By David Nagel
Can Pakenham legitimately challenge Kooweerup and Tooradin for the 2023/24 Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) Premier Division flag?
It’s a question that has been on everybody’s lips since before the first ball was bowled this season as the Lions look to claim their first premiership since 2018/19.
A similar question could be asked of Cardinia, with the Lions and Bulls appearing to drop off an extremely hot pace set by the Demons and Seagulls this season.
The top four have shared premierships for as long as anyone can care to remember, with Pakenham’s biggest three rivals having tasted success over the last four years.
Kooweerup (2019/20 and 2022/23) has done it twice, while Cardinia (2020/21) and Tooradin (2021/22) also have impressive new silverware to showcase.
The Lions must be hungry for this one!
The obvious answer to the question is yes…the Lions can win it this year; any team boasting the class of Dale Tormey and Chris Smith – two of the best bats to play in the competition over the last decade – has to be a dangerous proposition.
This week’s home game against Kooweerup provides the Lions with a chance to redeem a staggering batting collapse at Denhams Road in round five.
The Lions were 1/187 at one stage, with Tormey (116) and Rob Elston (55) treating the high-quality Demons’ attack with contempt.
But the Lions lost 9/30, including their last eight wickets for nine runs, to fall off the edge of a cliff.
It was mind-boggling stuff, with brothers Adam (5/53) and Luke McMaster (3/39) filling the Lions with nightmares.
The Lions were damaged that day, and backed up that round five loss with an equally devastating two-run loss to Devon Meadows.
Back-to-back wins over Clyde and Carlisle Park, either side of Christmas, have righted the ship somewhat, but the Lions still need to prove they can match it with the big boys.
Tormey was magnificent against the Demons that day, while Smith has moved into the top-10 list of run-getters with a consistent season of good starts.
He has six times been into the twenties, but only converted one of those into a half century (58).
It’s rare he will go through a season without chalking up one or two big scores, and the Lions would nothing better than to see the ‘new dad’ hit top form at precisely the right time of year.
The Demons are sizzling right now, with Chris Bright, Luke McMaster, Gamini Kumara and Steven Dillon sure to provide headaches for a Lions attack that possesses a nice blend of youth and experience.
Tormey, Jason Williams and Tom Tyrrell have been on the big stage before, while Jordan Seers, James Close and Marcus Martini will relish the challenge against the best.
This one should be a beauty…but the Demons overall depth will get them across the line in a close one.
In other games this week, Merinda Park will look to end a three-game losing streak when the Cobras welcome bottom-placed Carlisle Park to Tony Way Reserve.
This is one of those games that means so much to both clubs; the Cobras this win away from pushing themselves out of the relegation zone, while the Vikings will identify this as one of two chances to climb off the bottom of the ladder.
Ben Perry and his side play Clyde in round 13 in the other contest that could decide the fate of the two clubs.
Carlisle Park has struggled with the bat this season, with Kasun Balasuriya their leading runscorer with just 221 runs to his name.
Merinda Park has Daniel McCalman and Cambell Bryan in top form, while Rumesh Ranasinghe has taken multiple wickets in his last three visits to the popping crease.
The Cobras need this one, and they’ll get it…with McCalman and Bryan to lead their team to victory.
Devon Meadows will need to be sharp and alert when the Panthers host a rejuvenated Clyde at Glover Reserve.
The Panthers currently sit just outside the top four on percentage, but face a Cougars’ team that scored their first win last week and have a no-fear approach as they enter the pointy end of the season.
They sit second last the Cougars, but have the experience of fighting for survival on their side.
They avoided relegation last season with two outstanding performances.
“We’re not afraid of anyone; if we play our best cricket we can challenge anyone on the day,” said Cougars captain Zac Davis.
“We saved ourselves from relegation last year by chasing down 300 against Merinda Park and then knocked off Tooradin who were on top.
“There’s no reason why we can’t go into those late games against the good sides with a high degree of confidence.
“We’ve got Devon this week, then Cardy in another one-dayer…and I reckon we’re a big chance to win both of those games.”
Clyde may be confident, but the Panthers have the leading run-scorer in the competition, Lucas Ligt, who has made a century and half century in his last two innings.
Ligt will once again lead the Panthers to victory.
And last, but certainly not least, Tooradin host Cardinia in a battle of the top-four sides.
The Seagulls had their colours lowered for the first time against Kooweerup last week, with regular stars like Russell Lehman and Brad Butler failing to make an impact.
Both of those players are star performers, and expect both to firing when they take new ball against the Bulls.
It could be a hostile opening for Bull’s openers Morteza Ali and Alex Nooy, and if they survive the opening shots the Bulls could be a chance.
But we’ll go for the Seagulls to win a close one.
CCCA PREMIER – TIPS
ROUND 10 ONE-DAY
DEVON MEADOWS v Clyde
TOORADIN v Cardinia
Pakenham v KOOWEERUP
MERINDA PARK v Carlisle Park
