Jumping Jacks set imposing total
Division two:
The in-form Jindivick batting group continued its destructive path at Bellbird on the weekend.
A poor start saw the Jumping Jacks fall to 327, as Ben Dixon (2-36) claimed early scalps with the new ball. However, WDCA representative Greg Interlandi (52) and Tharindu Siriwardhana (76) added 120 for the fourth wicket to snatch the advantage away from the Hawks.
Regan Hodge, fresh off a five-wicket haul, claimed 2-50 in a long spell. However, useful contributions from Jindivick's lower order was enough for them to reach an imposing 8-210, with the game well and truly in the balance heading into next week.
Ellinbank's woes continued in division two, with a ruthless Iona batting line-up putting the inexperienced Eagles to the sword in Warragul's south.
Nick Felstead (37) got proceedings off to a solid start for the Swamp Tigers, before the usual suspects, Mick Taylor (97) and Luke Ferguson (70), did the job for Iona once again.
The pair were a class above the Ellinbank bowlers, as the duo hit the ball to all parts to set up a massive score. Liam Lenders (36) put the icing on the cake as Iona amassed 303.
Jeremy Gray provided the shining light for Ellinbank, using his demotion as a brilliant opportunity to collect wickets. He bowled for most of the day for his 7-106, his spell perhaps providing Ellinbank’s only chance.
A late-order fightback from Hallora has them in a solid position to upset Warragul at Eastern Park.
Sent in after losing the toss, former skipper Steve Fox (49) made the most of his opportunity up the order, however, Tim Whitten (3-51), Tyler Constantine (2-29) and Paddy Mulqueen (2-40) stymied the rest of the upper order.
Liam Serong (34) continued his fine form but a collapse saw the Kangas' struggling at 8-152. Shaun Kleeven (54*) rescued the innings with a hard-hitting knock, pushing the score to 194 and giving the young Warragul line-up a difficult chase next week.
A bevy of starts hurt Garfield-Tynong, who struggled against a potent Western Park bowling line-up.
Sent in, Craig Cousin (23) and Matt Jones (27) aimed to bat long as they added 54 for the first wicket, before the interjection of veterans' Dave Burn (2-13) and Jason Batson (2-29) created a massive collapse.
The rest of the Titan order struggled to get going as import James Allen (3-24) and quick Dale Fawcett (3-10) ran through the line-up, as the home side went from 0-54 to 117 all out. With 13 overs to bat, Western Park got through relatively unscathed, ending the day 1-29 with a short chase to come next week.
League-leaders Catani faced a stern challenge as a 10th wicket partnership was required to give an edge over a gallant Longwarry.
Batting first at home, no Catani batsman could make a large enough score to truly impact the day, as Clint Fulton (33), Daniel Vela (27) and Ross Douglas (26) all couldn’t convert starts as the Crows strangled the potent Catani line-up.
Austin Van Strijp (3-36), Cole Cook (3-72) and Robert Cowan (2-17) were brilliant as they reduced to Blues to a well under-par 9-142. However, a last-wicket stand of 47 from Tyler Molloy (26) and Daniel Glover (22*) pushed the score to 189 to set up an intriguing chase.