Wightman does it again as Club fall on day one

• A Grade, Division 1

TWO-day cricket continued in the LDCA as Nerrena travelled down the road to face Wonthaggi and were asked to field first. 

The visitors had absolutely no issues with this though, as the in-form Tim Wightman (5/20 from 12.1) took over the game in the first innings with his second consecutive five-wicket haul! 

Matthew Waller (19 from 49) and Ryan Thomas (13 from 41) battled hard for Club but were ultimately beaten by a superb showing from Nerrena with the ball, dismissing them for just 73!

Ryan Clark (2/7 from 10) was another standout with the ball as all four bowlers claimed at least one wicket. 

After being bowled out in the 39th over, there was plenty of cricket left in the day, so Nerrena went into bat and chase the 74 required for victory. 

The visitors lost just the one wicket on their way to completing the win inside a day’s play as Mitchell Clark (63 from 91) shone once again with a strong half century, Hayden Funnell (25 from 46) was solid in support. 

Nerrena won the game by nine wickets but play continued as they batted a total of 35 overs, finishing 6/116, as Jy Hull (2/17 from 6) bowled well. 

Rain robs play as Diggers crumble

LEONGATHA welcomed OMK to Scorpion Park for their Round 6 match up that saw Town win the toss and send the Diggers in to bat first. 

Overall, it was quite a successful innings for the hosts who were able to claim wickets in clumps to have the visitors finish 8/131, unfortunately much of the day’s play was lost due to the rain as the OMK innings only lasted 51.2 overs.

Daniel Lloyd (44 from 82) was a shining light for the Diggers at number seven, while their new skipper Koby Brann (23 from 48) also got himself a start.

Madura Madusanka (3/19 from 12.2) was the pick of the bowlers for Town while Mudassar Riaz (2/19 from 11) also picked up a couple.

The game will continue this Saturday back as the team’s head back to Scorpion Park. 

Newman’s century saves Stingrays 

COMING off their maiden win of the 2022/23 season, Inverloch welcomed the undefeated Phillip Island down the road to Thompson Reserve and the Sharks won the toss and sent the Stingrays into bat first. 

The reigning premiers were looking to attack the young Stingrays line up, but the hosts stuck at it and took it to the ladder leaders bowing attack that was without spearhead Simon Kirton. 

The hosts were defiant all afternoon, lead firstly by young opener Jack Butcher (60 from 161) who put together a gritty half century to really get his team going after losing his opening partner and number three to see the Stingrays 2/10 early. 

Butcher was able to bat with his captain David Newman (101* from 173) and put on an innings-saving 87-run stand before the gun wicketkeeper batsman was dismissed by Thomas Keily (2/61 from 26) who led the Sharks attack in the absence of Kirton. 

The Inverloch skipper was able to continue on and despite losing several partners he showed great determination to notch an amazing unbeaten century, his first of the season after starting the year with two half centuries.

The Islanders will return to Thompson Reserve this week in pursuit of the 201-runs required to maintain their undefeated record on the season. 

Imperials v Koonwarra L/RSL

Day one of this match was abandoned due to rain and will be played as a one-day contest this Saturday.

Phillip Island sets competitive total against Nyora

• A Grade, Division 2

WHILE the bowling of Nyora’s Mitch Rowe, Henry Dolphin and Aidan Simmons kept most Phillip Island batsmen under control in Cowes, David Womersley ensured the Sharks mustered a good total of 168 all out.

Rowe took care of Phillip Island’s top order on his way to 3/53 from 14 overs, with Dolphin going one wicket better and conceding just 36 runs off just under 16 overs.

Simmons took 3/44 off 15 overs, helping clean up the lower order.

Despite the destruction around him, Womersley’s defiant innings enabled him to finish undefeated on 81, with Tony Hornsby’s 26 making him the only other Shark to reach 20.

Nyora will have to wait for this weekend to mount its reply in what should continue to be an enthralling contest.

Phillip Island is one of those top four teams, currently sitting second and hoping to keep the heat on top-of-the-table Korumburra.

Kilcunda Bass leaves work to a few

KILCUNDA Bass chose to wield the willow first at Bass Recreation Reserve, managing a competitive 8/178 for the day against Meeniyan Dumbalk United (MDU).

While the MDU bowlers proved a handful for most of the home batsmen, opener Cameron Chasemore and keeper Shannon Rozario took the fight to the attack.

Rozario’s 54 included seven boundaries, with Chasemore sprinkling his entertaining 45 with six fours.

Scott Browne toiled manfully for MDU, sending down 22 overs.

Such was his nagging accuracy, he conceded a meagre 38 runs and also managed three wickets, including that of the dangerous Rozario.

In his 132 balls for the day, the miserly Browne didn’t bowl a single wide or no ball.

He was well supported by Steven Arnup who also captured three wickets.

While just one of Arnup’s 15 overs was a maiden, he kept it tight and allowed the Kilcunda Bass batsmen just 39 runs, also not conceding a no ball or wide.

With day one action setting up the prospect of a competitive remainder to the match, it’s to be hoped that the weather plays its part.

In the balance in Korumburra

JUST 29 overs were possible at Korumburra Recreation Reserve, with the home side making a solid fist of its innings after being sent in by the visiting Glen Alvie, finishing the day on 3/125.

However, things were decidedly shaky early for the batting team, with Korumburra slumping to an alarming 2/7 when Nathan Findlay sent the dangerous Tom Crocker back to the pavilion with just four runs against his name.

While Findlay finished the day with the impressive figures of 2/25 off his 10 overs, Korumburra hit back aggressively against Glen Alvie, mounting a strong fightback.

Inshaka Siriwardena led those efforts with a defiant 61 not out off 63 balls, blistering three sixes and seven fours in a statement he wasn’t going to allow the Glen Alvie bowlers to keep control of proceedings.

Korumburra skipper and keeper Rumesh Rangana showed a positive approach from the outset, charging to 21 not out from 22 balls, working the ball around well and demonstrating you don’t need a flurry of boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Fingers crossed that the weather plays its part in what should be a competitive day two of the match.

Foster and Club to settle it in a day

WONTHAGGI Club players ventured to Foster hopeful of action, but the ground was deemed too wet for play.

The match is now a one day contest, weather permitting.