Thomas’ ton puts Club on the board

• A Grade, Division 1

FOLLOWING somewhat of an upset a week ago at the hands of last season’s wooden spooners OMK, Wonthaggi looked to get themselves on the board in season 2022/23 when they hosted Inverloch at McMahon Reserve. 

Club captain Ryan Thomas won the toss and chose to bat and what a decision that was. 

Opening up with his teammate Ryan Birkett (27 from 41 balls) the Wonthaggi skipper took on the Stingrays openers from the outset as the pair put together a 62-run opening stand. 

Young gun Jack Donohue finally broke through with the wicket of Birkett as the visitors made some decent inroads into the Club XI, with allrounder Tom McQualter claiming two poles of his own. 

Ryan capped off a sensational first innings for his side with a magnificent unbeaten century, one that had to be applauded by all in attendance, but Mitchell Thomas chipped in too with an aggressive 52 not out from just 44 balls. 

The Stingrays never quite found the same success in the second innings, losing early wickets and never recovering to finish 10/123, skipper David Newman was the standout with a gutsy half century.

It wasn’t the debut young Stingray Harry Butcher was hoping for, his side going down by 108-runs, they’ll get a chance to bounce back next week in Leongatha where they’ll face the Imps. 

As for Wonthaggi, they make it 1-1 on the short season so far, they’ll take on last season’s runners up Town this Saturday on Scorpion Park. 

Koony capitulates as OMK go 2-0 

COMING off an abandoned season opener, Koonwarra L/RSL welcomed OMK down to Meeniyan to battle it out for their first win of the season. 

However, things didn’t quite go as planned as Cougars captain Ben Walsh’s decision to bat first upon winning the toss backfired on him. 

The Diggers attack was on song from the get-go, taking 4/25 early to have Koony in all sorts of trouble, they recovered briefly as Walsh (42 from 92 balls) and Kasun Weeranga (13 from 21 balls) stuck together for a 25-run stand until Weeranga fell. 

The Diggers then took over once again and never looked back, taking 5/60 to close out the Cougars innings and hold them to just 110, Walsh’s effort to dig in and bat till the end a gracious one. 

Chasing a low total, the Diggers got off to a shaky start losing Williams early and Round 1 star Ethan Lamers for just 13, however, gun recruit and captain Koby Brann (48* from 68 balls) ensured there was no further slip ups, closing out OMK’s second win on the young season by 7-wickets. 

Harry Hoekstra (1/7 from 5) the best with the ball for Koony, they face the reigning premiers Phillip Island at home in Round 3. 

As for OMK they’ll also play at home, against Nerrena. 

Town cruise to maiden victory

FOLLOWING their shock home loss at the hands of Nerrena in Round 1, last season’s Grand Finalists Town were keen to get themselves running this season as they headed over to East Campus Oval to take on cross-town rivals the Imps. 

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat in the Semi Final replay, however, they got themselves into a spot of bother early, losing Dimithri Perera with the score on just eight.

The Imps recovered briefly but lost another three crucial wickets to be 4/48 as Otunu Vimalarathna (2/15 from 8) showed class with the ball for Town. 

Damon Ginnane (31 from 47 balls) and Gary Sauvarin (13 from 39 balls) were able to counter the onslaught and put on a 40-run stand, although Town would not be denied. 

The second innings was much different to the first, as Town cruised to an impressive nine-wicket win despite losing Pandukabhaya Jayasinghe with the score on just two. 

Sahan Perera (65* from 63 balls) and Amila Ratnaike (65* from 56 balls) both compiled unbeaten half centuries in what was a simple chase for Town, they’ll host Wonthaggi.

As for the Imps, they’ll hope to bounce back against Inverloch at home.

Sharks hold off gallant Nerrena

AFTER taking care of the Imps on the road in Round 1, the reigning premiers Phillip Island hosted Nerrena in Newhaven as both teams looked to go 2-0. 

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat and lost Luke Giliam before getting off the mark as Thomas Keily (3/22 from 8) got himself into the game early after missing Round 1. 

Keily was the standout with the ball for the hosts, while Charith Keerthisinghe (2/23 from 8) also chipped in. 

Despite chasing a relatively low total, the Island were made to work for the win in the second innings, losing stars Keily and Daniel Mock early to be 2/21. 

Fortunately for last season’s premiers, they were able to steady and shook off the loss of another four wickets along the way, to close out their second win of the season by 4-wickets. 

Ryan Clark (2/15 from 4) was brilliant with the ball for Nerrena, and they’ll hope to get back on the winner’s list in Round 3 as they head to Outtrim. 

As for Phillip Island, they will make the trek down to Koonwarra to face the Cougars.