Bunyip unleash Dare in victory over Warragul
Division five:
Round eight saw some low scores posted across the board.
Yarragon notched its first win of the season with victory over Western Park.
Bunyip returned to the field after a five-week hiatus due to the poor weather earlier in the month and having the bye. They accounted for the Warragul Gulls.
Neerim extended its winning streak to three by defeating Jindivick and Drouin moved into the top four with a win over Catani.
Dominant dare
Bunyip’s Mathew Dare dominated proceedings in the Bulls clash with Warragul.
Sending the Gulls in to bat, Dare set the tone early, claiming the first wicket with the score on five. The visitors never really recovered as Chanda Ahuja (15), Harpal Singh (15) and Jimmy Atwal (16) all made starts but couldn’t go on with it.
Dare finished with 3-15 off six overs, which included the wickets of Singh and Atwal.
Scott Squires chimed in with a miserly 2-22 off eight while Jake Stewart wrapped things up with 3-19.
Bunyip wicketkeeper Peter Duffus was kept busy, finishing with five catches.
In reply, the home side took just 20 overs to reach the target as Dare dispatched the bowlers to all parts of the ground. He finished on 43 not out, having struck eight boundaries and one maximum. Squires and Stewart contributed early with 17 apiece.
Hawks lock in fourth
Drouin easily accounted for an undermanned Catani to move into fourth place.
Choosing to bat first, the Cats never got going as Ash Norton (2-22) and Jack Fraser (3-9) ran riot with the new ball.
Norton struck first to remove Catani opener Matt Coleman for 11 before Fraser chimed in with the next three, as the visitors struggled to 423.
Ben Geyer showed some resolve to finish with 19 not out as the lower order crumpled to be all out for 61.
In reply, Thomas Wans (21) and Jayden Bibby (18) did the bulk of the work after Brad Cross was dismissed early for 13, the Hawks needing just 14 overs to reach the target.
Panthers’ first win
Yarragon made the winners’ with victory over Western Park.
Sent in by the home side, the Panthers made a methodical start with Carlo Ierfone (33) and stand-in captain Michael Stead putting on 54 for the first wicket.
Stead and Steve Green accelerated through the middle overs as both reached an even 50 before retiring, helping the visitors to a challenging total.
Mark Fleming (2-19) was the pick of the bowlers in his first outing for the Warriors.
In reply, Western Park struggled from the outset and, with some athletic fielding resulting in two direct list hit run outs, the writing was on the wall for the home side.
Rich Kelly and Mark Fleming offered a glimmer of hope, combining to add 99 for the sixth wicket before falling in rapid succession.
Kelly top scored with 40 while Fleming contributed 30.
Henry Allsop bowled a devasting spell late in the day, claiming 3-9 off three overs. Ben Allsop was also efficient, snaring 2-13 off six overs.
Stags are big winners
Neerim District ran out big winners over Jindivick.
Choosing to bat first, the Stags made a steady start, again led by Remo Graziotin who was dismissed for the first time in four innings on 46. Patrick Sheehan and Anthony McCann kept the scoreboard ticking. Sheehan showed great maturity on his way to 40, while McCann was the top scorer, retiring on 54.
Michael Dixon was the best of the bowlers with 2-40 as an incredible four run outs accounted for the remainder of the wickets.
In reply, the Jumping Jacks were never in the hunt, losing wickets in bunches as the change bowlers tightened the screws.
Jamie Lehman top scored with 23 and Duane Horsburgh chipped in with 18.
Lachlan Willis was the best of the bowlers, snaring 3-7 off five overs in the latter stages. Troy Clarke snared the big scalps of Dixon and Grant Pearson before finishing with 3-19 off six overs.
See Thursday’s Trader for a full wrap of junior cricket and more photographs.