By RUSSELL BENNETT
WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 6 (DAY 2)
PAKENHAM Premier skipper Jason Williams knew just how crucial Saturday was for his side – win and stay in the finals hunt, or lose and face an uphill battle through one of its toughest stretches of the season.
As it turned out, the Lions picked the perfect time to put in arguably their best team performance of the season to date.
Chasing 195 for victory and resuming on 0/31 after surviving the final 13 overs of day one unscathed, Pakenham added just four runs before James Vela (14) was out to big Darcy Hellriegel.
But he, along with regular opening partners Chris Smith (59) and Russ Lehman (36), Bradey Welsh (16), Williams (14) and Sean Gramc (31) all contributed to seeing the Lions home at 6/204.
Suddenly, the vulnerable Lions’ middle order had strung together a series of strong partnerships.
Lehman pounced on anything short or over-pitched, sending his first ball cannoning into the scoreboard with a brilliant square drive. Smith, meanwhile, looked in vintage touch – waiting for the bat ball and making the most of any width.
Emerald’s cause wasn’t helped by giving up 30 extras, including 12 no balls, and the side would no doubt be ruing losing 6/3 at one stage. They’ve got a strong bowling attack, but they need to find more consistency in their batting.
Williams was a relieved man in the wake of the contest, saying: “If we didn’t get this win it would have been hard to come back from it.
“We just wanted everyone to contribute and they did that – I thought it was our most complete team performance of the year.”
Williams was thrilled for Gramc, in particular, who had only made one other score above 20 so far this season.
“I’m just rapt for him,” he said.
“He hit them beautifully – really clean.”
Williams said it was disappointing to see the Lions lose the wickets they did, just as batsman looked set, but he gave the Emerald bowlers plenty of credit.
“I thought they bowled really well,” he said.
“They’ve got a handy attack and Marshy (Clinton Marsh) does really well with their young guys.”
With back-to-back games against Tooradin coming up, Saturday’s result was crucial for the confidence of the young Lions.
“I’d back us to knock off anyone on our day,” Williams said.
“We’ve got a pretty handy side – all the boys are switched on and have good cricket brains, and a few of the boys really want to perform to get one up on them (the Seagulls).
“We all know the direction we want to go in,” he said.
“We just need to work harder from week to week.”
In District action on Saturday, Cranbourne Meadows (285) proved too much for Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (228) to handle with Rebels skipper Brent Murdoch (5/85 and 128) taking off with the ball on day two where he left off with the bat on day one. Officer (9/202), meanwhile, defeated Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll.
Finally, Pakenham’s Sub-District side secured an easy win over Catani, thanks to their mammoth day one score. Setting Catani 458 for victory after a double century to opener Sam Webster (222) and ton to opening partner Josh Gonzalez (110), the Lions restricted the visitors to 236. Catani skipper Luke Gilbert (73) top-scored for his side, while Shannon Mitchell took 5/65 for Pakenham.
