Williams takes six as OMK stun Town

• A Grade, Division 1

THERE were some interesting results across the LDCA’s A grade divisions on the weekend, including huge upsets and some quite dominant performances. 

After losing overs a week prior due to rain, the match between Leongatha Town and OMK continued with the Diggers innings at Scorpion Park. 

Resuming at 8/131, the Diggers were only able to muster 15 more runs as Madura Madusanka (5/22 from 15) finished them off with two more wickets to see himself to his first five-wicket haul of the season. 

In reply, needing 147 to win, the hosts were off to a decent start, chugging along as Ron Abeysinghe (48) and Amila Ratnaike (25) put together a 44-run partnership, but the fall of Abeysinghe’s wicket changed everything. 

Ryan Williams (6/37 from 10.4) absolutely took over, taking SIX of Town’s final eight wickets as they collapsed, losing 8/19!

Williams’ superb six-wicket haul stole the game away from Town and saw the Diggers take the win by 36-runs, Abeysinghe was the best with the bat for the hosts. 

Town will now lick their wounds and prepare for this week’s match up with Phillip Island who are also coming off an upset loss, they’ll face off in Cowes. 

As for OMK, they’ll host the Imperials. 

Ginnane does it all  in Imps clutch win

AFTER losing play a week prior due to rain, the Imps and Cougars match was changed to a one-dayer on Saturday at the Leongatha Recreation Reserve and the hosts won the toss and sent Koony into bat first. 

The visitors were in great trouble early, losing their first two wickets for just two runs, as the Imperials skipper Jack Ginnane (5/38 from 8) got into his work. 

Ben Davison (42 from 89) and his skipper Ben Walsh (47 from 95) were then able to dig the Cougars out of their early hole and recover with a gutsy 93-run partnership. 

However, the 93-run stand would prove to be Koony’s largest of the day by some margin, as Davison’s wicket sparked a loss of 7/65 to see the visitors finish 9/160 after their 40 overs. 

In reply, the Imps needed 161 for victory and were too in great trouble early at 3/15 but a sensational unbeaten knock from their skipper Ginnane (82* from 108) at number three not only resurrected their innings, but saw them all the way to victory. 

Imps number 11 Isaac Bolge (0*) hung on with his skipper to see his side to a 1-wicket win just inside 38 overs. 

The Imperials will now switch back to two-day mode this weekend when they face off with OMK on the road, while the Cougars will host Wonthaggi. 

Stingrays end Sharks  streak at 10

INVERLOCH has become the first team to defeat Phillip Island since Round 9 last season after an amazing display of bowling at Thompson Reserve on Saturday. 

Set up by David Newman’s fantastic century on day one, the Sharks returned to Inverloch needing 201 to win. 

They got off to a great start too, putting on 46-runs before losing two wickets in quick succession as Jarrod Black (24 from 59) departed the crease followed by his captain Daniel Mock the very next over. 

After watching his dad make a ton the week prior second-gamer Rhys Newman (1/26 from 11) claimed his first A-grade wicket and a great one at that, nicking off the Phillip Island skipper and one of the competitions premier batters for a duck as celebrations spilled over. 

Steve McIntyre (36 from 130) and Shiran Rathnayake (27 from 68) put together a strong resistance with a 42-run stand, but the Stingrays could smell shark blood in the water and the game soon changed dramatically. 

The undefeated Islanders lost 8/54 to go down by 59-runs, ending their unbeaten run at 10 straight, they’ll now host Town in the Grand Final rematch to highlight Round 7. 

As for Inverloch, they’ve created a winning streak of their own winning their second straight, they’ll look towards trying to make it three this Saturday at Nerrena. 

Nerrena v Wonthaggi 

THIS match was won by Nerrena on day one however, both teams ventured back to Wonthaggi as the visitors resumed their innings. 

Nerrena ended up 8/226 and Club were sent back in where they finished Saturday’s play 6/73.

Nerrena will face Inverloch at home this Saturday, while Club will go on the road to match up with Koonwarra L/RSL.