Stingrays dominate at home

• B Grade, Division 1

AFTER four rounds of wash outs or near wash outs and abandonments, the LDCA B grade sides finally got back into cricket last weekend, in their colours for one-day cricket. 

Inverloch welcomed MDU down the road to Thompson Reserve and the Demons won the toss and chose to bat. 

All five of the Stingrays bowlers got themselves in the scoresheet with at least one wicket, as the Dees’ never really got going, losing regular wickets to finish 9/114 after their 40 overs. 

Kurt Sinclair top scored for MDU, with 23 from 21 balls at number eight, while young gun Jesse Dugard (2/18 from 8) showed his skill alongside Dean Cashin (1/9 from 8) who bowled an extremely economical spell. 

In reply, the hosts felt confident in the chase, only needing 115 for victory and their confidence was warranted they boasted a deep batting line up but in the end it wasn’t even needed. 

Invy’ openers Brett Debono and Brad Phillips did it all themselves, compiling 62 and 41 respectfully to notch an amazing 118-run opening stand to see their side to a dominant 10-wicket win. 

Paul Vine (0/15 from 5) was MDU’s best with the ball on what was a tough afternoon. 

The Demons will be back at home this Saturday when they welcome Nerrena to town, as for Inverloch, they’ll have the bye. 

Diggers too strong for Imps

THE Imperials hosted OMK at the Leongatha Velodrome and after losing the toss the Diggers were tasked with bowling first.  

After being in a spot of bother at 3/27, the hosts were able to recover through Gary Sauvarin who was able to notch a crucial half century (57 from 104).

Sauvarin combined with Campbell Reid to dig the Imps out of the early trouble with a 64-run partnership, although Saurvarin’s dismissal saw his side lose 4/30 to finish their innings 7/121. 

Adam Busana (2/15 from 2) and Shane Taylor (2/21 from 8) were the pick of the bowlers for OMK, each with a pair of wickets. 

With 122 required for the win the Diggers didn’t get into anywhere near as much trouble, losing just the one wicket early before recovering to reach the Imps total in under 28 overs. 

Lucas Anderson was the best with the ball for the Imps, with their sole wicket, they’ll look for some better form this weekend when they take on Koonwarra L/RSL on the road. 

As for OMK, they’ll host Korumburra.

Trotman clinches the win for Nerrena

NERRENA and Koonwarra L/RSL headed up to the Leongatha Recreation Reserve where Nerrena won the toss and chose to bat. 

Koony’s attack were splendid, increasing the pressure as the innings went on, they were able to create a run after claiming the second wicket of the afternoon, dismissing the next eight Nerrena batsmen for a total of 61 to see them finish on 10/119. 

In reply however, the Cougars found it just as challenging as their top four were all dismissed for a combined total of 15 runs, their skipper James Rushton was able to provide some belief, but as he fell just short of a half century (48) it all unravelled once again. 

Damien Symmons (3/9 from 8) did a lot of the damage, but it was David Trotman’s (2/2 from 1) one over that clinched the win for Nerrena, knocking off the final two wickets to see Koony fall just 17-runs shy of the win.

Nerrena will hope to build off of this 17-run victory in their game this weekend against MDU, while Koony will try to get back on the winner’s list against OMK on the road. 

• B Grade, Division 2 

Diggers put the Sharks to the sword 

PHILLIP Island welcomed OMK down the road to Newhaven Recreation Reserve and the Diggers won the toss and chose to bat first. 

The decision ended up being a magnificent one as visitors were on the good side of a blistering start, finding their way to 64 before losing their first wicket, as Owen Fitzpatrick departed for 33, captain Russell White soon followed but this did not deter the Diggers. 

Brad Hayes was able to make a handy 39 and bat until the end of their innings, as he was the last Digger dismissed, seeing them finish on 215 after just 34.2 overs. 

William Peppard (3/24 from 5) was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts. 

In reply, the Island also enjoyed a red-hot start, as openers Connor Epifano and Max Arceo put on a gutsy 53-run stand before Arceo fell. 

Phillip Island lost 8/33 as the Diggers took over and ran away 103-run winners in what was genuinely just a brilliant team showing, Danny Elford (5/23 from 8) bagged a five-wicket haul and Justin Greenwood (4/29 from 8) chipped in with four of his own.

OMK will host Town this weekend as they look for another win, while the Sharks will hope to get back on track in Nerrena.

Elava’s five lifts Nerrena over Killy-Bass

KILCUNDA-BASS hosted Nerrena at the Bass Recreation Reserve and after losing the toss the Sharks were tasked with bowling first.  

In a tricky innings, no Nerrena batter was able to see themselves to a big score, as two scores of 22 from opener Brian Gannon and number five Ryan Giliam were the only real highlights runs wise as the hosts turned it on with the ball. 

Sharks skipper Chris Peckett (3/20 from 8) was the best with the rock with three scalps as his side dismissed the visiting Nerrena line up for 111. 

Rupesh Elava (5/4 from 5) was the difference, claiming a marvellous five wicket haul to break the game wide open and all but seal the win for the visitors as they dismissed the Sharks for 89, clinching the 22-run win. 

Nerrena will look to keep up the good form this weekend against Phillip Island, while Kilcunda-Bass will look for their first win of the season when they face off with Wonthaggi. 

Davies and Town get it done 

LEONGATHA welcomed Glen Alvie to Scorpion Park and it was the visitors who won the toss and elected to bat first.  

Looking confident the Alvie batters were able to get themselves off the mark well and they looked well on their way to a strong score.

But sadly, they just continued to lose wickets in clumps throughout their innings making it hard for them to properly recover, due to this, and Town’s great bowling, they found themselves 9/108 after their 40 overs. 

Alvie captain Jay Tiziani’s 22 from 98 balls was the standout innings, while Jarrah Standish’s 20 not out at number nine was also worth a shoutout. 

The hosts didn’t have the same trouble as the visiting Alvie did with the bat, as they cruised to a 7-wicket win behind Matt Davies’ (63) half century, Davern Goss was also solid, closing out the win unbeaten on 22. 

Levi Gooch (1/16 from 4) was the pick of the bowlers for Glen Alvie, they’ll face Foster in Round 6 at home, while Town will head to Outtrim to take on the Diggers.