By RUSSELL BENNETT
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
REVIEW – ROUND 13 (DAY 1)
FRIDAY night’s rain washed out play at both Kooweerup and Beaconsfield before play even began on Saturday, meaning the only other play of the Premier round that day was Upper Beaconsfield’s clash with Pakenham.
After losing half an hour due to a damp pitch, Lions openers Russ Lehman (24) and Sam Webster (19) – promoted from Sub-District – put on a near half-century opening stand.
But from there, Pakenham lost four quick wickets to slide to 4/54. With Maroons seamer Tommy Tyrrell taking 3/17 from his first 11 overs and nipping them both ways, it was up to Lions skipper Jason Williams (40) and Josh Gonzalez (62 not out) to embark on a rescue mission.
And the visitors’ middle and lower orders stood tall – something that hasn’t been seen often enough this season – as the side ultimately reached 8/206 from their 80 overs.
Gonzalez showed stellar concentration after a cautious start to his innings on a dead pitch and, after two quick wickets to Maroons skipper Chris Savage, youngsters Matt Welsh (14) and Zac Chalpin (30) provided plenty of support. Chaplin, in particular, looked sublime. He was dismissed in the final over of the day, skying a ball to mid-on, but he’d already done his job – piercing gaps with a series of impressive drives.
Tyrrell, one of the best opening bowlers in Premier this season, finished with 4/50 from 23 overs, while Savage took 2/35, and Will Haines (1/4) conceded just four runs in seven overs.
Meanwhile in Sub-District, Pakenham has some work to do if it’s to climb from fourth on the ladder over the final two rounds.
After winning the toss against the second-placed Lang Lang and electing to bat at Toomuc Reserve, the Lions lost three quick wickets before Greg Interlandi (29) and Jason Fisher (34) set about a rescue mission. Wickets continued to fall in clumps through the middle order, however, and the side needed valuable runs off the bats of Dale McCraw (14), Steve Insall (21) and Jack Melbourne (17 not out) to reach 147.
After bowling the Lions out in 58 overs, the Tigers (2/33) had a difficult 19 overs to face before stumps and, as is often the case in this situation, couldn’t make it through to day two unscathed. With eight wickets still in hand and 115 needed for victory, they’ll walk out to the middle this Saturday confident of victory. But Dale McCraw (1/7), Shannon Mitchell (1/10) and Aaron Beveridge have started well with the ball and early wickets could heap the pressure on the visitors.
In other local action, Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (155) is battling in its District clash with Devon Meadows (2/42), and Officer (8/182) is in a strong position against the SFX Old Collegians (2/1).
