Division 2

Western Park (2-139) def. Warragul (9-135) Against a Warragul side missing their star batsmen, Western Park found the going relatively easy in their clash – and the Warriors batsmen took full toll on the Gulls bowlers as they eased to an eight-wicket win in their weekend encounter.

With Jason Batson (1-10 from eight) sending down a miserly spell, conditions were rife for Angus Emery to benefit and his flighted offerings were successful in spinning through the Warragul tail; the youngster claiming 4-32 from his eight overs.

Dave Burn (2-22 off eight) and Angus Geals (1-16 from six) applied quality pressure with the new-ball, and ensured that Warragul could only post 9-135 from their 40 overs.

In reply, Travis Maher launched an aggressive pursuit and his better-than-a-run-a-ball half-century helped to anchor the Warriors chase.

Dave Burn contributed 36* with a typically boundary-laden innings and after just 23.3 overs Western Park reached their target, finishing at 2-139.

Dow thwarts Stags

Drouin (6-224) def. Neerim District (6-174) A stunning century to Warren Darcy wasn’t enough to see Neerim District over the line in their match-up with Drouin, as Malcolm Dow’s batting efforts thwarted the attempted run-chase by the Stags.

Chasing a sizable total of 6-224, Neerim’s chase began poorly as Justin Price and Marc Pinkerton departed early on – but Warren Darcy’s boundary-hitting kept his side in the game.

He found a willing partner in Travis McCann (who struck 30 opening up) and the pair added 96 for the third wicket to put the Hawks on the back-foot.

However, key breakthroughs to Logan Starc meant that the middle order couldn’t provide the support needed for Darcy – and although he made his way to 107*, the Stags fell short at 6-174 from their allotted overs.

Earlier in the day, Dow’s lusty knock of 89 helped Drouin post a large total after they won the toss and elected to bat, with Dow capitalising on a promising start made by Paul Timewell (24) and Justin Vanderzalm (37).