By David Nagel
Clyde will need to produce something remarkable when the Cougars look to avoid certain relegation from CCCA Premier Division at Donnelly Reserve today.
The Cougars – with a highest score of 6/250 this season – will need to chase down Merinda Park’s mammoth 8/303 or face the reality of sliding back to District Division.
The Cougars task will be even more difficult against a Cobras’ attack that has conceded just one score above 200 (9/210) during their entire 2022/23 campaign.
Merinda Park, just one game ahead of the Cougars, will secure their place in Premier Division with a comfortable victory.
In other games this week, Officer (166) will need to strike fast – and strike often – as it looks to keep its faint finals hopes alive against fourth-placed Cardinia (0/58) at Starling Road.
The Bullants were cruising last week at 2/110 before a stunning batting collapse put it on the back foot.
If the Bullants can remove Morteza Ali and Alex Nooy early they could be a chance, with early wickets the key.
Ali and Nooy both score quickly, so a delay in wicket-taking will prove the Bullants downfall.
Look for Cardinia to win, but not without one or two hiccups.
Carlisle Park (0/0) has it all to play for when the Vikings begin their chase of Kooweerup’s 182 at Denhams Road today.
Win and the Vikings are still a chance to play finals – with Cardinia its opponent in round 14 – but lose and it could be all over, depending on the outcome of the Bulls run-chase against Officer this afternoon.
This one is intriguing, with Luke McMaster, Jess Mathers, Gamini Kumara and Matt Bright showcasing some extreme bowling depth for the Demons, while Shalika Karunanayake, Ben Perry and skipper Anurudda Fonseka are in tremendous form for the Vikings.
This one is a flip of the coin…we’ll go for Karunanayake to make a half century and lead the Vikings to victory.
And finally…What might unfold at Toomuc Reserve this afternoon?
Pakenham (5/110) has already claimed first-innings points against Tooradin (102) in the top-of-the-table shootout at Toomuc Reserve after Tommy Tyrrell claimed five wickets to lead the Lions to victory.
But with a lead of only eight, and with Russell Lehman (4/41) in ominous form, the Lions might get rolled cheaply allowing the Seagulls to up the ante and hunt down outright points.
Either that, or this one could fizzle out at tea, with both teams already certain of finishing top-two and hosting a home semi-final.
There are no predictions here – it will all come down to the imagination and intent of rival skippers Dale Tormey and Cal O’Hare.
ROUND 13 – AS IT STANDS
• Kooweerup 182 (M Davey 52, J Mathers 40, C Miller 25, B Perry 4/59, S Karunanayake 2/17, S De Silva 2/49) v Carlisle Park (0/0).
• Officer 166 (C Imbulagoda 59, K Hawkins 31, L Volpe 6/40, T Wheller 2/30) v Cardinia 0/58 (M Ali 33*, A Nooy 22*).
• Pakenham 5/110 (C Smith 31, D Tormey 27, R Lehman 4/41) v Tooradin 102 (D Sutton 38, T Tyrrell 5/30, D Tormey 2/16, M Martini 2/28).
• Merinda Park 8/303(cc) (B Hodge 71, S Perera 56*, C Bryan 45, L Bertrand 33, A Martin 30, B Reid 2/37, D Lever 2/72) v Clyde.
LADDER
• Tooradin 126, Pakenham 114, Kooweerup 90, Cardinia 66, Carlisle Park 54, Officer 54, Merinda Park 42, Clyde 30.
