By David Nagel
THE quality of West Gippsland Cricket Premier Division was encapsulated on Saturday in a classic encounter between a relieved Tooradin (5/278cc) and a brave but unfulfilled Upper Beaconsfield (266).
In a game that had massive consequences for both teams, Tooradin had the runs on the board and it was going to take something special from the Maroons to get across the line – and they got it early.
Last round century maker Shawn Flegler (30) and the consistent Daniel Brennan (70) have been the main stays of the Maroons’ batting line-up all season and the two opened up for a 56-run partnership. Flegler was first to go, a huge relief for Seagulls skipper Aaron Avery after the carnage caused by the left hander in round seven.
Avery’s joy soon turned to anxiety as the Maroons’ leading run-getter from last season, John Simpson (47), joined Brennan and the two built a long and fruitful union. Brennan passed his half-century and then 300 runs for the season as the Maroons were in cruise control at 1/148.
Seagulls bowlers Steve Hamill (5/70) and Craig Dicks (2/48) then started a courageous fight back by the home team. Hamill removed Brennan, then Simpson, and combined with Dicks to rout the Maroons’ middle order.
The two took all seven wickets to fall in a devastating spell that saw Upper Beaconsfield lose 7/54 and spiral out of control to 8/202. All momentum was with the home side and someone from the Maroons’ lower order needed to put their hand up for a fight.
Enter Tommy Tyrrell (54 not out) and Xavier Gargan (23).
Nothing has come easy for Tooradin this season and Avery must have been pulling his hair out as the two Maroons looked like guiding their team to victory. Tyrrell and Gargan put on 64 runs for the ninth wicket, taking the Maroons to 8/266, before disaster struck the duo.
A Brenton Adams return to Tom Hussey left Gargan short of his ground. Crunch time! With 13 runs to win for the Maroons and a two-game buffer over the Seagulls, one wicket to get for Tooradin to draw level on points heading into the New Year … more than five overs remained.
Avery took on the responsibility for his team and knocked over Paul Matthews’ castle to give the Seagulls a memorable and team-lifting victory. Tyrrell was left stranded after making a brilliant half-century and his Christmas dinner will no doubt leave a bitter-sweet taste.
Fifth-placed Tooradin have looked like slipping off the pace more than once this season but have somehow managed to stay firmly in the hunt for a top four spot. Third-placed Upper Beaconsfield now faces back-to-back encounters against runaway leaders Kooweerup and Cardinia.
@BT Sub Sport News:DISTRICT
MERINDA Park (242) rolled through a disappointing Devon Meadows (128) on Saturday to hand the visiting Panthers their first taste of defeat this summer.
After being destroyed by the same opposition last round, the Cobras set up their win with the bat last week and never looked threatened after three early breakthroughs. Adam Newstead (4/18) and Brendan Fairlam (2/24) were the multiple wicket takers for the home side, which is now just two points behind the Panthers in second place on the ladder.
Bill Loudon (35) top scored for the Meadows, capping off a good game after his four-wicket haul from last week but otherwise there was little resistance from the Panthers.
Lyndhurst Vikings (142) travelled up the hill to Emerald (7/242dec) on Saturday with high hopes of chasing down the home side’s above average total. Those hopes faded fast.
The Vikings were no match for Emerald livewire Clinton Marsh (4/29) who still rolls down the leather at a decent pace. This game was a chance for the Vikings to overtake the Bombers on the ladder but they now find themselves losing touch with the upper echelon in contention for finals action.
@BT Sub Sport News:SUB-DISTRICT
TOORADIN’s (115) meek effort with the bat last Saturday left it extremely vulnerable against Upper Beaconsfield (139) and that’s the way things played out on Saturday.
The Seagulls toiled hard but just didn’t have enough runs to play with. Sam Clarke (2/14), Jarred Thompson (2/30) and Richard Holland (2/31) certainly didn’t let things get out of hand but the loss left the Seagulls just outside the top four in fifth place on the ladder.
Clyde (6/190) remained on top of the ladder after surviving an early scare against Cranbourne Meadows (170). The Cougars appeared to be on shaky ground at 4/34 but as good sides do, they responded.
Kane Avard (56 not out) opened the innings and remained unbeaten in a defiant display of patience as he and Noel O’Brien (69) put on 121 for the fifth wicket. O’Brien was the aggressor in the stand which took the Cougars to the brink of victory.
Brad Goodman (17) made sure no nasty little surprises confronted the Cougars’ lower order and was with Avard when the winning runs were scored. The Rebels’ bowlers would have been disappointed after the start they had.
Mathew Smith (2/28), Adrian Savage (2/35) and Jason Poole (2/50) were equal contributors but lacked spark when the team needed ignition.
