Buln Buln end their woes Division 1
Buln (8-255) vs. Hallora Buln Buln’s woes in season 2016/17 have seen them hand their division one opponents a huge head-start in the race for the top four, but the Lyrebirds have delivered an encouraging performance against ladder-leaders Hallora, with Bryce Monahan leading the way.
Having lost two early wickets after electing to bat first – with Charlie Park and Rhys Holdsworth the batsmen dismissed – Monahan launched a middleorder recovery that ensured the Kangaroos would have to toil away in the field for the full 80 overs.
Finding valuable support from Brent Eastwell (who struck 38) and Corey Jagoe (who delivered an aggressive knock of 39), Monahan helped Buln steadily build their total, and ensured Hallora will have a tough chase next weekend.
Monahan’s sterling effort saw him reach a maiden division one century, with the all-rounder making his way to 101 before falling victim to Ryan Williams.
His knock contained a number of emphatically struck boundaries, and a helping of watchful defence, and there was little the Halloran bowlers could do to stop his run-making.
On the back of his century, the Lyrebirds finished the day at 8-255.
Caleb Serong (who snared 3-52 from 12 overs) was the pick of the bowlers for Hallora.
Fawcett snares five
Ellinbank (200) vs. Neerim District A five-wicket haul to Aaron Fawcett has helped Neerim District to restrict Ellinbank to a middling total in their round eight clash, with the youngster’s impressive haul ensuring that the Stags are in with a chance of victory next weekend.
Having watched as the new-ball brigade struggled to make inroads early on, Fawcett took it upon himself to spin Ellinbank’s bats out, with his accuracy and variation making him a tough proposition to face.
Sending down 29.1 overs, Fawcett snared 5-93, including the key wickets of Brad Berry (who made 45) and Sean Masterson (who contributed 38), with those breakthroughs helping to restrict the score to 200.
Dane Fawcett provided able support in his return to division one – snaring 2-38 from his 15 overs – and his removal of Nicholas Fairbank for just 22 went a long way towards keeping the runs down.
Ellinbank’s bowlers will be keen to maintain their position in the top four next Saturday by running through their opponents, but the Stags will know that a disciplined approach with the bat could very well deliver them their first win of the summer.
Marathon spells
Western Park (184) vs. Longwarry Two marathon spells of bowling have helped Longwarry to restrict Western Park to a manageable target in their division one clash, with Troy Lehman and Jonah Serong the stars with the ball.
Lehman sent down 29 overs on his way to 3-62, but Serong bowled unchanged throughout the innings, snaring 4-69 from his 39 overs – his tally including a whopping 17 maidens.
The Crows duo ensured that the middle and lower order of Western Park couldn’t build on the promising start provided by Sam Batson, and saw the Warriors restricted to 184.
Batson - who is well and truly the inform batsman in the competition – made a measured 59, and he helped the score along to 2-103, but his teammates couldn’t make the most of this start.
Regular wickets and disciplined bowling kept the scoring low towards the end of the innings, with only Sam Russell (14) and Jack Barnes (11) able to make any meaningful contributions.
In the end Western Park were dismissed in the second last over of the day, with Longwarry no doubt pleased with the scores at the end of day one.
Kumara back in form
Yarragon (174) vs. Drouin (1-36) Gamini Kumara recaptured some form at the weekend, much to the dismay of Drouin’s bowlers, and he helped Yarragon to post a respectable score against the Hawks.
Having endured a run of nine innings without passing 41 – a stretch that must surely be the longest time between half-centuries in Kumara’s Warragul District Cricket Association career – the star all-rounder made 62, seeing off some fiery bowling from the Drouin quicks.
Finding support from Zaron Smith – who made 23 – the pair helped the Panthers make their way to 174 before being dismissed, with Brad Glover’s haul of 4-27 hastening the demise of the tail.
Together with Dale Weller (2-52) and Logan Starc (2-10), Drouin snared regular wickets, and found time to face out 17 overs before the close of play.
In this time, Jake Harper and Sam Wyatt took the score along to 1-36, with Nick Harper the unfortunate batsmen dismissed; bowled for just two.