By RUSSELL BENNETT and JARROD POTTER
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION – ROUND 1 REVIEW
THE elite sides in a competition are always the best equipped to handle the departure of key players.
Almost any other side in the Premier would have struggled badly with the loss of players of the calibre of Shane Dole and Chris O’Hara but on Saturday at Lakeside Kooweerup reaffirmed its authority on the Premier division with a convincing first-up win over the up-and-coming Pakenham.
Dole is now playing for Korumburra in the Leongatha and District Cricket Association while O’Hara missed the Demons’ season opener due to – shall we say – a medical procedure.
But in their place Chris Bright, Matt Davey and John Bright stepped up to the plate.
Wicket-keeper batsman Chris Bright (93), in particular, was scintillating.
Taking O’Hara’s usual spot at the top of the batting order alongside skipper Michael Giles he quite literally came out on the front foot – bludgeoning the Pakenham attack to all parts of the Lakeside ground.
Life as a newly married man clearly agrees with him.
New Pakenham skipper Jason Williams won the toss and elected to bowl but Bright soon made him rue that decision – dominating a 64-run opening stand with Giles (17).
Lions recruit Nathan Goodes (1/43) was brought into the attack after a somewhat luckless opening bowling partnership between Chris Smith and Russ Lehman and he claimed Giles with the first wicket of the day in the 10th over.
But Chris Bright and brother Paul – batting at number three – continued where the Demons’ opening stand had left off.
Chris relished the ball coming on to the bat and made the most of a lightning outfield with a series of big blows.
Goodes hit a good line and length early with away swing that might have otherwise troubled Chris, but he was in brutal touch.
Zac Chaplin, given more of the seam bowling responsibility in the absence of gun Lions all-rounder Dom Paynter, was the pick of the Pakenham bowlers with 2/26. But the Demons pounced on anything wayward.
Paul Bright’s dismissal at 2/113 brought Davey (33) to the crease and he just continued to tick the runs over.
That was the key throughout the Demons’ middle order – clean hitting mixed with smart, composed shot-making piercing the infield gaps.
John Bright (27) came to the crease late in the innings following the dismissals of his brothers Chris and Matt (10) and picked up the role of the aggressor.
He had a huge hand in taking the Demons total from their 40 overs to 7/212.
A few loose deliveries early from Chaplin found the fence but he tightened his line as his spell went on.
Spinner Jesse Hayhow, meanwhile, was the most economical of the Lions’ attack.
Set 213 for victory, Pakenham needed to make an early statement with the willow much like the Demons did at the start of the clash.
But young seamer Luke McMaster (2/28) trapped Russ Lehman (9) in front early with a contentious leg-before shout and the Lions just couldn’t recover.
From 1/21 they slipped to 2/31 when gun batsman Chris Smith – who has only just arrived home after a playing stint in the UK – was out, caught-behind off John Bright.
Pakenham leaders Jack Anning (11) and Williams (12) tried to get their ship back on course but both fell to Davey (4/27) just as they’d made a start.
The Lions could only muster 7/154 from their 40 overs but there were a number of promising signs late in the innings.
Sean Gramc – returning to the Pakenham set-up after an extended injury layoff – showed his class with a 24-run cameo while teenager James Vela displayed a strong array of shots in his undefeated 42.
SUB-DISTRICT
Most at Nyora (9/142cc) would be happy with that tally.
Alas it came after Pakenham (7/261cc) belted them about the park for 40 overs beforehand.
Nic Close (104) went the tonk – alongside Greg Interlandi (58) and captain Scott Webster (45) – to show off the improvements that earned him a promotion from C Grade last season.
Brenton Hackett (2/53) was the best faring of the Maroons’ contingent.
With the blade Nyora tended to be more impressive than with the ball – batting out their overs as Gavin Hackett (37), Keith Maclure (30) and Jake Hackett (26) led from the front.
Shannon Mitchell (4/12) beguiled the Maroons as he sliced through the middle order to leave Nyora circling the drain.
A gutsy effort from David Howarth (17) Ryan White (13 not out) allowed the Maroons to reach the close of play.
Pakenham faces Lang Lang away while Nyora hosts Cardinia.
