There were no hat-tricks, hundreds or seven-wicket hauls in CCCA District Division on Saturday as the heroic feats of round seven were replaced by three modest games of cricket that could only loosely be described as contests.
Only three games of cricket were played after Melbourne Sixers forfeited their clash against NNG/Maryknoll days out from their scheduled round-eight encounter.
At Harry Blackman Oval, Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (5/95) is now 18 points clear in second place after the Yabbies scored a comfortable victory over Emerald (91).
The Yabbies used four bowlers, who basically worked together in pairs, with Alex Prendergast (3/15) and Raja Sadiq (2/14) rolling through the Bombers’ top order before Ryan Mibus (3/32) and Lucas Plozza (2/29) finished off the job.
The Bombers were 5/16 at one stage, before Michael Hoban (17), Ethan Crosher (17) and veteran Clinton Marsh (22 not out) gave a miniscule amount of respectability to the scoreboard.
The Yabbies then made it five straight wins with a coughing and spluttering run chase.
Syed Akbar Shah (28) top scored again for the hosts, while John Langley (20 not out) continues to be hard to knock over through the middle order.
Crosher (3/24) was the standout toiler for the Bombers.
Carlisle Park (3/126) has now won three of its last four games after the Vikings sent Cranbourne Meadows (122) home with its tail between its legs with a comprehensive seven-wicket win on Saturday.
The Rebels just couldn’t build momentum before the tea break, with Amreek Mann (31) and Manu Goraya (20) the only players into the twenties.
Jaan Balasuriya (2/11) and Ethan Davies (2/35) took two each for the Vikings, while Ben Perry (3/17) laid the first brick in a very impressive all-round display.
Perry (45 not out) was rock-solid in the Vikings winning reply, with sturdy support from Dave Nutting (30) and skipper Kasun Balasuriya (26 not out).
Perry has a proven touch of class and will be a player to watch after the Christmas break.
And Officer (1/81) remains undefeated after a muscle-flexing display against Lang Lang (78).
The home side was actually lucky to set a 79-run total after slipping to 6/30, then 9/58, before a 20-run last-wicket stand.
Last week’s hat-trick hero – Noah Parraga (4/21) – was once again superb for the Bullants, while Dan Irvine (3/15) and Devon Gabriel-Brown (2/9) chipped in when required.
Chathura Imbulagoda (45 not out) and Jack James (30 not out) then made light work of the chase; completing the task in 15 overs.
Imbulagoda has had a magnificent pre-Christmas period, scoring 468 runs at an average of 93.60.
His highlights include a consecutive streak of 101, 150 and 97; which has him 130 runs clear of his nearest pursuer in District.
DISTRICT RECAP
LADDER – R8: Officer 100, PUT 74, NNG/Maryknoll 56, Carlisle Park 54, Cranbourne Meadows 54, Emerald 42, Lang Lang 30, Melbourne Sixers 6.
FIXTURE – R9 (January 11): Cranbourne Meadows (5) v Lang Lang (7), Melbourne Sixers (8) v PUT (2), Emerald (6) v Carlisle Park (4), Officer (1) v NNG/Maryknoll (3).
