By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Blockbuster clash between West Gippsland Cricket Association Premier grade title aspirants Merinda Park and Kooweerup rests on a knife’s edge after the first day’s play at Donnelly Reserve.
On a day when rain wreaked havoc throughout the region, play was delayed until 2pm due to a damp pitch.
The Demons ultimately won the toss and elected to bat first in a revised 65 overs a side contest.
But the visitors could only see out 56 overs before being dismissed for 203.
Skipper Michael Giles was typically forthright in his assessment of his side’s and his own individual performance saying: “It probably wasn’t up to scratch, to be honest.”
“We really should have made more runs,” he said.
“We’re definitely still in it but we’ll have to take 10 wickets next week to win, especially with the outfield being quite quick.”
Giles lamented that a host of batsman got starts, but few converted.
The skipper’s was the first wicket to fall as Jess Mathers and Anthony Craddock combined to remove him for his 15.
Chris O’Hara and Shane Dole then combined for a 60-run second wicket stand but O’Hara (38) found himself run-out for the third time in four games.
Dole (62) kept plugging away for a stoic half-century but struggled to get the better of Mathers’s consistent line and length.
Premier’s leading wicket-taker finished with the impressive figures of 2/31 from 20 overs and Giles identified him as the clear standout of the Cobras’ attack.
Demons big man Scott Clark again showed his handiwork with the willow, chipping in with an invaluable 40 but he was the visitors’ only other batsman to pass 20 as the lower and middle orders crumbled.
Shannon Mathers (4/36) was Merinda Park’s leading wicket-taker, while skipper Jamie Smith finished with 2/73 and Jarrod Armitage 1/49.
The Cobras will resume next week on 0/10 after five overs, still needing another 194 runs for victory.
Meanwhile, the Maroons are still in with a fighting chance at home against reigning premiers Tooradin, reaching 7/187 (cc) at Upper Beaconsfield Rec Reserve in the only other Round 5 match-up to see day one action.
Opener Matt Hutson (69) led the way with an impressive half-century while skipper John Simpson contributed a valuable 28-run cameo.
But the Seagulls proved miserly all day, conceding less than 200 despite bowling a full 80 overs and they would still be odds-on favourites heading into the second day’s play.
Still, the Maroons at least gave them something to think about in their chase.
Tooradin skipper Aaron Avery was the pick of the visiting attack, finishing with the ultra-economical figures of 2/17 from 15 overs.
Bodie Brown (2/44) continued his fine form with the ball while moustachioed stalwart Brenton Adams (1/25) and Steve Hamill (1/33) claimed a wicket apiece.
District
Beaconsfield 9/251 (T McDermott 51, B Monagle 42, J Dodd 38no, T Keily 5/73, J Miller 2/24) v Catani.
NNG/Maryknoll 7/279 (S Lewis 74, K McLeod 43, S Pullen 37, B Hunt 4/64, T Sheperdson 2/74) v SFX Old Collegians.
Devon Meadows 177 (D O’Brien 65, L Carroll 43) v Cranbourne Meadows 0/2.
Sub-District
Nyora 182 (J Hackett 77, A Tagliaferro 32, C Smith 3/47, D Ardley 2/38, S Hassall 2/47) v Upper Beaconsfield.
Cardinia 7/286 (R Campbell 102no, A Nooy 97, D Salvato 48, C Brennan 2/47) v Tooradin.
Pakenham 235 (D McCraw 98, B Irvine 52, R Caddell 5/49, S Baker 3/84) v Lang Lang.
Clyde 202 (G Adams 31) v Officer.
