Neerim District facing big chase
a frustrating one for the Kangaroos.
The 106-run second wicket stand between Sharpe and Wyatt well and truly took the wind out of the sails of the Halloran bowlers, and the 105-run stand between Radford and Healy only exacerbated that as Drouin made their way to 7-265 from their 80 overs.
Toby Codd toiled away for 30 overs but could only capture the one scalp, with Caleb Serong the chief danger with the ball, snaring 5-44.
Ryan Williams – who has been in brilliant form with the ball – went wicketless and will be keen to avoid a repeat of that performance in the near future, with Drouin and Hallora likely to face off in a semi-final clash in the coming weeks.
Kumara in form
Yarragon (156) vs. Buln (0-7): Gamini Kumara was again in excellent form, but he lacked meaningful support from his team-mates, with Yarragon only able to post 156 in their clash with Buln Buln at the weekend.
Having watched as Ashley Smith and Jake Borsato were removed early on, Kumara was more watchful than usual, forced to be patient against some excellent bowling from Jackson Noonan and Rhys Holdsworth.
He added 55 for the thirdrd wicket with Zaron Smith, but the middle and lower order weren’t able to capitalise on the solid start.
Smith was removed for 33 by Holdsworth after a patient knock, while Kumara continued to be a stubborn figure at the crease. He remained unbeaten on 67 at the end of the Yarragon innings – having faced out 188 deliveries – and he was the ‘big fish’ who Noonan was unable to catch. However, the speedster snared 6-34 from his 23 overs and troubled all the remaining batsmen, while Holdsworth chimed in with 3-67 from his 21 overs.
Left with two overs to face out, the Lyrebirds made their way to 0-7 at the end of the day, with Corey Jagoe unbeaten on six and Charlie Park one not out.
Bankers on cusp
Western Park (160) vs. Ellinbank (4-60): Ellinbank are on the cusp of an upset win over Western Park in their division one clash, with the Bankers looking to gain a possible advantage over their likely semi-final opponents.
However, they still have 100 runs to make on day two of their match, and have a fired-up Sam Batson to contend with.
A six-wicket haul to Sean Masterson helped Ellinbank restrict the Warriors to just 160, and that total was only made possible by a brilliant half-century to Jason Croft.
The all-rounder strode to the crease having watched Sam Russell (two), Sanjaya Gangodawila (nought) and Batson (seven) all fail and set about rescuing the innings.
Striking 12 boundaries, Croft combined with Joel Batson (who made a patient 34) and Dale Fawcett (who contributed an aggressive 22) to lift the Park past 150 before they were dismissed in the 57th over.
Sam Batson removed Daniel Pandolfo for just seven and Chris Pallot for a duck early in the Ellinbank innings and followed that up with the scalp of Matt Barrand for just two on his way to 3-23, but Brad Berry’s unbeaten 34 helped steady the Ellinbank reply.
They made their way through to 4-60 from their 20 overs and will be dreaming of taking out a big win in the leadup to finals.