Drouin dominate Yarragon
Division 1
Drouin (1-55) def. Yarragon (53): In a truly dominant display, Drouin embarrassed Yarragon in their season opener, taking out a thumping nine-wicket win in a match that lasted just 35.2 overs.
It was a victory set up by gun recruit Luke Radford, with the 28-year old Englishman snaring 4-24 in his first outing for the Hawks. His haul included the vital scalp of Gamini Kumara, with the league’s premier all-rounder only able to contribute two before his stumps were skittled by Radford.
The opening flurry of wickets left the Panthers staring down the barrel at 519, and although Ashley Smith did his best to stave off the bowlers with an innings-high 14, Yarragon were dismissed for just 53 in the 20th over.
Dale Weller did what Dale Weller does best on his way to 3-12, whilst Simon Gardiner chimed in with 2-7 with the new ball.
With the result a foregone conclusion at the innings break, Drouin’s Lucas Kilday (21*) and Jake Harper (12) eased their way towards the target, with the pair adding 48 before Kumara broke through for a consolation wicket - trapping Harper plumb in front.
However, after 15.4 overs Drouin had wrapped up the game, putting a solid exclamation mark on their opening endeavours of the summer.
Crows return to defeat
Western Park (182) def. Longwarry (128) Longwarry’s return to division one ended in defeat on the weekend, with the Crows simply unable to match the batting depth of an experienced Western Park line-up.
The reigning premiers’ total of 182 was never in reach of their opponents, especially following an early flurry of wickets from the Warriors’ new-ball brigade. Chris Perry (3-11 from 8) and Sam Batson (3-24 from 7.4) were too quick, too accurate, and too good for the Longwarry top order, and having reduced the Crows to 4-20 early on there was no way Western Park were going to relinquish their advantage.
Pleasingly for the Park, young allrounder Angus Emery was able to mark his division one debut with a wicket, to cap off a successful start to the season for the club.
Earlier in the day Western Park made their way to 182 from their 40 overs, thanks largely to a dynamic 48-ball 47 from Sanjaya Gangodawila. He received valuable support from Sam Russell (33) and Jason Croft (25), counteracting the best the Longwarry bowlers could throw at them.
Hallora defiant
Hallora (3-111) def. Buln (8-110: Hallora have defiantly demonstrated that despite a couple of off-season losses to their playing squad, that they will again be one of the teams to beat this summer, taking home a comfortable seven-wicket win over Buln Buln on Saturday.
On a pitch that rewarded accurate bowling, the Kangaroos strangled the scoring rate of the Lyrebirds through the middle of the innings, with Toby Codd (1-9 off eight) and Simon Phillips (2-12 off eight, including the key scalp of Rhys Holdsworth) proving nigh on unplayable.
Only Luke Gilbert was able to really trouble the Halloran bowlers, and after 40 overs Buln could total just 8-110.
In reply, James Vela proved to be the difference, opening up and carrying his bat through the chase with a measured 71*. Buln held a glimmer of hope of defending their target thanks to three quick wickets to Corey Jagoe and Brent Eastwell, but Vela was unperturbed by the loss of wickets and soon had the chase back on track.
Fairbank in fine form
Ellinbank (9-200) def. Neerim District (175)
Nicholas Fairbanks’ return to the Warragul District Cricket Association was as fine as Ellinbank could have hoped for when they signed him up for the summer, with the all-rounder leading the charge with bat and ball to propel the Bankers to a 25-run win over Neerim District.
Having watched as Michael Farthing (20) and Daniel Pandolfo (27) set up the Ellinbank innings with a 57-run opening stand, Fairbank accelerated the inning with a better-than-a-run-aball 76. His innings took the wind out of the Stags sails, and in a truly impressive opening round display, helped his side to 9-200.
Ben Lockett did his best to stymie the scoring with a haul of 4-26, but some ill-discipline with the ball (33 extras, including 26 wides) didn’t help Neerim’s cause.
In reply, Rhys George demonstrated his rising talent with a well-compiled 60, but regular breakthroughs to Troy Ferguson (2-30) and Fairbank (4-31) meant the asking rate was soon out of reach. In the end Neerim fell 25 runs short, dismissed off the penultimate ball of the game.