Swamp Tigers rediscover their roar with confidence
Division 3
Iona (6-215) def. Garfield-Tynong (9196):
Iona have somewhat quietened the doubters who thought that the club might again struggle this summer, with a 19-run win over Garfield-Tynong handing the Swamp Tigers an early confidence boost.
It was a victory built on the back of heroics from Mick Taylor and Michael Neilson, with the duo belting 61 and 56 respectively to carry Iona to 6-215 at the close of their innings.
In reply, the Titans were struggling early – slipping to 4-57 – but Darren Vandenberge’s boundary-laden 63 saw them race back into the game.
Unfortunately for Garfield-Tynong, Luke Ferguson breached his defences with 44 still required, and the tail couldn’t finish the job – the Titans finishing at 9-196.
Young stuns Panthers
Jindivick (8-123) def. Yarragon (81): A stunning haul of 6-12 from Phill Young has handed Jindivick a rousing 42-run win over Yarragon, with the opening bowler proving simply unplayable to the Panthers’ batsmen.
Attacking the stumps and forcing the batsmen into rash strokes, Young’s sixwicket haul saw his opponents crumble to 81 all out – a total nowhere near enough for victory.
Jindivick made their way to 8-123 in reply, with Nick Hume (30) and Matt Price (33) enjoying the chance to spend quality time in the middle for the Jumping Jacks.
Mark Stead was the pick of the bowlers for Yarragon claiming 2-27 from his seven overs.
Chances cost Crows
Western Park (8-132) def. Longwarry (9-75): Dropped chances cost Longwarry dearly in their opening round loss to Western Park, with the Crows wasting opportunities to remove key stroke-makers early in their innings’.
Jason Batson in particular made Longwarry pay, taking advantage of being dropped third-ball to record 30 – his knock the highest of the day.
Together with some late pinch-hitting from Sam Fennell (who made 27*) the Warriors notched 8-132 from their 40 overs.
Batson (4-19) and Briggs (2-17) then decimated the Longwarry top order with an impressive display of swing bowling, and all that the Crows could do was to see out the innings – finishing at 9-75 from their allotted overs.
Fowler lifts Lyrebirds
Buln Buln (6-122) def. Neerim District (9-120): An aggressive knock of Brayden Fowler has lifted Buln Buln to a first round win over Neerim District, with the Lyrebirds easing home to the tune of four wickets.
In pursuit of a middling total of 9-120 from the Stags, Buln began confidently thanks to Jack Symes and Brendan Spicer, with the pair’s 32-run opening stand putting Neerim on the back-foot.
Jamie Gleeson (2-21 from eight) and Nathan Ryrie (2-19 off five) did their best to stymie the flow of runs, but Fowler dispatched multiple hits over the fence on his way to 48, and his acceleration helped Buln finish at 6-122 after 31 overs.
Round 2 fixtures: Buln Buln vs Iona, GarfieldTynong vs Neerim District, Jindivick vs Western Park, Longwarry vs Yarragon.