Stingrays seal their first win

• A Grade, Division 1

INVERLOCH and OMK returned to the Inverloch football ground where the Stingrays required a further 46-runs for the win. 

Inverloch captain David Newman resumed with Andrew Donohue who both dug in and batted magnificently in a risky chase of such a low total. 

Eventually Donohue was undone for 29 by Nick Auddino (2/27) who was the pick of the bowlers for OMK, but Newman was able to carry on and see his side to the required total.

Inverloch’s win was their first of the season and it was also the first for debutants Rhys Newman and Riley Harris, and second gamer Harry Butcher who played very well. 

The Stingrays will be back home next week as they welcome the reigning premiers for a massive test as they look for another win. 

As for OMK, they’ll travel to Scorpion Park to face off with Town. 

Town too good for Koony’

KOONY and Town ventured back to Poowong Recreation Reserve where Leongatha looked set to chase the 163 required for victory. 

Despite the Cougars best efforts, Town were able to compile the runs they needed in efficient fashion, losing just three wickets on their way. 

Their ‘Gatha skipper Jesse Giardina did most of the damage, putting together a nice half century (63) at the top of the order to put his team in great position, Amila Ratnaike finished it off with an unbeaten 43. 

Young gun Harry Hoekstra (1/27 from 9 overs) was the best with the ball for Koony, as Kasun Weeranga (1/41 from 9 overs) also grabbed a wicket as Town got the 7-wicket win. 

The Cougars will be on the road next week as they face off against the Imperials, while Town will host OMK as they look for their third win of the season. 

Semi Final replay a ripper 

IT was all set up for a belter of a run chase in the replay of last season’s Semi Final as Wonthaggi travelled back to Phillip Island in chase of the reigning premier’s total. 

After bowling superbly on day one to dismiss the undefeated Sharks for 192, Club unfortunately lost captain and star opening batsman for just 5 to end the day. 

So, it was Ryan Birkett and Matthew Waller who resumed play for the visitors on Saturday, but neither could get going as Birkett was run out for 15 and Waller soon followed for 5. 

Although a potentially match-saving 66-run stand followed, as Joel Brann and Mitchell Thomas arrested some momentum back in Club’s favour, before Thomas fell for 34 and James Sheerin soon followed as momentum changed hands once again. 

With only two wickets in hand and still 67-runs adrift, Wonthaggi didn’t appear to have a great chance of victory, but Jy Hull had other ideas. 

With just one wicket in hand after being decimated by Simon Kirton (4/32 from 13), it was all set up for a grandstand finish.

The Wonthaggi fairytale upset wasn’t to be as Keily’s second wicket snatched victory for the Sharks, seeing Club and Hull fall an agonising 11-runs short. 

Phillip Island will now travel to Inverloch this weekend to take on the Stingrays, while Wonthaggi is heads back home to welcome Nerrena. 

Nerrena pulls off miraculous turnaround behind Wightman’s 5

THE Imperials welcomed Nerrena back to East Campus for the second day of their Round 5 matchup on Saturday.

After a masterful century from Mitchell Clark on day one, the Imps needed 186 for victory and they got off to a blistering start. 

Luke Rogers was in some marvellous form for the hosts with a brilliant half century (58) batting with Damon Ginnane to put together a 90-run partnership. 

But the fall of Ginnane’s wicket was the beginning of a horrifying turn for the Imps, as absolute carnage ensued, Rogers fell very soon after as Nerrena took an incredible 10/62 to hold the Imperials 33-runs short, bowling them out for 152. 

Jarrod Hoy (3/41 from 12) also contributed as well as the century man Clark (1/27 from 16) who claimed the big wicket of Rogers, and Tadgh Gannon (1/4 from 4).

Nerrena will look to ride this wave of momentum into their next contest which will be in Wonthaggi against Club, while the Imps will hope to get back on the winner’s list against Koonwarra L/RSL.

Club clinical at home

• A Grade, Division 2

KILCUNDA-Bass returned to McMahon’s Reserve with Cameron Davidson and Jaydan Tregear at the crease looking for 189 more runs to defeat their hosts Wonthaggi. 

The pair were able to get going early but found trouble when Drew Herbert (3/30 from 16) claimed the wickets of Davidson (for 29) and then Ashley Larcombe (for 1) soon after to bring his tally to three. 

It was really all downhill for the Sharks after the loss of Larcombe, as Club took over with the ball, claiming 8/48 to dismiss Killy-Bass for 129 and seal victory by 109-runs. 

Emmet Dempsey (3/9 from 7) and Heath Dobbie (3/16 from 15) both joined Herbert with three in the win. 

Wonthaggi will look for another win this weekend when they travel down to Foster, while the Sharks will host MDU. 

Cobras dominate Nyora

NYORA welcomed Korumburra back to the Nyora Recreation Reserve as the hosts looked to chase down 158 required for the win from their troubling position, already being 4/42.

It unfortunately never got better for the hosts, as they lost their final six wickets for just 72-runs to be dismissed 95-runs short of the total required, for 104.

Lochie Row was a standout with a well-made 30 at number eight, Inshaka Siriwardena (4/34 from 16.1) did most of the damage with Evan Alleway (3/20 from 12) helping too. 

The Cobras then went back into bat and ended up passing the Nyora total to rub salt into their wounds, Korumburra will hope to build off their momentum in Round 6 when they host Glen Alvie. 

As for Nyora, they’ll head over to Phillip Island to face the Sharks. 

McIntrye and Womersley lead Island to victory

PHILLIP Island headed back to Meeniyan on Saturday needing 162-runs to knock off their hosts MDU.

After putting together an excellent display of bowling on day one, the visiting Sharks were hoping to do the same with the bat, however, it did not start that way. 

The Demons had their visitors 2/15 early and looked to be right on top, although unfortunately their supremacy over the match ended there. 

The ‘Island skipper Steven McIntrye had himself a day, willing his side back into control with an amazing 96 that included 12 fours! 

This incredible stand sealed the game for Phillip Island, who won by eight-wickets although continued play after reaching the Demons’ total, until McIntrye was unfortunately dismissed four runs shy of a century. 

Scott Browne (1/32 from 13 overs) was the pick of the bowlers for MDU, they’ll lick their wounds and look to get back on track this weekend over in Bass, while the Island will host Nyora. 

Kennedy’s unbeaten  ton sees Alvie home

ACTION continued at the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve as the visiting Foster set themselves to defend their strong total of 232 against Glen Alvie. 

This one was quite close in the beginning as the Tigers bowlers were on song, but the Alvie top order was looking solid too. 

Ben McRae and his captain Lachlan Harris each got starts at the top of the order but were dismissed before converting them into big scores, falling for 19 and 33 respectively.

The Alvie also lost Ryan Sinclair as the Tigers started to attack, forcing the hosts to rebuild at 3/61.

But rebuild they did, as Nathan Findlay helped put together a 59-run stand with Stephen Kennedy who never looked back. 

Despite losing Findlay for 17 and then Zack Scholz for 13, Kennedy kept putting the belting the ball to the boundary and Foster just could not stop him. 

With his side 5/153 needing a further 80-runs to win, Kennedy found a strong partner in Matthew Dakin and drove his side to victory, making a sensational century in the process, and reaching the Tigers total unbeaten. 

Kennedy and Glen Alvie will hope to ride his form into their next matchup, this Saturday in Korumburra, while Foster plays host to Wonthaggi.