Town get revenge as Riaz takes six

• A Grade, Division 1

AFTER  an evenly contested first day, Phillip Island welcomed Leongatha back to Cowes Recreation Reserve to finish off the Grand Final rematch. 

The home side began proceedings needing 254 runs to win and despite being amongst a decent run of form, Steve McIntrye fell early without scoring to have Town on the front foot. 

Sensationally, the Sharks captain fell the very next ball for a golden duck as Mudassar Riaz (6/65 from 20) turned up the heat on what was already a warm day on the Island. 

With their side reeling at 2/5, Jarrod Black (37 from 73) and Shiran Rathnayake (85 from 116) faced the huge task of reeling in the ‘Gatha momentum sparked by their exciting quick Riaz. 

Thomas Keily (32 from 68) joined Rathnayake at the crease and saw the latter tear down Sam Clark to reach his half-century, at one point taking him for four consecutive boundaries as the tide began to change for the Sharks. 

Keily and Rathnayake put on another 73 as the Phillip Island number four neared what promised to be a fine century until…

That man Riaz struck again to turn the match on its head, dismissing Rathnayake caught behind by Ben Hanrahan to see the score sit at 4/171. 

Needing 83 to win, with plenty of time left in the day the game entered its turning point and was truly up for grabs for either side, as Brodie Johnson joined Keily at the crease. 

The Sharks tail tried its best to wag, however Riaz’s huge breakthrough proved to be the turning point, as he continued his stellar afternoon, claiming another three wickets to ultimately put the win out of Island’s reach. 

Town took 7/48 to dismiss Phillip Island for 219, seeing them fall by 34-runs, Riaz finished the innings with six wickets, his first five wicket haul of the season, backing up his innings of 49 on day one, a dominant man of the match performance. 

Wonthaggi pursues their victory 

FOLLOWING a strong bowling display on day one, Wonthaggi returned to the Leongatha Recreation Reserve in pursuit of the 157-runs required for victory against Koonwarra L/RSL on Saturday. 

The visitors got straight down to business behind their skipper Ryan Thomas who blasted four fours on his way to 44 before being dismissed. 

After some trouble in the top order, young gun Joel Brann (51) was able to back up his excellent bowling effort from day one with a well-made half century, including two sixes, to guide Club back to the right position. 

Alex Geyer (35*) and Mitchell Thomas (5*) guided Wonny’ home to a convincing 6-wicket win, Brann was the standout with four wickets and his half century, while Ben Davidson (1/14 from 7) tried his best for the Cougars on day two. 

Koony’ will look to get back on the winner’s list this weekend in a tough contest with the in-form Leongatha on the road, while Club will host Phillip Island in a rematch of last season’s Semi Final. 

Nerrena gets it done 

 AFTER a superb bowling performance saw them open their own batting innings on day one, Nerrena resumed play at Nerrena Recreation Reserve one wicket down, requiring a further 126-runs for victory over the visiting Inverloch. 

Mitchell Clark resumed on 12, alongside Hayden Funnell who was soon dismissed by Callum Asbury (2/35 from 19) who continued his economic spell. 

The Stingrays were then in with a chance if they bowled tightly, however, they know Clark was the man they had to dismiss if they were to pull off the unlikely victory. 

Eventually the visitors were able to do so off the bowling of spinner Andrew Donohue (1/38 from 9).

But the majority of the damage was done, and Clark had reached the half century mark, for the third time this season, to go with his two centuries. 

Tim Wightman (46 from 77), who had combined with Clark to put on a 52-run stand, continued on with Tadgh Gannon (31 from 91) who eventually saw the hosts over the line to the seven-wicket win. 

Play continued after the result and debutant Jesse Dugard (3/29 from 7.5) was able to claim three wickets as the hosts finished 8/179. 

Diggers take five-wicket win 

OMK were dominant on day one and required just 16-runs to cap off another win as they welcomed the Imperials back to the Outtrim Recreation Reserve on Saturday. 

Joel Cuman (43*) resumed alongside his captain Koby Brann (6*) as the two had 75 overs to gather just 16-runs, although it wasn’t at all smooth sailing. 

