Kangaroos out-jump Jindivick

Division 2

Hallora (5-127) def. Jindivick (8-110): Many league observers would have made a notch in Jindivick’s win tally before the first ball was bowled on Saturday, but the Jumping Jacks fell to a stunning 17- run loss, with Grant Duncan and Simon Phillips the stand-out performers for Hallora.

Having watched as the top-order stumbled against some tight from bowling from Jindivick’s recruits Sayeed Shah (who finished with 2-35) and Jack Langley (who snared 227), Duncan rebuilt the innings with a patient unbeaten 49, his efforts lifting the score from 5-73 and onto an eventual total of 5-127.

Adam Rakip (15) and Kamran Murtaza (10) attempted to lift the scoring early on in Jindivick’s chase, but their progress was stymied by Aidan Phillips (2-18) and Simon Phillips (2-9 off eight).

The pair’s efforts with the ball put the brakes on the Jumping Jacks’ progress, and a collapse of 5-5 was the end result, with Jindivick only able to limp to 8-110 at the end of their allotted overs.

Gulls upset Titans

Warragul (8-157) def. Garfield-Tynong (78): In the second upset of the round in division two, Warragul took home a thumping 69-run win over a disappointing Garfield-Tynong, with the Gulls proving far too good for their much-fancied opponents.

With the Titans marking their opening fixture with a tribute round for former player the late Shane Tribe, who tragically lost his life in a car accident during the course of last season, the Gulls went out to cause an upset.

Winning the toss and batting first, Warragul’s total of 8-157 was made possible thanks to the efforts of Daniel Best, with the Warragul veteran marking his return to the club with a stunning half-century.

Having not played regularly since 2014, Best’s innings of 64 saw the Gulls overcome a parsimonious spell of 2-9 from Grant Pearson to post a competitive total.

In reply, the Titans looked to be on track thanks to Wayne Danks (11) and Jack Salan (18) adding 40 for the first wicket, but a horrific batting performance from the rest of line-up saw Garfield-Tynong bundled out for just 78.

Nathan Macfarlane (5-16) and Paddy Mulqueen (2-9 off five) were nigh on unplayable and consigned the Titans to a big first round loss.

Ward causes headaches

Neerim District (6-187) def. Drouin (150): Having been one of the form batsmen in 2016/17 in division one, Jack Ward demonstrated that his ability with the bat will be a headache for many in division two on Saturday, with his unbeaten half-century helping Neerim District to a 37-run win over Drouin.

Having been sent into bat, the Stags’ overcame a slow start punish the bowlers towards the end of the innings, with Ward (50* from 52) and Ben Lockett (a 26-ball 35) taking full toll during the ‘death overs’.

They lifted Neerim District to 6-187, a total that would prove to be too much for the Hawks to overcome.

Jon Perry did his level best to fightback with a well-made 37, and Jude Fernando chipped in with 24, but there was simply too many runs on the board for Drouin to handle, and they were eventually dismissed for 150 in the 40th over.

Barnes propels Parkers

Western Park (9-157) def. Ellinbank (120): Jack Barnes’ unbeaten half-century helped Western Park to a 37-run win over Ellinbank in their round one clash, with the depth of the Warriors line-up too much for the newly promoted Eagles.

Barnes’ knock overcame some early wobbles from Western Park – with the scoreboard at one stage reading 4-24 – and his knock of 58, combined with Sam McMillan’s 33, ensured that the Warriors would post a competitive total.

They finished with 9-157 following some late hitting from Angus Geals (a 16-ball 24) and from that position there was little Ellinbank could do.

Andrew Quirk (a classy 37) and Chris Pallot (35) helped Ellinbank stay in the game early in their chase – adding 62 for the fourth wicket – but Dave Burn (3-18), Geals (2-14) and Kurtis Harper (2-31) made regular breakthroughs to slow the scoring, and in the 38th over the Eagles were dismissed for 120.

Round 2 fixtures: Warragul vs Drouin, Hallora vs Ellinbank, Neerim District vs Jindivick, Garfield-Tynong vs Western Park.