Panthers stand firm

By Steve Brown
KNOX Tavern Cup premiership captain and Victorian Country X1 representative Paul Evans must be wondering what he needs to do to win a game of cricket.
Last week his 5/66 helped restrict newly promoted Eildon Park to 228. On day two, the highly competitive Evans batted for most of the day for his 120, however, the Hawks fell 13 runs short in the FTGDCA round 3.
Medium pacer Shane Cosstick gave the Panthers their biggest scalp to date with 5/52 thus indicating that the competition is very evenly balanced.
Upper Gully with 286 were fairly confident and played one short for the day with star fast bowler Paul Wilson’s 5/40 helping the Kings to an easy win, with the Knights dismissed for 147.
Ferntree Gully (196) held out Belgrave who at 7/120 made it hard going with former skipper Scott Vozzo registering 52 in a total of 151.
As usual the combination of Gully bowlers, Mark Butters (4/50) and Matt Black secured the win for the Blues.
Former Sri Lankan player Athula Samarasekera, a veteran of 3 World Cup series (114) ably supported by Dean Young (47) easily accounted for The Basin’s total of 129. The Gators finished the day on 8/257 and they go into next week’s game against Knoxfield with added confidence.
Lysterfield set Upwey an imposing 234 for victory and prior to tea the Tigers were done and dusted falling to 7/131 with Paul Henry’s innings of 79 from 65 balls receiving no back up. Youngsters Steve Gannell and Country Week wicketkeeper Brenton Hurst added 98 for the eighth wicket and proved that partnerships win matches. Hurst’s innings of 66 was a sign of maturity, and the Tigers cleared their target with 8 wickets down in what was their finest win for several years.
An elated Upwey captain, Ryan Pitts said, “that was the best win I can remember here for a long time, and even when we were 7/131, we believed in each other.”
Last season’s runners up Lysterfield are now winless from 3 games and face The Basin next match.
Johnson Park (191) is undefeated with an effortless win against a disappointing St Johns Tecoma (83) at Fairpark. The Sharks bowling line-up shared all wickets.
A good show in the Decoite Shield saw the Footballers gain maximum points against Johnson Park with Trent Gale registering his maiden century.
Monbulk defeated Knox Gardens by 38 runs with former Rowville champ Darren Hill getting his name in the scorebook with 5/49 for the winners.
Upwey were cruising at Lysterfield but lost concentration after a first rate afternoon tea, losing 6/20 despite winning the game. Greg Dean took five wickets for the Beavers. South Belgrave accounted for Ferntree Gully on the back of Williams’ 5/23, Aura Vale scored their first win in the FTGDCA against The Basin and Knoxfield defeated Upper Gully by 29 runs.