Red Caps to storm home

A Grade, Division 1

IT’S the final round of the 2024/25 home and away season, and Nerrena is a day away from being crowned the minor premiers regardless of the result.

Nerrena is facing second-placed Wonthaggi Club in the last round, but even a loss would still leave the Red Caps a game clear after a dominant season.

The battle with Club was launched at the Nerrena Recreation Reserve.

Club won the toss and chose to bat.

The opening partnership of Mitch Thomas and Alexander Geyer led Club to a handy score of 10/252.

Thomas made 54 runs before he was caught by Jack Curtis off the bowling of Timothy Wightman.

Geyer fell short of a ton, making 98 runs before he also fell victim to Wightman.

Unfortunately for Club, the run rate dropped significantly from the loss of Thomas.

Wightman went on a spree, demolishing Club’s batting order and claiming an eye-watering 8/75.

Wickets were also claimed by Josh Trease and Curtis.

Fraser West added 21 runs late in the innings.

Nerrena will respond next week, hungry to take its 11th win of the season.

OMK destroys Korumburra

BOTH OMK and the Imperials are on the hunt for outright wins.

OMK took on Korumburra at the Korumburra Recreation Reserve, winning the toss to launch the match.

Korumburra bowler Tom Crocker slowed OMK down by taking four wickets throughout the innings, but captain Koby Brann made 45 runs, ensuring the Diggers would record a competitive score.

Brann was stumped by Rumesh Rangana off the bowling of Shane Dole.

Crocker and Gayathra Shehan Amarasinghe Mudalige forced two ducks before Thomas Wyatt entered the game.

Wyatt top-scored with 59 runs before he was LBW to Dole.

In the 40th over, OMK was bowled out with a score of 10/154.

It was a gettable score for Korumburra, but hopes were dashed by OMK bowler Jacob Lamers, who claimed 6/23.

Andy Millar opened for Korumburra and made 24 runs before his wicket fell to Peter Dell.

Rangana top scored with 27 runs and another 24 runs were added by Amarasinghe Mudalige.

Korumburra conceded the first innings to OMK when it was bowled out 10/104 in the 30th over.

OMK opened its second innings account and survived five overs before stumps.

Clayton Quaife and Zavier Lamers were the opening batsmen and were both not out.

Imperials crush Koonwarra L/RSL

A SWIFT dismissal of the Koonwarra L/RSL batting order also saw the Imperials claim a first-innings win.

Playing at the Leongatha Recreation Reserve, Mitchell Scrimshaw opened for the Cougars and made 13 runs.

Coming in at number five, captain James Rushton top scored with 21 runs and a further 13 runs were added by Callum Buckland, but this was the extent of Koonwarra L/RSL’s innings as Imperials bowler and vice-captain Lachie Wright claimed 5/32.

Two wickets were taken by Aydan Williams, and singles were claimed by Isaac Bolge and Klayton McGrath.

Koonwarra L/RSL was bowled out with a score of 10/78.

The Imperials stepped up to bat with Campbell Reid and captain Jack Ginnane at the crease.

Reid made 12 runs before Blake Smith took a catch off the bowling of Jason Kennedy.

Williams was next in and put 31 runs on the board before his wicket fell to Rushton.

Timothy Sauvarin finished off the innings with Ginnane, both not out when the Imperials secured the win.

Sauvarin made 13 runs and Ginnane top-scored with 55 runs.

Their tally of 2/129 already earning first innings points, will continue  this Saturday.

Town sets big target for Island

LEONGATHA Town will go into this weekend looking to defend 10/236 against Phillip Island.

Playing at Scorpion Park, the toss went in favour of Town, who elected to bat first.

Captain Jesse Giardina opened well, putting 31 runs on the board.

The top score went to Madura Madusanka, who hit a handy 85 runs.

Rhett Hume and Birendra De Saram contributed 26 and 23 runs respectively.

For Phillip Island, Max Royal was responsible for the most fallen wickets, taking 5/58.

Kurt Lane claimed 4/55 and Zac Brown took 1/56.

Phillip Island will go into bat this weekend.