Serong knock stuns Titans

Wright breaks through

Warragul (135) vs. Neerim District (0-31): Josh Wright finally broke through with the bat to help Warragul post a competitive total against Neerim District.

Although many of his team-mates were helpless against Aaron Fawcett’s leg-spin and their batting woes saw the Stags finish day one in the box seat.

Having posted nine single-digit scores in a row before the weekend’s play, Wright was able to make his way to 39 on Saturday and finally rediscover some form. Leigh Cook (29), Paul Bridges-Black (20), and Nathan Macfarlane (21) helped to boost the score late.

However, Fawcett was borderline unplayable in a 17 over spell that returned 5-13 and his efforts helped Neerim dismiss the Gulls for 135.

Left with seven overs to face out, the Stags reached 0-31 with Jack Ward leading the way with an unbeaten 19.

Match satisfies purists

Drouin (146) vs. Western Park: On a slow day’s play – the kind of old-fashioned gritty ‘test’ cricket loved by purists – Drouin posted a competitive total against Western Park, reaching 146 before being dismissed in the final over the day’s play.

Nick Harper demonstrated the obstinate approach adopted by many of the Drouin batmen in an opening salvo of 36, and his determination to see off some testing spells of bowling from the Western Park attack helped the Hawks occupy the crease and frustrate the Warriors outfit.

Chris Gardiner chimed in with an aggressive knock of 30 that lifted the scoring rate briefly, while several others chimed in with handy contributions that boosted Drouin to their eventual total.

In a complete team display, seven bowlers claimed wickets for Western Park as they maintained a consistent approach with the ball throughout.