Twenty20 matches kick off

The wet weather that lashed the state ensured that there would be no regularseason Warragul District Cricket Association action at the weekend.

But during the week when the birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and the taste of summer was in the air, the 2017-18 mid-week T20 competition kicked off with matches across four divisions.

A grade

Western Park (4-138) def. Buln Buln (7-135): Sanjaya Gangodawila did as he pleased as Western Park blasted their way to a six-wicket win over Buln Buln, with the star batsman putting the Buln bowlers to the sword in a romping run-chase.

With Tyler McDonald (3-26) and Sam Russell (1-10 from two) having restricted the Lyrebirds to 7-135 from their 20 overs – with Rhys Holdsworth the pick of the Buln batsman, making 33 – Gangodawila lost opening partner Sam Batson early, but it did little to quench his appetite for runs.

His rapid 59 saw Jackson Noonan unable to replicate his wicket-taking exploits from last weekend (the seamer going for 41 from his three overs), and Sam Russell (32*) and Luke Gilbert (21*) kept the runs flowing as the Warriors took just 14.1 overs to claim victory. Neerim District (7-143) def. Longwarry (9-118): A five-wicket haul to Ben Lockett has helped Neerim District to a 25-run win over Longwarry in their A grade T20 clash – with the youngster proving far too accurate with the ball for the Crows.

Remarkably, four of Lockett’s five wickets (which resulted in a haul of 5-16) were bowled, as the Longwarry batsmen kept swinging, and kept missing.

Only Russell Lehman (who made 30 opening up) was able to fightback with any gusto against the Stags bowlers, and in pursuit of 144 for victory the Crows could total just 9118.

Earlier in the afternoon, Jack Ward struck a brisk 42* and Warren Darcy chimed in with an invaluable knock of 39 to lift Neerim District to their eventual total of 7-143.

B grade

Hallora (5-191) def. Drouin (54): Hallora have demolished Drouin in their B grade T20 clash, with the Kangaroos taking home an astonishing 137-run win over the hapless Hawks.

Sam Whibley treated the Drouin bowlers with utter disdain in his opening role, blasting boundaries at will on his way to 88 from just 53 balls.

Ryan Williams joined in on the fun late in the piece with a 15-ball 38 and at the end of 20 overs of pain for Drouin, Hallora had compiled 5-191.

Needing a bright start to have any chance of launching a successful chase, the Hawks were instead humbled by the Halloran bowlers, with Craig Byrnes (3-8 in a rare turn at the bowling crease) and Brett Williams (3-5) bundling Drouin out for an embarrassing total of just 54.

Only Trevor Gardiner (15) and Daniel Burke (12) were able to make it to double-figures. Ellinbank (113) def. Jindivick (112): In stark comparison to the other B grade clash, Ellinbank and Jindivick fought out a thrilling low-scoring match, with the Eagles snatching a one-wicket win over the Jumping Jacks.

On the back of a haul of 5-12 from Jeff Reid, Ellinbank bundled Jindivick out for just 112 – with only Peter Galvin (26 opening up) and Greg Interlandi (14) able to inflict any damage with the bat.

However, Christian Stacey (2-12 off 4) and Luke Hume (3-27) ensured that the run-chase would be anything but easy going – claiming regular wickets to stem Ellinbank’s momentum.

Matthew Barrand launched a brisk 44 opening up, but it was Lachlan Pratt (13), Michael Pandolfo (13) and Stan Harrison (eight) who ground out invaluable lower order runs to see the Eagles over the line in the second last over of the game.

C grade

Yarragon (6-158) def. Warragul (7-154): Gamini Kumara’s class came to the fore in Yarragon’s four-wicket win over Warragul, with the all-rounder’s half-century helping the Panthers to snatch victory in the last over of the game.

Jake Green (28 from 32) and John Allsop (a 29-ball 34 in his first appearance for the year) laid the foundations and Kumara maintained the scoring rate as the innings progressed, despite some tight bowling from Mulqueen (113 off four) and Mafarlane (2-23).

The Gulls did their level best to defend their total of 7-154, but Chris McCullum belted a boundary off the second last ball of the game to claim the points.

Earlier in the afternoon, Reuben Wakefield marked his return to Warragul Cricket Club with a classy knock of 49 that carried the Gulls to a competitive total.

Blackbridge (8-179) def. Garfield-Tynong (7117):

Having fielded a side in mid-year competitions in recent years as a way of providing Gippsland’s cricketers with a chance to play all year round, Blackbridge Cricket Club made their Warragul District Cricket Association debut and had an immediate impact, taking out a 62-run win over Garfield-Tynong.

Having elected to bat, Blackbridge launched a fearsome early assault – with Craig Jennings taking 22 off the first over of the innings – and Lewis Harper (who struck a boundary-laden 68) continued the onslaught to carry his side to 8-179 at the end of 20 overs.

In reply, Brendan Rose (1-16 from four) and Lewis Harper (1-17 off four) claimed early wickets to put the brakes on the Titans runchase, and they were never in the hunt – making just 7-117 in reply.

D grade

Western Park (1-175) def. Jindivick (5-114): A pair of stirring half-centuries from Stephen Briggs and Adam Feltham has propelled Western Park to a comfortable 61-run win over Jindivick in their opening T20 clash, with the Jumping Jacks bowlers put to the sword by the Warriors duo.

Phill Young made an early breakthrough to raise hopes of restricting the Western Park run-rate – with Travis Maher on his way for 15 – but Briggs and Feltham launched a vicious counter-attack that floored the Jindivick attack.

As the innings progressed the boundaries flowed with increased regularity and at the end of 20 overs Western Park finished at 1-175.

In reply, Jindivick’s batsmen were forced into a defensive mindset from the get-go and the required run-rate soon ballooned. Tim Jeffrey struck 40, but the Jumping Jacks could only post 5-114 in reply. Buln Buln (4-170) def. Drouin (8-140): A brilliant knock of 71 to Jarryd Kilday helped Buln claim a 30-run win over Drouin in their opening round T20 clash, with the Lyrebirds boundary-hitting abilities too much for the Hawks to overcome.

Kilday smashed six fours and four sixes in his rapid half-century, and Sam Reid (25) and Dean Hendrikse (25) both chimed in with handy knocks to lift Buln to 4-170.

Robert Simpson did his level best to propel Drouin to a successful run-chase, but early pressure from Reid (0-3 from two) and late wickets to Gaige White (3-5 off two) successfully restricted Drouin to 8-140 from their 20 overs.

The second round of T20 cricket will be played next Tuesday, December 12.