Sharks take the crown

• C Grade, Divison 1

FOLLOWING their convincing win over last season’s runners up, Phillip Island travelled to the Outtrim Recreation Oval to face off with the giant killers Korumburra for the C grade Division one flag. 

The Cobras knocked off minor premiers Inverloch in Inverloch in the Semi Final and won the toss and the big dance and elected to bat first. 

However, unfortunately for them, that’s about where their luck ran out as they lost both openers Patrick Beadel (0) and Jacob Wrigley (8) early to be 2/10. 

Things didn’t improve soon after as they lost Semi Final man of the match Cameron Smith for just three. 

Fortunately though for ‘Burra, the duo of Jake Rockall (41 from 86) and Darren Scott (32* from 60) were able to steer them out of real trouble with a 46-run partnership. 

Although, just as Rockall neared the half century mark, he was dismissed, sparking a complete collapse as the Sharks again took over, this time ending the Cobras innings. 

Starting with the fall of Rockall’s wicket, the Islanders claimed 7/27, led by Tharidu Asurumui (4/7 from 3) who claimed four of the seven in just three overs! 

Deane Mani (3/28 from 7.3) took the other three as Korumburra finished 10/100, setting a Phillip Island a target of 101-runs for the premiership. 

In the chase, the Island top order was superb, getting a great early start through John Manning (16) and Gavin Excell (26 from 52) and then recovering beautifully after losing Manning at 1/32, and then Excell at 2/52. 

The dynamic duo in Asurumui (33* from 26) and Mani (22* from 40) who did so much damage with the ball, came in to finish the job with the bat, seeing the Sharks over the line with six wickets to spare. 

Rockall (1/25 from 8) tried hard with the ball but it wasn’t to be, as his side’s brave finals campaign came to an end after a great season. 

Congratulations to Phillip Island, after claiming the C grade Division two premiership last season and earning promotion to the first division, they are the 2022/23 LDCA C grade Division one premiers! 

Holderhead keeps his head in OMK win

• C Grade, Divison 2

WHILE a stoic rearguard effort from Michael Warren gave Leongatha Town a somewhat defendable target, a largely dominant display from OMK’s bowlers set up a Diggers’ C2 premiership.

Warren was the only Scorpion OMK couldn’t dislodge, making 42 not out, but Leongatha Town was skittled for just 120, with medium pacer George Lomagno the pick of the bowlers for the victorious Diggers.

He wreaked havoc with the ball, knocking over Town’s top three by the time the score had reached 29 and Leongatha never recovered.
Lomagno finished with 3/20 from eight overs.

“He’s a stalwart of the club, about to notch up 500 games, so he’s a big game player and he got handed the ball to open the bowling and got the job done,” OMK skipper Jordan Myors said.

Fast-medium bowler Daniel Wylie also collected three wickets for OMK, damaging Leongatha Town’s middle and lower order.

Mick Whiteside was another destructive force with the ball, claiming the scalp of Leongatha Town dangerman Travis Strybosch for a duck and allowing a miserly 14 runs from eight disciplined overs.

The off spin of Leon ‘Lenny’ Holderhead helped wrap up Leongatha Town’s tail, ending the innings of Scorpion president Cam Dowling (19), and taking 2/13 from four and a half overs.

“He tied the game down and made sure the tail didn’t wag,” Myors said of Holderhead’s important role with the ball.

Holderhead’s confidence carried over to his turn with the willow, opening the batting and making an unbeaten 59 and setting up a six-wicket win for OMK, helping him earn man of the match status.

“He dug deep and batted smart,” Myors said of Holderhead’s composed innings and ability to identify the balls to let pass and those to profit from.

Andrew Sorensen (19) played an important role as Holderhead’s opening partner, enabling the side to reach 42 before losing a wicket, a sizeable foundation for achieving the small target required.

Leongatha Town’s bowlers stuck at their task, with Dowling claiming the top order wickets of Lomagno (10) and opposition skipper Myors (12), to finish with 2/25 off eight overs.

Strybosch fought back from the disappointment of his short innings with a strong performance with the ball and although wicketless, allowed just 21 runs from his seven overs.

Rhett Hume and Archie Fixter took a wicket each for the outclassed Scorpions.

“It was a well steered ship by the captain that got us over the line,” Myors said with a touch of humour as celebrations continued on Sunday, noting he tweaked the usual order of OMK’s batting and bowling.

Myors expressed pride in OMK’s achievements as a club, pointing out that three of its four senior sides made finals and two played in grand finals.

He said that OMK and Leongatha Town have competed well against each other throughout the season, with each having success against the other.