By David Nagel
The undoubted star of the CCCA Lower Grades on Saturday was Kooweerup number-three Mitch Davey who pulverised Cardinia’s A Grade bowling attack at Denhams Road.
The tall and elegant left hander cruised to the maiden century of his career before marching on to a magnificent 207, which included 32 boundaries and three towering sixes.
Davey shared century stands with two legends of Kooweerup; first with his dad Matt (65) and then with champion batter Chris ‘Tubsy’ O’Hara (69 not out).
The Demons ended their 80 overs at 6/442, leaving the Bulls a massive run-chase on day two.
Davey’s main challenger for innings of the day came from a club mate, with Harpreet Singh Gandhi making a monster 174 in Kooweerup’s 5/360 in D Grade against Officer.
Tanbir Joarder (45) and Ashikul Haque (44) offered great support Gandhi, who cracked 29 boundaries and one maximum during his 182-ball knock.
If Kooweerup dominated with the bat, then it was clearly Tooradin’s day with the ball in the lower grades with Bailey Lownds returning the extraordinary figures of 7/26 in the A Grade game against Cranbourne Meadows (130).
Lownds ripped the heart out of the Rebels batting line up, before the Seagulls (7/258) cruised to first-innings points by the close of play.
Hot on the heels of Lownds was his Tooradin comrade Luke Townsend, who bowled the Seagulls into a powerful position against Upper Beaconsfield (155) in B Grade.
Townsend bowled an incredible spell, taking 6/14 off 18 overs with his eight maidens proving he had the dial tuned in perfectly.
Ben Amos (57 not out) and Ravi Khatri (29) were the only Maroons to fight, taking the score to 155 after being 8/67.
Tyler Astle claimed an early wicket for the Maroons to see the Seagulls at 1/3 overnight.
It was a satisfying day for bowlers in the lower grades, with David Searle (Pakenham D – 5/14), Jason Brzezowski (Devon Meadows One-Day – 5/22), Harish Bhaskaran Kerala Strikers C – 5/51), Jimmy Augustine (Kerala Strikers C – 5/55) and James Quinn (Officer C – 5/68) all getting the better of their opponents.
CCCA President Ben Knowles was the unlucky player on Saturday, being left stranded on 99 not out in Clyde’s (5/307) impressive E Grade effort against Melbourne Sixers.
LOWER GRADES – 50S AND THREE FA’S
BATTING
Mitchell Davey Kooweerup A 207
Harpreet Singh Gandhi Kooweerup D 174
Ben Knowles Clyde E 99*
Marcus Martini Pakenham A 83
Peter Deighton Devon Meadows C 75
Mitch Cammarano Kooweerup C 73
Johnee Cuthbertson Merinda Park One-Day 72
Wadduwage Perera Melbourne Sixers One-Day 71
Sharma Sivaraj Avengers One-Day 71
Chris O’Hara Kooweerup A 69*
Hiren Patel Pak. Upper/Toomuc One-Day 69*
Matt Davey Kooweerup A 65
Michael Coull Merinda Park One-Day 62
Noah Williams Pak. Upper/Toomuc D 60*
Andrew Myers Carlisle Park E 58*
Ben Amos Upper Beaconsfield B 57*
David Carson Devon Meadows One-Day 56
Keerat Singh Clyde E 53*
Shane Webster Clyde B 52
Dene North Pakenham D 52
Wes Smith Clyde One-Day 52
Corey Leslie Devon Meadows C 50
Adam Newstead Merinda Park C 50
BOWLING
Bailey Lownds Tooradin A 7/26
Luke Townsend Tooradin B 6/14
David Searle Pakenham D 5/14
Jason Brzezowski Devon Meadows One-Day 5/22
Harish Bhaskaran Kerala Strikers C 5/51
Jimmy Augustine Kerala Strikers C 5/55
James Quinn Officer C 5/68
Ivan Udakara Melbourne Sixers One-Day 4/10
Abhijit Mohan Carlisle Park E 4/21
Aidan Nooy Cardinia C 4/22
Pratham Patel Clyde A 4/30
Ryan Tocknell NNG/Maryknoll D 4/44
Lee Wolfe Carlisle Park E 3/16
Clinton Marsh Emerald B 3/19
Hasnain Azeem Carlisle Park C 3/19
Glen Easton Lang Lang One-Day 3/23
Ray Perkins Cardinia E 3/26
Ebadullah Rafat Pak. Upper/Toomuc One-Day 3/27
Mansoor Ahmad NNG/Maryknoll D 3/28
Alexander Barbour Emerald B 3/34
Wajahat Ali Merinda Park A 3/37
Cooper Newnham Pakenham B 3/37
Hiren Patel Pak. Upper/Toomuc One-Day 3/38
Ashoka Herath Clyde A 3/49
Garry Lynch Merinda Park One-Day 3/51
Damien Monckton Cardinia E 3/52
Sulakshan Mendisque Merinda Park A 3/85
