By RUSSELL BENNETT
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
REVIEW – ROUND 5 (DAY 2)
DESPITE resuming on day two on 1/16 and sliding to 2/31 in chase of 210 for victory, the Merinda Park WGCA Premier side did it easy at home against struggling Pakenham on Saturday.
The Cobras seemed in desperate trouble at 1/2 when Andrew Martin was caught by Matt Welsh off Jack Ryan without scoring and 2/31 when Anthony Craddock was bowled by Ryan for 15.
But Glen Ward and Daniel McCalman were comfortable right from the start of their innings.
Ward was loving the short stuff while McCalman was strong with anything too straight or trailing down leg.
As Ward continued to gain confidence, it’s clear he was in fine touch – pouncing on anything over-pitched.
Lions youngster Zac Chaplin bowled an excellent first over – making both batsmen play and drawing them into loose shots wide of off-stump.
But outside of he and Ryan, Pakenham had no answer for McCalman and Ward who reached their 50 partnership by drinks.
McCalman was almost run out just shy of his 50 but the throw in from point hit the edge of the pitch en route to the stumps – typifying Pakenham’s luckless day.
From 2/152 at tea – and with the Lions particularly quiet in the field – the Cobras piled on another 60 in the final session – winning by six wickets (4/212).
McCalman (84) notched up his second half-century of the season so far at the top of a surprisingly potent batting line-up while Ward was all class with his 80.
Ryan bowled with plenty of purpose for the Lions, finishing with 3/81 from his 25 overs but he was Pakenham’s sole multiple-wicket taker.
The Lions, now seventh on the Premier ladder with just the one win from their five games, will take on Emerald at Haileybury this week in an absolute must-win fixture, before facing Tooradin twice before the break.
In District division Officer (230) worked its way to a convincing win over Devon Meadows (149 and 1/102).
The Bullants’ top order battled early against the Panthers attack – led by Mick Floyd (2/57), Lucas Carroll (2/27) and Chris Morrell (1/39) – but resistance arrived halfway through the Officer innings as Adam Reid (55) and Marcus Sattler (23) stabilised.
Captain Shane White (76 not out) pushed the run-rate along from the lower order, while David Collins (25) also added handy runs.
Having made light work of chasing the Panthers’ first innings, they then sent them back in – with Bryce Ingram finishing on 69 not out as his team finished on 1/102 at stumps.
Meanwhile, an early raid from Lyndhurst (238) left Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (125 and 8/192) in all sorts as the Vikings charged to their third win of the season.
Needing just 126 to secure first innings points, the Vikings stormed ahead thanks to a brilliant half-century from David Nutting (84) and important knocks from David Spencer (49) and Mark Henry (32).
Yabby Nick Kyval finished with five wickets and his side batted out the remaining 41 overs of the clash, finishing on 8/192 with Darren Warne (45) and skipper Scott Clark (35) leading the way.
Finally, Pakenham’s Sub-District side powered to victory over Clyde, despite being set a tough 227 for victory, Pakenham reached 243 in 68 overs thanks to half-centuries from Shannon Mitchell (72) and Greg Interlandi (57).
Pakenham’s Premier side is now seventh on the ladder and in desperate need of a win from its Round 6 clash with Emerald at Berwick’s Haileybury campus, while the Lions’ Sub-District outfit is faring much better – in second on the ladder ahead of its encounter with Catani beginning this week.
