Skipper Serong digs deep for Titan side
By Zac Wright Under 16’s:
The Kangas are on top against the Titans after week one.
Batting first, the Titans were on top early with a key wicket before skipper Liam Serong dug deep for his 35.
However, it was John Zaccari who saw him making his way back to the pavilion, his two wickets crucial to Hallora’s fightback.
When Serong was dismissed, the Kangas were 4/78 and needed someone to step up to get a competitive total on the board, enter Brayden Notman.
With the pressure on him, he made a run a ball 40 to get them out of trouble and steer his side to a very defendable total, as the Kangas finished on 8/144, making week two very interesting.
The Jumping Jacks are in a dominant position after the first week of play.
Losing the toss and sent into field, the Jumping Jacks made the most of it, taking two early wickets for only five runs, Dean Swinburne (2/9) picking up both scalps.
The bowlers seemed to stay on top all day as only one opposition batsman made it to double figures.
What really hurt the Jumping Jacks was the sundries column. It not only top scored for Longwarry/Catani, but is the reason they’ve mustered a competitive total, with 47 extras were bowled.
Longwarry/Catani ended the day on 9/94 and the question posed to the Jacks is whether those extras may come back to haunt them next week.
Neerim District/Yarragon are looking to take victory next week against the Eagles after a strong week performance.
Batting first, it was good start by the openers who both notched 20 runs each, before losing 3/8 due to the handy work of Jonty Kennedy (2/4).
Sitting on 5/78, Neerim District needed someone to step up and Riley Ferguson did just that, making 38 not out under tough circumstances, building partnerships as well as scoring at a good rate to help his side.
At the end of the day, Neerim District/Yarragon finished on 6/158, a very tough score to chase down for the struggling Eagles.
Under 14’s:
The Panthers are well on top against the Eagles after week one.
Bowling first, constant pressure was applied but that didn’t stop the Eagles skipper, Liam Lisle, once again delivering a captain’s knock, standing tall with 36 not out in a struggling batting.
Liam Smith-Butterworth (3/7) and Noah McDonald (2/10) were the pick of the bowlers, as they ripped through the Eagles middle order, losing 3/0 at one stage.
The Panthers eventually bowled them out for 85. That set the task for Yarragon to bat six tricky overs before the end of the days play.
In the last over the Panthers lost a wicket, but they finished the day on 1/15 and in control, only needing 71 for the win next week.
The Warriors have dominated week one of action against the Gulls.
Batting first, a great opening stand from Caleb McIntosh (38*) and Jack Walsh (34) got them off to the best start imaginable, as they put on 52 between them.
A little bit of trouble in the middle order then arrived with the Gulls putting the squeeze on with the ball, as the Warriors lost 4/11.
Sitting at 5/104, the Warriors needed someone to set up and bring that total to something much harder for the Gulls to chase, and that’s what Isaac Kittelty did.
He blasted a quick 30 and brought his side over the 150 mark, to finish on 6/157, making week two of the game hard work for the Gulls chasing a big total.
Buln Buln/Hallora have put up a competitive total in an evenly contested first week of play at Drouin.
Batting first, opener James Welford (36) got them off to a good start as he made the bowlers pay if they were slightly wide of off stump.
A few wickets fell quickly before Jesse Jagoe joined Welford at the crease, making a hard fought 22.
The Hawks put the squeeze on after the dismissal of Jagoe, as wickets kept coming, bowling them all out in the 39th over for a competitive total of 114.
Drouin will be hoping in form batsman Seb Amoroso can carry his fantastic form over into next week and give the Hawks a chance at top spot on the ladder as the finals creep closer.
Bunyip/Catani have battled hard in week one action against the Titans.
Batting first, the pressure was on early as Aaron Braaksma took three wickets in the top and middle order, before Archie Thompson (21) stablised the team and steered his side in the right direction when they looked to be struggling.
There were no other stand outs with the bat, however the team was consistent with everyone chipping in after Thompson’s knock, getting to the total nine wickets down, finishing with 9/103, a score that is defendable but a little under par.