GREGOR MACTAGGART
CRICKET
LVDCL
By GREGOR MACTAGGART
CHURCHILL continues to set the pace at the top of the LVDCL Premier A Grade ladder after a comfortable six-wicket win against Trafalgar on Saturday.
Brendan Mason’s brilliant 84 from just 72 deliveries ensured the Cobras overhauled Trafalgar’s score of 166 with more than 20 overs to spare.
In doing so, Churchill landed yet another bonus point which may well prove decisive in the race for the minor premiership.
Apart from a stout 39 from Aydan Connolly, Trafalgar’s top order did not capitalise on first use of the Joe Tabuteau Reserve wicket.
Jackson Noonan’s breezy 24, which included three fours and a towering six, was a handy cameo against what was a disciplined Churchill attack.
Ricky Velardi proved the most successful of the Cobras bowlers, returning his best-ever A Grade figures of 4/23 and the irrepressible Steve Warr (2/13) gave away little in his 10-over spell.
Churchill’s chase got off to a sluggish start with the loss of opener Ryan Wilk for a duck, but Mason and Matt Harvey soon turned the momentum the Cobras’ way.
The duo put on 90 at a fair clip before Harvey (39) was bowled by Aiden George.
Mason continued on his merry way, reaching his half-century and motoring on, hitting eight boundaries and a six during his 99-minute stay at the crease.
The introduction of teenager Owen McLeod-Agland brought a halt to Mason’s masterclass
on 84.
Nick Duncan (27) produced his best knock of the season and despite falling just short of the winning target, John Keighran came to the crease to hit the winning runs.
Panthers overwhelm Tigers
JEERALANG-BOOLARRA issued a statement with an emphatic 102-run away win against
Mirboo North.
The Panthers produced one of its most complete performances in a long time.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, Jeeralang-Boolarra posted 6/210 with half-centuries to Ben McCormack and Nilantha Thillekarathna the highlight.
McCormack, in particular, displayed great touch, hitting five fours and two sixes in his 57 from just 64 deliveries.
Thillekarathna played the anchor role with an unbeaten 56, while Matt McGrath (23), Ossy Brennan (21) and Ben Heath (20) all contributed to the cause.
Max Woodall (2/43) and Hudson Kerr (2/53) were the lone Mirboo North bowlers to take multiple wickets.
The Tigers never looked likely in the chase, despite three of the top four batsmen in Zach Hollis (25), Kerr (25) and skipper Jesse Giardina (21) getting starts.
The Panthers bowlers shared the success around with the underrated Brennan (3/16) again impressing.
McGrath (2/7), Hasitha Hewawasam (2/12) and Stan Urbanic (2/26) also shone with the ball.
Centrals win a tight contest
CENTRALS recorded a 27-run win over Latrobe at Peter Siddle Oval.
The Lions were sent into bat by the home side and looked in early trouble at 3/23.
But a 101-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Tye Hourigan and Sam Gray (32) steered the Centrals’ ship back on track.
Hourigan continues to show he is one of the league’s top batsmen when he gets going and scored a stylish 75 before falling to the evergreen Anthony Bloomfield.
Lachlan Patterson continued his breakout season with a smashing 36 not out from 26 balls to help lift Centrals to 5/190.
Tyron Gamage (2/37) was the most successful Latrobe bowler.
The Sharks found themselves on the back foot early at 2/9 with openers Bloomfield and Anu Meenakshi back in the pavilion.
Captain Benn Zomer’s 33 gave Latrobe some momentum ahead of middle-order runs from Izayah Terrick (24) and Navin Gomez (35).
But Centrals continued to take wickets and bowled out the Sharks for 163.
South African all-rounder Reghard Hefer collected his second successive four-wicket haul (4/27) and Mark Rawson returned the figures of 2/22.
Mitchell, Savige lift Lions
JOEL Mitchell’s unbeaten 86 guided Moe to a six-wicket win against CATS at Traralgon South. Ash Savige took 5/14 as CATS were bowled out for 169.
Callum Stewart top-scored with 47, with Josh Keyhoe (29) and Jamie Cochrane (28) also getting good starts.
Savige was the pick of the Moe bowlers, although Mitchell and Royce Colgrave each took two wickets.
Moe found themselves at 2/19 early doors after the departure of star batsman Andrew Philip (10), but Mitchell soon eased any nerves.
He found willing allies in Noah Kane (24), who he shared a 49-run partnership with and Sean
Spiteri (33).
The Mitchell-Spiteri union realised 62 and put Moe well within sight of success.
Mitchell hit seven fours and three sixes in what was his second half-century of the season.
Stewart (2/25) proved the most successful CATS bowler.
Morwell’s simply marvellous
MORWELL scored a six-wicket win against Traralgon West at Morwell Recreation Reserve,
nabbing a valuable bonus point.
The Eagles could muster just 8/143 after electing to bat, with captain Rob Wilkie and Tim Fitch both scoring 31.
Morwell’s relentless approach with the ball was best typified by Brendan Brincat (4/14), while Dylan Day (2/25) and Mark Cukier (2/31) also bowled well.
Cukier then set the tone with the willow.
His unbeaten 82 was the cornerstone of the Morwell innings as the Tigers overhauled the target with 83 balls to spare.
Blair Clymo chipped in with 21.
Ben Edebohls (2/16) proved the best of the Traralgon West bowlers.
