Batson snares 14 wickets

Division one:

Western Park 162 and 3/40 defeated Garfield-Tynong 98 and 103:

Western Park completed a tight outright victory over division one new boys Garfield-Tynong.

Resuming play at 7-119, 21 runs ahead of the Titans’ first-innings effort, the Warriors attempt at gaining a sizeable lead fell apart early. The swinging conditions caused the downfall of Zane Harper (6) and Tyler McDonald (0) to leave Western Park 9-123.

Joel Batson (49*) and Liam O'Connor (5) added a 39-run last wicket stand to give the home side breathing space, before Sean Somers (2-24) completed the innings with Western Park 64 runs ahead.

Batting for survival, the Garfield-Tynong effort showed no signs of improvement the second time around as Sam Batson and Tyler McDonald annihilated a brittle top order.

Brayden Ridler (3) was the first to go, before AK Tyrone (5), Isaac Braaksma (0), Nick Bransgrove (0) and Matthew Dodman (8) all followed suit, as the game seemed all but over at tea with Garfield-Tynong 5-17.

The overcast conditions and seaming pitch created havoc after the break as well - with Grant Pearson (6), Dean Henwood (4) and Sean Somers (3) falling victim to the pace of Batson and swing of McDonald, as Tynong sunk deeper and deeper into the mire at 8-56, with an innings loss on the cards.

Stevie Shields provided the only respite for his side, with the only double figure knock of the innings (a fighting 55) giving GarfieldTynong a semblance of hope. However, he and Chad McKie fell to Batson in consecutive balls as the away side were all out for 103.

Sam Batson (6-50) bumped and grinded his way to a staggering 14 wickets for the match and McDonald (4-40) provided able support. With just 40 to get, Western Park cleaned up the runs with seven wickets in hand and claimed top spot with a rare outright victory. Buln Buln 192 defeated Drouin 128: A sensational performance from Buln’s bowling attack has given them an outstanding 64run victory over old rivals Drouin.

Defending 192, the Lyrebirds were dealing with the ferocity of Malcolm Dow early, who struck a quick 22 before falling to coach Corey Jagoe (1-13). From here, Buln put an early stranglehold on the game, one that they wouldn’t relent from as their attack put in their best performance of the season.

Healy (8) was the next to go, with Jake Harper (0) falling soon after as Sam Reid (3-34) dominated the early proceedings. Paul Timewell (20) and Trevor Gardiner (10) gritted their teeth and dug in as they always do, but both fell in quick succession to Paul Bridges-Black and Brent Eastwell respectively to leave Drouin in strife at 5-62.

Sam Van Der Zalm joined Sam Wyatt at the crease in an attempt to aggressively play their way out of trouble, but the coach fell for just 8 with Simon Gardiner falling the ball later, as Bridges-Black nagged away at a shell-shocked Hawks line-up.

To sum up the session for the away side, Mitch Smith (3) was run out by youngster Lachie Jagoe to formally underline the rapid collapse from the reigning premiers. Wyatt continued playing in an aggressive manner in an attempt to keep his side in the contest, his 44 clearly the best contribution by any Drouin batsmen, however, the consistency of a rapidly improving Buln Buln attack proved too much to handle.

His wicket brought the end for Drouin and sheer delight for Buln who wrenched themselves back into top four contention as Drouin were all out for just 128.

Neerim District 179 defeated Ellinbank 105: Neerim completed victory over Ellinbank in an overly monotonous day of cricket in Stag country on the weekend.

Resuming on 4-98 with just eight required, Dane Fawcett was removed almost immediately by Sean Masterson, before debutant Vinnie Caia was the next to fall for just a duck to give the Eagles a slither of hope.

This was dashed, as Aaron Fawcett swiftly took the remaining runs off the board. Gihan De Zoysa (2-61) took his scalp as Neerim searched for quick runs and it was Dave Ferguson (46) and Ben Lockett (41) who provided it. They accelerated the scoreboard at a rapid rate to give Neerim a chance at an outright victory.

Lockett, in particular, was ultra-aggressive, hitting three towering sixes as he pushed the score to 179 before being the last man to fall off Nick Fairbank (3-22).

Batting again with 74 runs to wipe off the board, or around 50 overs to bat, Ellinbank got off to the worst possible start - with the out-ofform duo of Troy Ferguson (4) and Ben Spicer (2) falling early to Dane Fawcett as the Stags looked unstoppable.

Unfortunately for them, Matt Farthing (16), Fairbank (22*) and Daniel Pandolfo (18*) weren't prepared to see their side get out-righted, and from then on went into defensive mode before stumps were called with Ellinbank sitting on 3-69 and Neerim taking six crucial points.

Hallora 9/194 defeated Yarragon 106: Hallora climbed to second on the ladder, as two recruits helped dismantle Yarragon at home.

Defending 194, the Kangaroos got off to the best possible start, as Lauchlan Gregson bowled with real velocity early to remove Jake Borsato (1), before Adam Mazza (11) fell to Aidan Phillips as the shine came off the ball. This brought the dangerous middle-order in for the Panthers, as Gamini Kumara and Lahiru Jayakody attempted to rebuild the innings.

Kumara looked in ominous touch, before his stumps were rattled by Gregson for 26, before a repeat occurred after a swift 15 from Lasitha Amaroosyria. Gregson was on fire from one end, while Natsai M'Shangwe spun his web at the other. He removed Luhiru Jayakody (12) followed by Kurt Borsato (0) and Nuwan Perera (10) to leave Yarragon all-but out of the contest before the tea break.

Ishan Ratnayake (19) attempted to wrench his side back into the contest, and was successful for a short period of time. However, you can't keep Gregson out of the contest, who decided to rip another set of poles out to close out his five-wicket haul - all five bowled.

M'Shangwe (4-26) continued his extraordinary bowling streak, cleaning up the tail in due time, as Yarragon were all out for 106 after just 37.5 overs - as Hallora showed the class gap that has them primed for premiership favouritism in the coming months.