overs, while Chris Fraser took top and middle order wickets to finish with 3/39 from 20 overs.

Foster can’t get near Korumburra total
WITH Foster a player short, the sides agreed to end the game when the Tigers lost their ninth first innings wicket on a score of 98 after Korumburra made 9/215 on day one.

The Cobras attack accounted for Foster’s top four batsmen for a combined 15 runs, with only Jarryd Guganovic (34) and Tim Garvey (28) able to mount any resistance.

Peter Churchill (3/31) and Thomas Sorrell (2/6) were the multiple wicket takers for Korumburra, with the remaining quartet of Cobra bowlers getting one scalp each and none of the winning attack easy to score from.

Determined Killy’-Bass falls short
Kilcunda-Bass continued its cautious approach on day two working patiently towards the 202-run target set by Nerrena but the Red Caps bowlers continued to take wickets, eventually leading their side to a 50-run victory.

Brett Joseph failed to improve on his day one score of four but his Kilcunda-Bass opening partner Scott Williams advanced from two not out to 34 before falling to Jack Donohue.

Other Sharks batsmen dug in and showed tenacity, with James Mahood (28), Ray Gardiner (26) and Robert Blackney (25) facing a combined 209 balls but the Nerrena bowlers eventually had their measure.

Sharks skipper Bradley Waldron also displayed defiance but fell for 17 and others were unable to provide meaningful resistance.

Nerrena captain Michael Croatto led by example to snare 3/12 from eight tidy overs, Cameron Baudinette taking 2/33 from almost 15 overs.

Charlie Dougherty backed up his 66 runs for Nerrena on day one with a neat 1/41 off 19 overs.

Island impresses against Glen Alvie
PHILLIP Island quickly seized a first innings lead against Glen Alvie early on day two, ultimately declaring 94 runs ahead after the loss of just three wickets.

Glen Alvie showed determination with the willow second time around, managing 6/194 by the time stumps were drawn.

After the Sharks Tharidu Asurumuni fell on the first day for 86, his opening partner Thomas Blackwell didn’t resume his innings of 68, retiring not out, providing opportunities for other Phillip Island batsmen.

All those who got a chance contributed, Oliver Duggan (31), Daniel McCausland (18), Tony Hornsby with an unbeaten 28 and Matthew Parsons also not out with 25.

Gaby Hynes was the only multiple wicket taker for Glen Alvie, with 2/50 from seven overs, those scalps being Asurumuni and Duggan.

While Glen Alvie tried six bowlers, none were able to stem Phillip Island’s brisk scoring.

Glen Alvie opener Andrew Brown made a rapid fire 67 in his second knock for the match, Darcy Hale also showing character with a brisk 79.

Justin Tran’s 3/14 off five overs was the pick of the Phillip Island figures second time around, with only two Sharks not getting a bowl.