Perry rampant with new ball
Western Park 133 v Ellinbank 2/8
Ellinbank has stamped their claim as the premier side in the WDCA, with a suffocating bowling performance the catalyst for first day honours over top-of-the-table Western Park.
Bowling first on a slow Ellinbank ground, Chris Perry (3-12) ran rampant with the new ball against his former side, the Warriors unable to cope with what won them a premiership five years ago as the right-arm seamer couldn’t be tamed.
He claimed the scalps of Jason Croft, Jack Amour and Leigh Diston early to set Western Park on the back foot, before Curtis Howell claimed Adam Feltham to leave the Warriors reeling at 4-24. Sam Batson (20) and brother Joel (15) aimed to rebuild the innings, but neither could make the big score required to dig them out of the hole that was built.
Sam Russell (33) decided hitting out was the option that best suited his game, and he was successful before falling tamely. Lane Ward (12) fought hard in his debut knock, with the likes of Zane Harper (17) keeping the scoreboard ticking, but Howell (4-32) continued his successful fortnight by cleaning up the tail, bundling out Western Park for an under-par total of 133.
In response, Sam Batson took the key wickets of Troy Ferguson (4) and Daniel Pandolfo (0) with him to stumps, as the Eagles finished on 2-8 to set up an intriguing encounter next week.
Warragul 119 v Buln Buln 1/26
A dogged Buln outfit has slingshotted themselves back into the finals race, with an emphatic day one performance over cellardwellers Warragul.
Winning the toss and bowling, Ricky Mckerrow (3-23) had his way with the new ball early, swinging the ball around corners on his way to terrific figures. Josh Wright (28) and Cam Ludowyke (25) fought hard for the home side but were unable to capitalize on their starts as the Lyrebirds pressed home their advantage.
Brent Eastwell showed he has a lot left in the tank for the visitors, the wily right-arm medium-pacer pulling out all the tricks in a stunning spell of bowling which changed the game entirely. Eastwell annihilated the middle-order, as the Gulls suffered a familiar fate this season. A collapse through the middle and late order sent their side spiraling from 2-71 to 119 all out, as Eastwell claimed sensational figures of 6-27.
In response, Lachie Jagoe (0) fell early to the bowling of Tim Whitten (1-11), however Buln showed their class, as Mckerrow (13*) and Wilson Pollock (11*) saw their side to stumps at 1-26, with everything to play for next week. Drouin 131 v Hallora 1/28
In a match with significant top four implications, Hallora has taken the upper hand over fierce rivals Drouin.
Losing the toss and bowling first, the potent ‘Roos bowling line-up was stymied by a solid opening partnership early, as Josh Maric (12) and Alex Gaudion (45) provided a solid foundation for the Hawks for the second game in a row.
Jake Harper (25) continued the momentum, as the aggressive Drouin side pushed their way to 1-73. Unfortunately for them, they had to come up against the premier spinner in the league in Natsai M’Shangwe. The Zimbabwean International proved too much to handle for his opposition. Only Daniel Barrand (15) managed to provide anything in the middle-order, as M’Shangwe ran rampantcausing a collapse of 4-6 at one stage, as he spun his way to figures of 5-40, with Jimmy Williams (2-12) providing great support at the other end.
These spells proved to be the backbone of Hallora’s bowling performance, as Drouin were bundled out for just 131, giving Hallora 16 overs to bat.
Grant Duncan (0) couldn’t replicate his magical ton from the previous fixture, however Damon Healy (19*) and Aidan Phillips (5*) saw their side to stumps, as Hallora finished at 1-28, with 104 required next week.
Neerim District 66 v Yarragon 9/153
Kurt Borsato has conjured up one of the greatest spells in WDCA history, and perhaps the most unexpected since Angus Emery’s eight-wicket haul against his side, to bundle out Neerim as Yarragon thrashed their rivals on the weekend.
As the Stags won the toss and batted, Yarragon used the clouds to their advantage early, removing the top order with ease as Borsato had the new ball talking. Only Riley Ferguson (13) could resist Borsato’s nagging line and length, as one of Yarragon’s favourite sons decided to amp up the pressure as Neerim cracked.
No-one from the openers down to the number 11 were able to reach double figures, as the away side’s frail batting was exposed to doom them from the finals race, with Borsato’s rampage aided by Gamini Kumara (3-18) who joined in the procession late in the piece.
Borsato ended with 7-29 and never let the foot off the gas, as the Panthers were in by tea with Neerim shellshocked, picking up the pieces after making a paltry 66.
In response, Yarragon fell to 3-16 as Dane Fawcett (5-44) looked to create a miracle. Unfortunately, he had Kumara (54) and Dinith Waduge (28) standing in his way, as they pushed their side to victory and more. Once the total was passed, Yarragon built their lead, an outright victory setting up their final’s chances. Wickets tumbled late in the day, but Ruwan Perera (39) played his role to perfection, pushing the home side to 9-153, setting up a probable declaration and outright bid next week.