By RUSSELL BENNETT
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
REVIEW – ROUND 13 (DAY 2)
‘THE Great Russell Lehman’. It’s a saying that’s been doing the rounds over recent weeks, and there’s a damn good reason for it.
The gun Pakenham all-rounder is compiling a brilliant season with both bat and ball, with 459 runs and 35 wickets to his name. And that’s only the Premier competition – not counting his recent Country Week heroics, which included both a hat-trick and an undefeated century.
His purple patch continued on Saturday as he sliced through the Upper Beaconsfield batting line-up like a hot knife through butter. He snared a career-best 7/17 from 19 overs (which included 10 maidens) as the Lions dismissed the home side for just 107 in response to their own 8/206 from day one.
Only Maroons skipper Chris Savage (27), wicket-keeper batsman Jake Serong (26) and Taylor Joyce (24) offered any real resistance, and Lehman removed both Serong and Joyce.
Pakenham president Phil Anning gave Lehman the highest of praise after the game, describing him as one of the top five players he’s seen at the club. Ever.
“From a personal point of view, I think Russ has matured a lot as a cricketer and he’s clearly made a decision that he wants to do really well,” Anning said.
“He’s hardly missed a night at training this season and his work ethic has been fantastic.
“He’s a real leader in a young side and he’s pretty much been faultless all year, as far as I’m concerned.
“I made a comment to a bloke at the (club) function on Saturday night that, as far as I’m concerned, Russ’ performances this year have him in the top four or five cricketers I’ve ever seen at the club.”
Anning said Lehman had taken his consistency “to a whole new level”, adding “he’s taken a more hands-on role at training and he’s got a really good cricket brain.
“I know Boof (skipper Jason Williams) and Jack (Anning) speak very highly of him and the ideas and suggestions he has out on the ground.”
As proof of Lehman’s work ethic, Anning pointed to his refusal to be left out of Pakenham’s recent Vivian Shield T20 clash with Devon Meadows – which was played the day after a Premier game, and didn’t carry with it any competition points.
“He played cricket on seven out of eight days at one point, and that’s just a reflection of where he is at the moment,” Anning said, tipping Lehman as a huge chance to take out the Glasscock Medal (for the WGCA’s best Country Week player), and the Don Jackson award (Pakenham Cricket Club’s best and fairest) this season. He was already named best on ground in the Vivian Shield clash, and we’re tipping he’s also a huge chance to take out the Terry Stephenson Medal for the best player in Premier this season.
Meanwhile, in local District Division action Devon Meadows (6/173) got the better of Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (155), thanks to a brilliant knock by Steve Robinson (75) and 6/42 from Adam Newstead. Clyde (136) also cruised to victory over Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll (63 and 4/92) despite a modest first innings score.
Pakenham’s Sub-District side was also restricted to a sub-150 run score, but a pair of standout bowling performances – from Jason Fisher (4/30) and Jack Melbourne (4/15) – were vital in dismissing Lang Lang for 120. The Lions sit in second spot on the Sub-District ladder with one round to play before the finals.