Soon after passing the 100-mark, the Diggers lost a quick 3/0 as Brann (11), Cuman (43) and Thomas Wyatt (0) fell at 104, just 11-runs shy of the win. 

Luckily, the hosts were able to recover and see themselves to the five-wicket win thanks to the Lamers brothers Zavier (7) and Jacob (19). 

Play continued post the result as the Diggers were dismissed for 146 as Lachlan Wright (5/51 from 16.1) claimed five, the Imps then went into bat again and finished 5/126. 

• A Grade, Division 2

Korumburra batting exploits set up win over Club

AFTER the stunning batting of Harshika Fernando and Inshaka Siriwardena, with both scoring over 150 on day one, Wonthaggi Club’s chase was always likely to be a tough one and so it proved.

While the home side made a decent go of it, none of its batsmen were able to muster a large enough score to enable it to threaten Korumburra.

Jai Williamson made a patient 61 off 127 balls, including the occasional flourish in the form of five boundaries and a six.

Rohan Todd took a more aggressive approach, with his 51 coming off just 69 balls.

After his epic innings, Siriwardena toiled hard with the ball sending down 25 overs of the 69 Korumburra bowled.

His efforts were rewarded with 3/62 as Korumburra claimed a 118-run victory.

Fernando wasn’t resting on his batting accomplishments either, also having an impact with the ball as he took 3/56 off 12 overs, including top scorer Williamson.

Nyora score out of reach despite Killy-Bass opening heroics

DESPITE facing the epic task of running down Nyora’s 350 run total, the Kilcunda-Bass openers refused to be daunted, with best mates Cameron Davidson and Jaydan Tregear putting on 206 for the first wicket.

Neither had previously scored a century, with the pair later celebrating having both accomplished that milestone in this match.

Davidson was the first of the pair to be dismissed, becoming Jake Henry’s only wicket of the innings and making 108.

Davidson’s knock was a lively affair, with 72 of his runs coming in boundaries and sixes.

His opening partner Tregear went on to make 132, including 16 boundaries.

Opening bowler Aidan Simmons was the standout performer for Nyora with the ball, taking 7/49 off his 14 overs.

That was capped off with a spectacular 4/0 in his final over.

Skipper and keeper Ashley Larcombe (20), the beaten side’s only other player to reach double figures, as Kilcunda-Bass fell 37 runs short of Nyora in what was an entertaining match.

Foster fails to threaten MDU tally

THERE were not enough substantial contributors with the willow for Foster as the Tigers pursued the tough target set by Meeniyan Dumbalk United (MDU).

While Foster opener Jack Gay worked hard in his solid knock of 53 off 118 balls, four teammates fell cheaply during his stay.

Jack Weston was the Tigers’ other significant contributor with the bat making 46 runs, suggesting that perhaps they just needed more Jacks in their lineup.

Tharindu Nuwan was one of the destroyers with the ball for MDU, snaring the excellent figures of 3/9 in a little more than six overs.

However, it was other MDU bowlers who did the early damage to Foster’s chase.

Mitch McGrath was one of them, dismissing the number three and four batsmen en route to the impressive outcome of 3/39 off 15 overs.

Scott Browne also excelled with the ball for the triumphant MDU, stopping potentially dangerous Foster opener Josh Toner in his tracks on just 15 and recording figures of 1/16 off seven overs.

Lone hand not enough for Glen Alvie against the Island

THE day one batting heroics of Glen Alvie skipper and keeper Lachlan Harris (129) gave his bowlers something they could potentially defend, but Phillip Island’s batsmen ensured that didn’t eventuate.

Strong contributions from Sharks opener Sarith Angelo (41), number three Tom Blackwell (72) and skipper Clint Wilson (40) accounted for the bulk of the work needed.

It took just 60 overs for Phillip Island to pass Glen Alvie’s 190-run total, with the Sharks accomplishing the task with seven wickets in hand.

After giving Glen Alvie hope with the bat, Harris contributed well with the ball taking 2/49 off 13 overs, dismissing Wilson and Blackwell, albeit the latter survived until Phillip Island completed the win.