One run Neerim triumph
Warragul v Catani
Warragul has benefitted from their top grades’ bye, with a host of big names helping to cause a boil over against Catani.
Losing the toss and sent into bat, the Gulls had a myriad of contributors- with Steven Fricke (57), Ian Hewett (30), Eddie McGillivray (23) and Josh Wright (21) all having a hand in Warragul’s total of 9-182. For Catani, the reliable George Zekic (5-43) took another fivewicket haul while Matt Coleman (2-30) and Riley Miller (2-33) provided support in a difficult forty overs.
In reply, an unbelievable counter-attacking innings from Leigh Jose (90) kept the Cats in the game when all seemed lost- with boundaries laden to all parts of Eastern Park.
However, it was two of Warragul’s best- Eddie McGillivray (5-30) and Charlie Wans (4-23) who single-handedly dragged the home side over the line, dislodging Catani for 163.
Neerim District v Longwarry
The game of the round saw Neerim win a thriller over Longwarry on the weekend.
Batting first, Neerim relied on Jay Ladson (38) and a bevy of lower-order contributions to make a defendable 165 all out, as Cole Cook (4-32) and Joe Pullen (3-22) stemmed the flow with wickets for the Crows.
In reply, despite a classy 42 from Daniel Pullen, a controlled effort from the likes of Marc Tymkin (2-29), Brad Drews (2-30), Liam Garlick-Adams (2-34) and Ben Lockett (2-34) had the Stags in the driver’s seat. That was until late partnerships from Rob Cowan (24) and Joel Kilday (21) put Longwarry back within touching distance of victory- before a frantic, devastating last ball run-out from Ladson stopped the Crows one run short of Neerim.
Yarragon v Iona
A dominant all-around Iona has comfortably accounted for Yarragon on the weekend.
Batting first, Jayson Barwick (73) and Neil Rankin (36) batted with ease to push Iona to a commanding 7-183- as Satwant Singh (2-19) and Jai Singh (2-23) made key breakthroughs for the Panthers.
In reply, it was pure domination from the Swamp Tigers- as Michael Neilson (3-26), Sam Accardi (3-11) and Lachlan Howard (2-5) punished the brittle Yarragon order, skittling them for just 62 and handing the visitors a critical 121-run victory.
Western Park v Garfield-Tynong
A strong Western Park side made it 5/5 wins for the weekend, winning comfortably over Garfield-Tynong.
Batting first, Tyler Payroli (47), John Allsop (46) and Elliot Kennedy (27) were the main contributors as the Warriors made use of a brisk outfield to collect 7-210 off their allotted overs.
Aaron Braaksma (3-19) and Hayden Porter (2-39) battled hard for the Titans; however, they did not have many helpers with the bat as the visitors were skittled for just 73 in reply.
Young gun Ben Allsop took his maiden senior five-wicket haul with 5-15, whilst Oscar Sheehan (2-5) and Angus Geals (2-33) rounded out an impressive performance from the home side.