By DAVID NAGEL
BEACONSFIELD’S (158) final forgettable season in the West Gippsland Cricket Association has taken a turn for the better after the Tigers staged a remarkable late-rally against Pakenham (4/6).
Bound for the Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) next season, the winless Tigers have struggled after a mass-exodus of players left the club a little shy on top-end talent.
“It’s a funny thing, because despite the upheaval at the start of the season the mood’s been good and we’ve pushed some really good sides into precarious positions,” Tigers’ skipper Don Kerslake said.
“Hopefully this time we can get the job done.”
Well the Tigers are well on the way after a spirited seven-overs of bowling that had their opponents reeling as stumps were drawn at Toomuc Reserve on Saturday.
Shameera Weerasinghe (2/1 off 4) and Callan Tout (2/5 off 3) turned the synthetic pitch at Toomuc into a duck-pond, with Nic Close (0), Matt Welsh (0) and James Vela (0) all making a splash.
The Lions still have skipper Jason Williams and gun all-rounder Russ Lehman tucked away in the sheds so the Tigers still have some work to do.
Earlier in the day it was left to Weerasinghe (36) to repel a brilliant bowling performance from Lehman (6/69 off 27.3) who reverse-swung his way to his best figures of the season.
A late-rally from veteran Richard Gault (29) and Sam McDavitt (21) – who put on 42 for the eighth wicket – gave the Tigers’ attack something to bowl at.
Upper Beaconsfield (98) was another to recover from a slow start, the Maroons back in the hunt after their bowlers clicked against Merinda Park (8/74).
The Maroons were awful with the willow; skipper Chris Savage (27) the only player past 20 as Jess Mathers (3/27) and Co. put the Cobras into a winning position.
The Maroons then needed something special to keep their flickering finals hopes alive, and it came from its shooting-star Chad McDonald. The youngster claimed three quick wickets, before leg-spinner Scott Pitcher snared three late, to leave this one as a real contest heading into day two.
It was tough and tight at Gunton Oval on Saturday where the top-two sides, Cardinia and Kooweerup (218), locked into a high-quality 80-over contest.
There were ebbs and flows all day, the Demons good early with Chris O’Hara (33) and Chris Bright (38) in control, before Neil Barfuss (4/43) led a Bulls’ charge through the middle stages. Matt Davey (36) and Dananja Madushanka (35) gave the visitors the slight edge by the close of play.
Premiership hopeful Tooradin has its hands full after Emerald (6/307) produced a batting master-class at a lightning quick Westernport Oval.
The Bombers lost a quick one early, before Mark Alenson (31) and Alex Cann (31) set things up beautifully for A.J. Walker (88), Julian Hanfi-Scott (59) and Tom Baldock (54 not out).
The Bombers trio dominated the afternoon session, with Baldock and Michael Nell (21 not out) pushing the visitors past the magical 300-run barrier in the dying stages of their innings.
Steve Hamill (2/50) – as he has been all season – was the Seagulls’ best toiler.
