Warriors’ fairytale fading
Division 3
Western Park (90) vs. Yarragon (0-22): Having claimed a fairytale premiership last summer, the sequel seems to not quite have matched the hype of the original, with Western Park’s poor batting seeing them in huge trouble against Yarragon.
Needing a win, and needing Drouin to lose, neither went to plan with the Warriors able to make just 90 on a slow outfield at Dowton Park.
Only Stephen Briggs (13) and Ken Lindsey (29) were able to make it to double figures as the build-up of pressure from Yarragon’s bowlers proved too much to handle.
Jesse Glover and Paul Harvey both claimed three wickets as the Panthers took just 43.2 overs to dismiss Western Park. Left with 23 overs to face out, Yarragon inched their way towards victory, scoring at just one run an over – finishing at 0-22, and another 69 runs needed for the win.
Spot sewn up
Ellinbank (9-169) vs. Longwarry (68): Heading into round 14, Ellinbank required a win to sew up top spot on the ladder and they claimed the six points needed in emphatic fashion, already claiming a 101-run win over Longwarry.
The Bankers wasted little time in bundling out the Crows having been sent into the field, with the entire first innings lasting just 27.5 overs.
Matthew Robertson (2-11), Alex Gaudion (4-8) and Tom Robertson (3-15) were too good for the Longwarry batsmen, with the top individual score just 16 as the Crows slumped to 68 all out.
In reply, Longwarry were able to claim a clutch of early wickets on the back of some good bowling from Adam Barton (2-26) and Nichollas Pullen (2-36), but Jeremy Gray’s boundary-laden 89 quickly put the result beyond doubt, as Ellinbank made their way to 9-169 at stumps.
Hawks launch assault
Drouin (8-426) vs. Iona: Needing a win to guarantee a finals spot, Drouin have launched an outrageous assault on Iona’s bowlers, belting more than a run a ball for the entire day to finish at a staggering 8-426.
The Iona cricket ground has quickly become a graveyard for bowlers – with Iona themselves making 439 last weekend – but it would take a truly miraculous chase for them to emerge victorious.
It was the Hawks’ lower order that did the bulk of the damage, with Andrew Harrison leading the charge.
Walking to the crease with the score 5126, Harrison quickly settled and begun to belt boundary after boundary – much to the dismay of Iona’s bowlers.
He smashed his way to 106, with Chris Harry (70) and Matt Blanch (62*) ramming home Drouin’s advantage late in the day.
Despite the best efforts of Michael Taylor (3-101) and Kieran Lenders (275) the Hawks total climbed ever upwards, leaving the Swamp Tigers with a mammoth chase.
Buln boosted
Buln (9-262) vs. Jindivick: Buln Buln gained what could be a valuable momentum boost ahead of their likely semi-final match up with Jindivick, with the Lyrebirds putting together an imposing first innings total.
Having won the toss and electing to bat, Buln Buln began slowly – with Rob Park (seven) and Brendan Wilson (three) both back in the pavilion early, but that only let Leigh Cook settle at the crease.
Striking a host of boundaries, Cook combined with the middle and lower order to boost the total upwards of 200 before he was removed by Jack Braddick.
Brendan Spicer than continued the onslaught, and his even 50 carried Buln through to 9-262 at the end of their allotted overs.
Braddick (3-49) was the pick of the bowlers for Jindivick, although he lacked support at times from the change bowlers.