Drouin stamp their authority
Division 1
Drouin (165) def. Western Park (109): Drouin have stamped their authority on season 2016-17, following a big 56-run win over Western Park in their round five encounter with the depth of the Hawks’ batting proving too much for the Warriors to overcome.
Led by Damon Healy’s aggressive 33 opening up – the knock containing seven boundaries – and aided by contributions from David Sharpe (39) and Sam Wyatt (15), Drouin made their way to 165 batting first.
They were helped no end by the constant over-stepping from the Western Park bowlers, with 14 no-balls adding to their woes. To make matters worse, they claimed multiple ‘wickets’ from the ensuring free-hits to further affect morale.
In pursuit, only Sam Batson was able to really make his mark – the star allrounder compiling a measured 47 – with only two other batsmen able to make it to double figures.
Simon Gardiner (3-23), Luke Radford (3-19) and Dale Weller (2-13 off eight) were all effective, and their pressure with the ball proved too much for the Warriors to overcome, with a collapse of 7-24 ending their chase at 109.
Bankers win fourth
Ellinbank (6-150) def. Yarragon (9-148): At the beginning of the season, few people would have backed Ellinbank to be a force in division one, but after four rounds they sit snugly in the top four following four consecutive victories.
Their latest win – a four-wicket win over Yarragon – saw an opening onslaught of sorts from Matthew Farthing and Troy Ferguson, with the pair’s 54-run stand setting up their successful chase of 148.
Jeremy Gray (18) and Nicholas Fairbank (25) hit boundary-laden contributions to keep the runs flowing, and with the aid of a multitude of extras the Bankers reached their target in the 36th over.
The wickets were shared around by the Yarragon bowlers, but they couldn’t quite match the boundary hitting exploits of their opponents.
Williams inspires
Hallora (236) def. Longwarry (137): Longwarry’s batsmen have struggled all year to make an impact, and Saturday was no different as the Crows slumped to a 99-run defeat at the hands of Hallora.
In the face of an inspired spell of bowling from Ryan Williams there was little that Longwarry could do, with the all-rounder snaring a career-best haul of 7-21 to decimate the Crows’ batting line-up.
Tom Keily (37) briefly threatened at the top of the order, and Dale Serong added a valuable 39 from number five, but there was little else the Longwarry line-up could do as Williams probed away.
With the rest of the bowling attack keeping the runs down, Williams took advantage, attacking the stumps and reaping the benefits.
At the conclusion of 51.5 overs Longwarry were all out for 137, continuing Hallora’s unbeaten start to the summer.
Next weekend sees the grand final rematch against Western Park on their home turf, in what will surely be one of the matches of the round.
Buln on board
Buln (5-205) def. Neerim District (139): Buln Buln are on the board in season 2016-17, with a comfortable 66-run win handing them their first victory of the summer.
Having been one of the few matches to play amidst the mire last weekend, the Lyrebirds ensured there would be no late fight from the Neerim tail, snaring 4-18 to dismiss the Stags for just 139 from their 63.1 overs.
Most pleasing for Buln would have been the haul of 2-3 from Bryce Monahan in his first appearance for the club for the summer.
Faced with a low target, Charlie Park (53) and Jack Armour (67) compiled patient half-centuries to blunt the Neerim District attack. The pair added 120 for the first wicket which left the result well beyond doubt, and Rhys Holdsworth (38) and Brent Eastwell (26*) chimed in with handy contributions.
Ben Lockett snared four wickets in an impressive spell, but he received little support from his team-mates, as Buln totalled 5-205 at the close of the encounter.