By Tyler Lewis
Cranbourne Meadows has handed Devon Meadows its first loss of the summer in a neat total defence.
By setting 198 on day one, the Rebels simply needed to grab all 10 wickets in order to defeat the red-hot Panthers outfit.
The home side – led by middle-over bowlers Mandhiraj Singh, Amitpal Randhawa and Ricky Mitchell – did exactly that, tearing through the Panthers to secure a 50-run win.
The Panthers resumed overnight on 0/14 after surviving three overs last week and made a good start on day two, coasting to 0/39.
But then Singh (13-5-3-30), Randhawa (13.4-3-4-28) and Mitchell (12-5-2-18) made their mark, together combining for nine scalps in a beautiful display of bowling.
Randhawa’s three victims were all inside the top five, including the dangerous Lucas Ligt (2).
Devon Meadows score of 148 is its lowest score of the summer.
NNG/Maryknoll, meanwhile, claimed an enormous victory of its own over Gembrook.
The Marygoons held just a nine-run lead overnight, but still decided to declare and force the Brookers to face the music from the get-go on day two.
Carter Davis (4/48 off 20.3) and Will Taylor (4/24 off 10) supported their captains’ decision by cartwheeling through the Brookers batting line-up.
The pairs contribution (8/72) played a crucial role in the Marygoons bowling the Brookers out for 140 inside the 57th over.
NNG/Maryknoll didn’t have much time to waste in its second dig, with just over 20 overs in the bank in pursuit of a 131-run deficit.
Openers James Markland (68 not out) and Nathan Phillips (34) got their side off to a sizzling start, before Greg Interlandi (25) finished the job.
The Marygoons eventually managed to reel in the total with nine wickets in hand.
In further promise for the home side, it was hardly a one-man show, with a number of players performing across the four-innings evisceration.
Upper Beaconsfield all-rounder Kyle Gibbs completed a splendid day with the ball, as his side thrashed Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
Gibbs filled the scorebook nicely with 6/18 from his 17.1 overs, which also included 10 maidens.
Courtesy of Gibbs’ spell, the Maroons were able to restrict the Yabbies to 10/165 from 69 overs.
With 321 as the target, it was always going to be a difficult chase for the Yabbies, but with six batters reaching double-figures, there is room for optimism.
Despite finishing with all the momentum on day one, Emerald has fallen miles short of Lang Lang’s first innings total.
The Bombers finished last weekend by taking 9/98 and would’ve held confidence in their ability to score the 217 set by Swamp Tigers.
But regular wickets restricted the Bombers to just 119 on Saturday, despite six batters getting in and facing 30 balls or more.
Five of the eight Lang Lang bowlers used collected a wicket, as the Swamp Tigers secured victory in the 57th over.
The weekends’ results have pushed NNG/Maryknoll above Devon Meadows on the ladder, while Cranbourne Meadows and Upper Beaconsfield are each now a win inside the four.
