By Jonty Ralphsmith
The two top-four clashes in round six of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association Premier Division are in the balance, while Clyde has a chance to close the gap between itself and the top four.
Ayden Mills’ 116 was the backbone of Kooweerup’s 261 against Tooradin.
His score of great need comes after a lean season for the top-order batter, with his ability to stand up when others failed to capitalise on strong starts highlighting the depth of a premiership contender.
Organised and proactive number four Shiran Rathnayake continued his strong form, scoring an efficient 47 which transferred the pressure on to Tooradin after the Seagulls took two early wickets.
Playing his opening First XI game of the season, Bailey Lownds was the pick of Tooradin’s bowlers, taking the big wicket of Rathnayake to break a 71-run partnership.
It got Tooradin back in the game, with Lownds continuing to build pressure in his 23-over spell of 3/67.
At Toomuc Reserve, off-spinner Jason Williams has given Pakenham the edge against Cardinia, taking 4/54 off 28 overs.
Against opening pair Alex and John Nooy, the Lions opened the bowling with spin which proved a masterstroke, with Alex Nooy stumped in the first over.
Mark Cooper dropped down the order to number four as Cardinia search for the right mix after a satisfactory but unspectacular start to the season with the blade.
Cooper and Yohan Arumadura put on 52 together to stabilise after the loss of two early wickets, before Jordan Seers took three quick wickets to change the momentum.
Falling to 6/86, Cooper and Matt Welsh looked to bat time and combined for 122 runs to frustrate Pakenham and keep themselves in the game.
Both were dismissed by Williams in quick succession, with the Bulls routed for 218 and Pakenham had four overs before stumps to survive and got through unscathed.
While it appears a sub-par target, Pakenham struggled to chase down Merinda Park’s 146 at the same venue last round, winning by just two wickets against an inferior bowling attack.
Clyde is well positioned to potentially close to within a game of the top four after bowling Upper Beaconsfield out for just 192 and sitting 0/26 in response.
A 73-run partnership between Nick Pastras and Will Haines was the only form of sustained resistance against an attack led by Ankush Rana.
The Maroons fell to 4/33 before the pair stabilised, but after Pastras was dismissed no one else was able to support Haines.
Trevor Bauer and Kane Avard survived 16 overs to set the Cougars chase up on day two.
At Tony Way Recreation Reserve, Devon Meadows manufactured 9/247 to keep themselves in the contest against Merinda Park.
A 58-run 10th-wicket partnership between Coby Podd and Riley Worsteling has given the Panthers momentum after falling to 9/189.
Digging in and finding ways to win moments when the game is in the balance is something Devon Meadows is doing far better in 2024-25 as the club fights for a finals berth.
As well as that pair, all-rounder Chris Cleef scored a boundary-filled 71 off 69 which put pressure on the Cobras after he entered at 6/99.
Merinda Park is winless in the 2024-25 season, despite having repeatedly put themselves in competitive positions.
