By RUSSELL BENNETT
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
WHEN young Pakenham finger spinner Jesse Hayhow trapped Demons keeper Stephen Johnson leg-before late on Saturday afternoon, the Lions’ celebrations showed just what the nail-biting win over their local rivals meant.
A wave of emotion washed over the ground at Toomuc Reserve as players came from far and wide to revel in what they surely knew was a potentially season-defining result against the powerhouse Kooweerup side.
It was obvious how much the win meant to both the playing group and onlookers alike.
But it was a result that seemed a mile away at tea, with Kooweerup – chasing 252 for victory – seemingly sitting pretty just one wicket down.
Demons stalwarts Chris O’Hara (42) and Michael Giles (92) combined for a 122-run opening stand.
But with the skipper’s wicket at 2/160, the Demons fell to 5/172 – showing just how much they missed the injured Shane Dole.
Then, as they have all season to date, the young Lions kept their composure and finished the job – despite a pair of lower-order contributions from Johnson (10) and Premier debutant Cody Miller (12), who had played five games in the under-15s so far this season.
The Demons were dismissed for 244 – just eight agonising runs shy of victory.
It was a result that must surely have left the side’s leadership group wondering just what might’ve been.
But for Pakenham, the win would have given the side yet another confidence boost and further belief that they could give this Premier season a real shake.
Russ Lehman was nothing short of outstanding once again for the Lions, backing up his 5/44 in Round 6 against Merinda Park with a brilliant 6/85 from 31 overs on Saturday.
Hayhow (3/74 from 24 overs) was also superb, claiming three of the other four wickets to fall.
The Demons can’t afford to dwell on the result, and will get their chance for revenge straight away thanks to the reverse fixture as they host the Lions in a one-dayer this Saturday at Kooweerup Recreation Reserve.
CARDINIA v UPPER BEACONSFIELD
A young Upper Beaconsfield side was always going to be up against it after Cardinia’s imposing batting firepower was on full display on the first day’s play of their clash at E Gunton Oval.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Bulls posted the second-highest total scored so far in this Premier season – 314.
Alex (96) and John Nooy (56) put on a 129-run opening wicket partnership, while Simon Parrott (88) came within just 12 of a quick-fire century.
The Maroons, meanwhile, were led by the tireless efforts of seamer Kyle Gibbs who finished with 3/103 from an impressive 37 overs. Will Haines was the side’s leading wicket-taker with 4/57 from his 12 overs.
But the visitors’ reply started disastrously on Saturday, losing three quick wickets for just 11 runs.
Openers Matt Hutson (8) and Luke Willis (0) each fell, caught behind off Lucas Plozza – Hutson to Parrott at slip, and Willis to wicket-keeper Luke Turner.
And the side just couldn’t recover, despite the efforts of skipper John Simpson (39) and Premier debutant Lachlan Harrison (trapped in front by Parrott for 74).
Gibbs capped off a fine individual game, finishing unbeaten on 24.
While battling some inconsistent form with the willow so far this season, Neil Barfuss’s all-around ability shone on Saturday – leading the Bulls attack with 3/41 from his 17 overs.
Plozza (2/30) and Parrott (2/6 from two overs) were the other multiple wicket-takers.
The Maroons will be looking to make a much better first of the two sides’ one-dayer this week.
WGCA SCORES
PREMIER
Tooradin 200 (S. Wilson 61, B. Spicer 32, J. Hanfi-Scott 4/43) and 1/45 d Emerald 126 (C. Marsh 37, L. Adams 4/22, C. O’Hare 3/49, B. Brown 2/18).
Cardinia 314 (A. Nooy 96, S. Parrott 88, J. Nooy 56, R. Campbell 26, W. Haines 4/57, K. Gibbs 3/103) d Upper Beaconsfield 177 (L. Harrison 74, J. Simpson 39, N. Barfuss 3/41, S. Parrott 2/6, L. Plozza 2/30).
Pakenham 251 (D. Paynter 77, R. Lehman 74, H. Hulme 33, C. O’Hara 3/25, J. Bright 3/58, S. Clark 2/40) d Kooweerup 244 (M. Giles 91, C. O’Hara 42, J. Bright 32, R. Lehman 6/85, J. Hayhow 3/74).
Merinda Park 183 (A. Martin 39, D. Diwell 34, J. Mathers 27, B. McLeod 4/56, T. Carey 2/37, D. Warne 2/41) d Pakenham Upper/Toomuc 74 (J. Mathers 7/31) and 1/59 (D. Warne 31*).
DISTRICT
Cranbourne Meadows 5/233(cc) (L. Murdoch 68*, S. Murdoch 50, J. Emery 47, B. Stephens 30, H. Straughair 2/56, A. Bajwa 2/63) d Lyndhurst Vikings 184 (D. Spencer 32, A. Bajwa 29, S. Murdoch 3/41, G. Bradshaw 2/13, J. Poole 2/29, L. Murdoch 2/39).
Devon Meadows 7/118(dec) (B. Ingram 62*, T. Keily 4/34, J. Bethune 2/20) and 2/71 d Catani 93 (T. Keily 26, L. Carroll 3/11, M. Floyd 3/26, N. Worsteling 2/10) and 91 (R. Coupe 31, M. Floyd 5/20, C. Leslie 2/6, L. Carroll 2/18).
Beaconsfield 228 (T. McDermott 44, B. Miles 43, M. Meehan 31*, C. Kelf 26, V. Van Strijp 3/24, J. Lownds 3/36, S. Somers 2/43) d NNG/Maryknoll 170 (S. Lewis 105, M. Meehan 4/33, G. Scales 3/34).
Clyde 8/210 (S. Webster 79, N. Miles 42, G. Adams 36, B. Hunt 4/39, L. Otten 2/50) d SFX Old Collegians 95 (P. Lawson 4/15, A. Buller 3/19, N. Miles 3/38) and 77 (P. Lawson 3/21, K. Brooke 2/9, A. Buller 2/16, B. Reilly 2/19).
SUB-DISTRICT
Lang Lang 8/250(cc) (G. Andrews 43, S. Cole 39*, R. Douglas 35, T. Miller 31*, T. Sinnema 3/86, N. Sadler 2/22, S. Rainbow 2/29) d Clyde 47 (C. Fulton 6/20, S. Cole 3/25) and 0/61 (C. Blair 39*). Nyora 6/221(cc) (G. Hackett 105, A. Tagliaferro 46, T. Lehman 2/44, S. Mitchell 2/71) d Pakenham 93 (P. Hendry 5/32, A. Tagliaferro 3/15).
Cardinia 4/172(dec) (D. Salvato 46*, D. Strahan 41, B. Browne 30*, J. Bird 2/39) d Upper Beaconsfield 108 (D. Ardley 35, M. Gehling 28, B. Darose 3/11, T. Wheller 3/18, J. Browne 2/12) and 3/97 (P. Brennan 40*, B. Darose 2/18)
Officer 235 (P. Quinn 100*, J. Parnall 43, B. Nielsen 26, A. Reid 25, R. Holland 2/24, A. Adams 2/39, J. Thompson 2/41, S. Birtchnell 2/72) d Tooradin 135 (A. Adams 74, B. McHugh 3/43, J. Quinn 2/6, A. Reid 2/21, B. Reid 2/21).
