Stingrays dominate behind Dennerley’s 98

• C Grade, Division 1

THE long wait finally came to an end on the weekend as C grade cricket was officially played for the first time this season in the LDCA and there were some thrilling results!

Koonwarra L/RSL welcomed Inverloch down the road to the Koonwarra Recreation Reserve and the hosts won the toss and sent the Stingrays in to bat. 

After losing David Harris early, the Stingrays recovered magnificently as skipper Warren Stewart and his number three Jason Dennerley put on an absolute masterclass. 

The pair’s 144-run partnership was a genuine game changer and propelled the visitors into a commanding position, Dennerley was unlucky in the end, falling two runs shy of a century, a spectacular innings nonetheless, including 13 fours and two sixes!

The Stingrays skipper finished unbeaten on 64 with his team setting the hosts 175 for victory. 

It was set up to be a cracking run chase, as it was last season when Inverloch chased down Koony’s total of 161 in the dying overs at the same ground, although the Cougars couldn’t find the same firepower. 

Young spin sensation Cooper Newman (3/14 from 7) led the way with an impressive haul of three as all five Stingrays, who hit the bowling crease claimed at least one wicket on their way to a huge 105-run win!

A remarkable display from the Stingrays, they’re scheduled to have the bye in Round 6, while Koony will head over to the Island to face the Sharks. 

Cougars down Demons

MDU faced off with Korumburra at Digger Park and the Demons won the toss and chose to bat first. 
In a low scoring contest, MDU were able to escape some early trouble but were unable to ever get going on their way to being dismissed for 59. 

Wayne Cocksedge’s 14 was the top score in an innings dominated by the ball as Mathew Olden (4/13 from 7) bagged four and Bryce Riddell (3/10 from 3.1) three. 

In reply, the Cobras had no such issues, chasing down the low total with eight wickets to spare behind openers Trevor Allen and Harshika Fernando who made 18 and 19 respectively.

David Meagher (2/16 from 4) was a potential shining light in the eight-wicket loss for the Demons, they’ll head to Nyora for their next matchup, while the Cobras will face off with Wonthaggi. 

Speed and Sawyer get Club on the board

WONTHAGGI welcomed Phillip Island down the road to the Dalyston Recreation Reserve for their Round 5 matchup.

Club won the toss and chose to bat first and what a terrific call that was from skipper William Speed who started the match with an incredible 168-run stand with fellow opener Liam Sawyer. 

Speed was eventually dismissed for 85 in what was an awesome captain’s knock, although his dismissal did spark a partial collapse as Club lost 5/20.

It didn’t matter though as the runs already on the board were more than enough, Sawyer even ended up outscoring his skipper by three runs with 88. 

After Wonthaggi finished 5/205, the Sharks required 206 to win but things just didn’t go their way as Club took control with the ball just as they had with the bat, skittling the visitors for 91 to win by 114-runs. 

Jatin Shannon (4/8 from 7) led the way with four wickets, while Francis again stood out for the Island, top scoring with 19. 

Club will look to make it two from two this weekend when they visit Korumburra, while the Sharks will host Koony.  

• C Grade, Division 2

Town survives to win by one wicket

LEONGATHA welcomed Kilcunda-Bass down the road to Scorpion Park 2 and it was the visitors who won the toss and chose to bat first. 

In a steady and even innings between bat and ball, the Sharks line up were solid on their way to amassing 141 runs for the loss of seven wickets, Peter Bardwell top scored with an unbeaten 26 at number seven as Yuthil Rataike (3/18 from 7) shone with the ball for Town. 

In the second innings, Town looked well on their way to a strong win as Travis Strybosch came out firing at the top of the order with a classy half century, but the Sharks fought back hard after his dismissal to arrest the momentum back on their side. 

‘Gatha continued to lose regular wickets as they neared the required total as the Killy-Bass bowlera all got involved in the action, but in the end Town were just good enough to scrape through for a clutch one-wicket win. 

Leongatha will travel to face Glen Alvie in Round 6, while Killy-Bass will head over to Phillip Island. 

Diggers demolish Glen Alvie 

OMK hosted Glen Alvie at the Outtrim Recreation Oval and after losing the toss the Alvie were tasked with bowling first.  

Despite losing Noah Furness early, the Diggers recovered beautifully behind the excellent innings of David O’Neill who led the way with an unbeaten 39. 

OMK skipper George Lomagno was also productive with the bat contributing 28 as was Thomas Walker with his 25 not out, all assisting the Diggers reach 5/157 after their 35 over innings. 

Luke Scholz (3/24 from 7) was the best with the ball for the Alvie.

In the second innings, the hosts were locked in on defending their strong score and they did so with ease polishing off the visitors for just 57 behind Ryan Wyatt’s (3/15 from 7) three wickets. 

The Diggers will look to ride this 100-run win into this Saturday’s matchup with Koonwarra L/RSL on the road, while Glen Alvie will lick their wounds and face off with Town.